Political Participation and Representation of the Muslim Population in Europe

Abstract

The article deals with the topic of political participation and representation of Muslim communities in European democracies as a relevant aspect of the multiple transformations generated by the increasing cultural and religious diversity in European political and legal systems. The question is addressed by both a Western and Islamic legal perspective: with respect to the first one, by outlining some political and legal factors that are likely to affect the active presence of European Muslims in the political arena and identifying some main rationales that could allow for restrictions and prohibitions against this presence in consolidated democracies; as for the second one, by discussing the notion of fiqh al-aqalliyat (“fiqh for minorities”) and exploring the different views on political participation of Muslim communities in Europe.