Euro Islam Final Conference, Buchuresti.

Islam and Europe: Mixed or separated?

      From the 3rd to 7th of October 2005, the Euro Islam Project team organized her final conference in cooperation with AEGEE Buchuresti. The Euro Islam Project started about two years ago and already had a range of events in different European countries. The project deals with an growing presence of Muslim migrants in Europe and the problems that seem to occur with their presence. The main aim of the Euro Islam project is to improve the knowledge about Islam and to enhance an inter-religious and intercultural discussion. To prevent separation between different groups, we need to mix and discuss and find solutions for living together with mutual understanding and respect.

       The final conference in Buchuresti was important to draw up the balance: what has the project achieved so far, and what can still be improved? The conference was attended by different international speakers, many Muslims from a range of countries and a lot of experienced and motivated students from a variety of organizations in Europe. The conference was also attended by several Islamic authorities of Romania, ambassadors of Turkey, Azerbaidzjan and the United Kingdom, and enjoyed the support of the Council of Europe and the Turkish and Romanian government.

 During the conference, speakers and participants expressed their views on the concept of Euro Islam. Participants gained more knowledge on the ideology of Islam and tried to find out how such a peaceful and positive religion can obtain such a bad imagery in Europe today. In most cases, they agreed that the Islam as a religion should not be changed, but that the way in which Muslims in Europe live their live, should be adapted to a western model of citizenship, participation and enhanced communication with the rest of the society.

If we want to work on a Europe which is fit to live in for everyone, not only Muslims should become more active participants in society, but also European societies should open up more. We should somehow over think our self-image of Europe as a tolerant, liberal and secular union and realize how the situation really is today. Its indispensable that we demand comparable rights for all religions, fight discrimination against minorities and create a righteous image about what the notion of Europe or Islam really means is and how they played their roles through history.

 The final conference was meant as closing up of the project, but the team realised that they can not stop their efforts yet. Too many people are still interested to learn more about Islam and its integration in Europe and ideas for new events are still floating in. That means that our destiny is not fulfilled yet, or maybe we are still at the beginning. But hopefully all those initiatives will keep the project going for the next year(s)!