Political, Religious and Ethnic Radicalisation among Muslims in Belgium
Political, Religious and Ethnic Radicalisation among Muslims in Belgium

Author(s): Theodoros Koutroubas, Ward Vloeberghs, Zeynep Yanasmayan
Subject(s): Politics and religion, Studies in violence and power, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
Published by: CEPS Centre for European Policy Studies
Keywords: Political radicalisation; Religious radicalisation; Belgium; Ethnic minorities studies; Security;
Summary/Abstract: In a multicultural society such as ours the risk of micro conflicts is always present and in fact unavoidable. The realities we have analysed can easily lead us to predict that issues such as evolution of the political situation in Iraq and the related reaction of Turkey is likely to create tensions between the Turkish and Kurdish communities living in Belgium. Likewise, the liberation of Palestine will continue to be a major issue of mobilisation and tension for Belgian residents with Arab sensibilities and groups such as the ones we have observed will certainly try to capitalise on the unrest. And of course, xenophobic and fear-mongering parties in both the North and the South of the country are likely to use tensions (or an eventual terrorist attack) as grounds for promoting their own agendas. On the whole, however, Belgium’s Muslims are likely to remain no more radicalised than their Christian or their Jewish compatriots. At a time when religious radicalisation has become almost synonymous with Islamic radicalisation, it is important to remember that the need for political parties that express religious concerns or are inspired by a faith-based world view is present in all communities and is not likely to disappear as long as there are persons who place faith high among their priorities. As for political radicalisation, the phenomenon does occur in Belgium in many contexts, and unfortunately no faith, language, culture or any other element-based community is immune.

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