The Rise of Muslim Immigration in Europe: Could America Face Similar Challenges?
Recent elections in parts of Eastern Germany, France, and other regions have shown a backlash against the existing governments. What’s driving this shift?
A significant factor appears to be the large influx of Muslim immigrants into Europe, which has led to a combination of criminal and religious tensions. Across the continent, many European citizens have grown increasingly frustrated with what they see as the politicization of Islam—symbolized by mosque construction, the wearing of hijabs, and a rise in religion-motivated violence, including stabbings and murders of innocent civilians. Some mosque leaders have reportedly preached the conversion of native Europeans to Islam, which is totally unliked in Europe.
Today Europe already embroiled in the Ukraine conflict, it can ill afford another religious confrontation, especially one that pits Christians against Muslims.
Muslims in Europe are not a small minority. Numbering around 45 million, they form a significant and increasingly vocal group. Many of them follow their religious doctrine to spread Islam as widely as possible. This goal is rooted in Islamic teachings, which urge followers to convert others to their faith.
Historically, Muslim Arabs, alongside Berber allies, first entered Europe via Spain in the 7th century, swiftly conquering large part of Spain. Their advance was halted at the Battle of Tours in 732 AD, when French king Charles Martel decisively defeated them. About seven hundred years later, attempts by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th and 16th centuries to conquer Central Europe also failed, though Albania and parts of Bosnia converted to Islam.
In modern times, Muslim immigrants, often fleeing hardship, arrive in Europe claiming to be destitute. They typically settle in ghettos, where they form tight-knit communities. Over time, their demands increase, and religious leaders begin to guide them politically and religiously, often promoting extremist ideologies like Wahhabism. The influence of oil-rich Arab nations plays a role, funding religious movements with the ultimate aim of converting Europe's Christian majority. Frustrated by the lack of success in conversions, some individuals have resorted to criminal acts, including violence.
European nations, once colonial powers, are now grappling with the consequences of opening their borders to immigration. France, for example, has seen an influx of Muslims from its former colonies in North Africa. The UK has experienced similar immigration from the Indian subcontinent, including Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, as well as from the Middle East. Germany, too, has welcomed large numbers of immigrants, as have countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden.
Initially, Muslim immigrants provided much-needed cheap labor to rebuild post-war Europe. As they settled, they brought their families, and their numbers multiplied. Over time, their close-knit communities grew, often in isolated ghettos, which have become breeding grounds for political and religious unrest.
Efforts to integrate large Muslim populations into local European cultures have largely failed. Take the Netherlands as an example. Many within the radicalized Muslim community there are pushing for the implementation of Sharia law, as prescribed by their ancient religious texts. They seek the freedom to build mosques, establish their own schools, and observe Islamic practices—demands that governments are unable to accommodate. In response, right-wing politicians across Europe have called for these groups to return to countries where Sharia law is practiced. As a result, the tension shows no signs of abating.
It’s possible that the United States, with its relatively small Muslim population of around 3%, may face similar challenges. Already, during the Hamas-Israel conflict, many American Muslims aligned with left-leaning politicians, supporting each other’s political agendas. This could be a sign that Europe’s struggles with religious and cultural integration may not be far from reaching American shores.