Yearbook of Muslims in Europe

Islam is the second largest religion in Europe. It is estimated that there are now at least 25 million Muslims living in Europe, excluding Turkey. The launch of the Yearbook of Muslims in Europe is thus a welcome venture which recognizes the increasing presence of Muslims in Europe over the last few decades. Political events both within Europe and around the world had been focused on Islam and Muslims. Wars in the former Yugoslavia and Chechnya and the continuing conflicts in Palestine, Sudan and Kashmir have been in the news for decades. The tragic events of 11 September 2001 followed by other terrorist attacks in London and Madrid raised the questions of security as well. The wars in Afghanistan followed by another in Iraq led by the Western powers evoked protests within Europe and elsewhere. There were also a host of other events, starting with the Rushdie Affair in 1989, the production of a film targeting the Qur’an and the offensive cartoons depicting the Prophet published in a Danish newspaper led to world-wide protests, especially in the Muslim world.