Muslims in Antwerp
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OSI.MIE.ANTWERP.PF2:Layout 1 8/18/2011 4:16 PM Page 1 AT HOME IN EUROPE ★ MUSLIMS IN ANTWERP Muslims in Antwerp Whether citizens or migrants, native born or newly-arrived, Muslims are a growing and varied population that presents Europe with challenges and opportunities. The crucial tests facing Europe’s commitment to open society will be how it treats minorities such as Muslims and ensures equal rights for all in a climate of rapidly expanding diversity. The Open Society Foundations’ At Home in Europe project is working to address these issues through monitoring and advocacy activities that examine the position of Muslims and other minorities in Europe. One of the project’s key efforts is this series of reports on Muslim communities in the 11 EU cities of Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Leicester, London, Marseille, Paris, Rotterdam, and Stockholm. The reports aim to increase understanding of the needs and aspirations of diverse Muslim communities by examining how public policies in selected cities have helped or hindered the political, social, and economic participation of Muslims. By fostering new dialogue and policy initiatives between Muslim communities, local officials, and international policymakers, the At Home in Europe project seeks to improve the participation and inclusion of Muslims in the wider society while enabling them to preserve the cultural, linguistic, and religious practices that are important to their identities. muslim-antwerpen-incover-publish-11-08-17-OSF:publish.qxd 8/17/2011 8:32 AM Page 1 Muslims in Antwerp At Home in Europe Project muslim-antwerpen-incover-publish-11-08-17-OSF:publish.qxd 8/17/2011 8:32 AM Page 2 ©2011 Open Society Foundations This publication is available as a pdf on the Open Society Foundations website under a Creative Commons license that allows copying and distributing the publication, only in its entirety, as long as it is attributed to the Open Society Foundations and used for noncommercial educational or public policy purposes. Photographs may not be used separately from the publication. ISBN: 978-1-936133-05-5 Published by OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS 400 West 59th Street New York, NY 10019 USA For more information contact: AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION 100 Cambridge Grove W6 0LE London UK Website www.soros.org/initiatives/home Cover Photograph by © Chris de Bode for the Open Society Foundations Cover design by Ahlgrim Design Group Layout by Q.E.D. Publishing Printed in Hungary Printed on CyclusOffset paper produced from 100% recycled fibres. TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................. 5 Preface ..................................................................................... 7 Muslims in Antwerp ................................................................ 9 List of Abbreviations ........................................................ 14 Definitions and Terminology ........................................... 15 Executive Summary ......................................................... 18 1. Introduction .................................................................... 22 2. Population and Demographics ......................................... 30 3. City Policy ....................................................................... 39 4. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Identity, Belonging and Interaction ................................................ 45 5. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Education ............. 62 6. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Employment ........ 79 7. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Housing ............... 89 8. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Health and Social Protection ........................................................................ 94 9. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Policing and Security ................................................................... 101 10. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Participation and Citizenship .............................................................. 107 11. Experiences of Muslim Communities: The Role of the Media ...................................................................... 117 12. Conclusions ................................................................... 122 13. Recommendations ......................................................... 125 Annex 1. Bibliography .............................................................. 131 Annex 2. List of Stakeholders Interviewed ................................. 140 Annex 3. List of the chief Muslim and non-Muslim civil society organisations ............................................ 141 AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT 3 Open Society Foundations Mission Statement The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Working with local communities in more than 70 countries, the Open Society Foundations support justice and human rights, freedom of expression, and access to public health and education. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements This city report was prepared as part of a series of monitoring reports titled “Muslims in EU cities”. The series focuses on eleven cities in the European Union (EU) with significant Muslim populations. Each report focuses on the following neighbourhoods within each city: Slotervaart, Amsterdam; Borgerhout, Antwerp; Kreuzberg, Berlin; Norrebro, Copenhagen; Hamburg-Mitte, Hamburg; Evington, Spinney Hills, Stoneygate, Leicester; 3rd Arrondissement, Marseille; 18th Arrondissement, Paris; Feijenoord, Rotterdam; Jarvafaltet, Stockholm; the London Borough of Waltham Forest, London. The report has been prepared by the At Home in Europe project of the Open Society Foundations in cooperation with local/national experts. The At Home in Europe Project would like to acknowledge and thank the following individuals who have been engaged with the research since 2008. This report was written by Noel Clycq. Noel Clycq Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies, University of Antwerp, Belgium Professor Christiane Timmerman, Lecturer and Director of Migration and Intercultural Studies (CeMIS), University of Antwerp, has been instrumental throughout all stages of this report for which we are highly appreciative. Under the supervision of Noel Clycq the interviews and focus groups were conducted by a team based in Antwerp. The team was comprised of the following individuals: Annabel Heyse, Anne Bausart, Bilal Alou Issa, Elke Hawwash, Laila Alou Issa, Latifa El Morabit, Nadia Babazia, Narges Laamimach, Tarik Hammouti, Ineke Adriaens. In June 2009, the Open Society Foundations held a closed roundtable meeting in Antwerp inviting critique and commentary on the draft report. We are grateful to the many participants who generously offered their time and expertise. These include representatives of Antwerp and district administration, minority and various civil society organisations, academic experts, and relevant experts. The roundtable was organised by the University of Antwerp to whom we would like to offer particular thanks. The following people and institutions are acknowledged and thanked for their contribution to the report by being available for interviews, providing information or research, or reviewing and critiquing drafts of the report: Fekri Saida El, BOEH (Boss Over Own Head) – Sam Mampaey, De8 vzw, Rika Pauwels De8 vzw, Anna Van der Borght, De8 vzw – Hugo Ongena, Elcker-Ik Volkshogeschool (educational institution), Kwaku Acheampong, Federation for Anglophone Africans in Belgium – Mohamed Chakkar, Federation for Moroccans AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT 5 MUSLIMS IN ANTWERP Associations – Ico Maly, Kifkif – Naima Charkaoui, Center for Minorities – Emmanuel Biniamu Nganga, Center for African Communities – Omar Ba, Center for African Communities – Elauan Najim, Center for Migrant Youth – Lief Vogels, Community Development of the City of Antwerp – Billy Kalonji, Community Development of the City of Antwerp – Sedat Kaya, Union for Turkish associations – Youssef Souissi, Association for Development and Emancipation of Muslims – Tine Debosscher, Flemish Centre of Minorities – Cheba Lamia, Center for Migrant Girls and Women – Abdelmajid Choukri, Student Focus – Davy Verhard, Centre for Equality and Race Relations – Monica De Coninck, Antwerp City Council – Hind Frahi, Antwerp City Council – François Vermeulen, Local Police Antwerp – Winand De Smet, Province Antwerp – Anissa Akhandaf, Police Officer, Diversity Management of City of Antwerp – Andre Van Hauwermeiren, VDAB (regional employment agency) – Bart Van Schel, VDAB (regional employment agency) – Gust De Preter, VSKO (Catholic school community) – Patrick Van de Perre, Journalist “Gazet van Antwerp” (local newspaper) – Sacha Van de Wiele, Journalist “Gazet van Antwerp” (local newspaper) – Hemdane Mouloud, Chairman District Council Borgerhout. A number of other individuals, based in Antwerp, also agreed to be interviewed by the Open Society Foundations Office of Communications team, to whom we offer thanks. The At Home in Europe Project has final responsibility for the content of the report including any errors or misrepresentations. Open Society Foundations Team Nazia Hussain (At Home in Europe Project) Director Tufyal Choudhury (At Home in Europe Project) Senior Policy Advisor Klaus Dik Nielsen (At Home in Europe Project) Advocacy Officer Hélène Irving (At Home in Europe Project) Programme Coordinator Andrea Gurubi Watterson (At Home in Europe Project) Programme Officer