From Conflict to Co-operation Between Muslims and Local Authorities in a Brussels Borough: Schaerbeek
2005; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 31; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/13691830500282865
ISSN1469-9451
Autores ResumoAbstract Schaerbeek (a borough of Brussels) is an ideal case-study of how the presence of a Muslim population is managed in Belgium. The relational model that prevailed until 1994, when the local coalition changed, was marked by the municipal administration's hostility towards Muslims and more especially the mosque associations. It has since gradually given way to a new model that is characterised by working together for true recognition of the Muslims' freedom of worship and appreciation of their cultural roots. The development of a constituency of immigrant background and a Muslim elite in both politics and the mosque associations has played a major role in this change. However, it seems that the new language adopted by the local administration, which is aimed at getting Muslim residents to become active local citizens, is not free from an election-oriented hidden agenda. These developments are studied by means of a comparison of the periods before and after 1994 in which we analyse how the borough's authorities perceive(d) Islam and Muslims and cope(d) with their presence and how the Muslims themselves have integrated local life. Keywords: BelgiumBrusselsIslamophobiaLocal PoliticsMosques Notes 1. To recognise a religion, the state requires the existence of a body to manage the faith's administrative affairs and organise its practice. This body sets the budgets, trains and appoints the faith's ministers and religion teachers, keeps the books and administrative records, and supervises the religion's activities. The state-owned broadcasting stations are encouraged to put out religious broadcasts. The state schools must offer religion classes for each recognised faith (and non-denominational ethics classes). The salaries of these courses' teachers and inspectors are paid by the state. Although Belgium was the first European country to recognise Islam officially (this was done in 1974), not until May 1999 was an 'Executive of the Muslims of Belgium' officially designated. Despite some progress, setting up a scheme to manage Islam and its practice has been laborious. Consequently, Islam is still far from benefiting from all of the financing and advantages foreseen by the law (for more on the institutionalisation of Islam and the difficulties for implementing it, see Kanmaz 2002 Kanmaz, M. 2002. 'The recognition and institutionalization of Islam in Belgium'. Muslim World Journal, 92(1–2): 99–114. [Google Scholar]; Panafit 1999 Panafit, L. 1999. Quand le Droit Écrit l'Islam. L'intégration juridique de l'islam en Belgique, Brussels: Bruylant. [Google Scholar]; Renaerts and Manço 2000 Renaerts, M. and Manço, U. 2000. "'Lente institutionalisation de l'islam et persistance d'inégalités face aux autres cultes reconnus'". In Voix et Voies Musulmanes de Belgique, Edited by: Manço, U. 83–106. Brussels: Publications des Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis. [Google Scholar]). 2. As a result of a series of institutional reforms begun in 1970, Belgium has been transformed into a complex Federal State. The three federated regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Capital) have broad autonomy and powers to run their social and economic affairs, trade and industry, environmental affairs, etc. Since 2002 part of the funding of the country's recognised religious faiths (notably to maintain the places of worship) comes from the federated regions as well. Brussels, which is the capital of the European Union, Belgium and the Flemish Region all in one, has thus become a mini-Region since 1989. It has its own executive branch of government, parliament and administration (for more on Belgium's federal institutions, see Fitzmaurice 1996 Fitzmaurice, J. 1996. The Politics of Belgium. A Unique Federalism, London: Hurst. [Google Scholar]). The Brussels Region is composed of 19 municipalities (or boroughs), of which Schaerbeek is one, and close to 1 million inhabitants. The Brussels-Capital Region is a geographical enclave within the Flemish Region and is officially bilingual (French and Dutch). French-speakers account for 85 per cent of its population (for more on politics and multi-ethnicity in Brussels see Jacobs 2000 Jacobs, D. 2000. 'Multinational and polyethnic politics entwined: minority representation in the region of Brussels-Capital'. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 26(2): 289–304. [Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). 3. For a sociological comparison of the Moroccan and Turkish communities see Reniers (2000 Reniers , G. (2000) 'On the selectivity and internal dynamics of labour migration processes: an analysis of Turkish and Moroccan migration to Belgium' , in Lesthaeghe , R. (ed.) Communities and Generations: Turkish and Moroccan Populations in Belgium . Brussels : NIDI CBGS Publications , 36 , 59 – 93 . [Google Scholar]). 4. Refer above to note 1 for more details. 5. He was immediately taken on by the far-right 'Vlaams Blok' party, and is now one of its most successful candidates in the Brussels Region. Additional informationNotes on contributorsUral MançoUral Manço is Assistant Lecturer and Researcher at the Sociological Studies Centre of Saint-Louis University CollegesMeryem KanmazMeryem Kanmaz is Political Scientist and Research Assistant at the Centre for Islam in Europe at the University of Ghent
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