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The Mosque As a Bridge Into Society?

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The Mosque As a Bridge Into Society? Graduate School of Social Sciences MSc Sociology: Migration and Ethnic Studies The mosque as a bridge into society? A qualitative case study on the immigrants’ perspective on the role of the mosque in integration Carmen Roebersen, 11779543 Supervisor: Dr. Adeola Enigbokan Second reader: Dr. Pamela Prickett Date: June 25, 2018 Words: 23.998 Abstract Previous studies on immigrant integration were predominantly based on statistical integration. The present research aims to a further understanding of immigrant integration through the immigrants’ perspective. By using qualitative research methods, observations and interviews, these perspectives have been examined. This empirical study of first and second generation migrants in the Ulu mosque in Lombok shows how placemaking activities help by creating a sense of community, a sense of belonging and access to markers and means. It details three salient components, namely, place existence and aesthetics, interior place design, and place activities, and also how these helped to form and sustain the Muslim community. This study argues that the Ulu mosque is beneficial and indispensable in the integration process and bridges the gap between native Dutch and Muslims. The results are presented as means for future research and policy implications. 2 Table of contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 2 1 A case study about a unique mosque ........................................................................................... 5 1.0 The Ulu mosque: a unique mosque in the Netherlands? ................................................... 5 1.1 The Ulu mosque and the contradicting discourse within Dutch society ............................ 6 1.2 Context ................................................................................................................................ 9 1.2.0 Religiosity: barrier or bridge? ................................................................................... 9 1.2.1 The multicultural nightmare in Lombok ................................................................. 10 1.2.2 The multicultural dream in Lombok ....................................................................... 11 1.3 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................... 12 1.3.0 Integration: what is it? ........................................................................................... 12 1.3.1 Existence & Aesthetics: Development of mosques in the Netherlands ................ 13 1.3.2 Placemaking at the mosque ................................................................................... 15 1.3.4 Belonging and community building ........................................................................ 17 1.4 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 19 1.4.0 Research methods .................................................................................................. 19 1.4.1 Selection of respondents ........................................................................................ 22 1.4.2 Who are the respondents? ..................................................................................... 22 1.5 Overview ........................................................................................................................... 23 2 The existence of the mosque: A metaphor for Muslims and their position in Dutch society .... 25 2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 25 2.1 A ‘visible’ mosque? ........................................................................................................... 25 2.1.0 What is the problem of (non-)visibility? ................................................................. 25 2.1.1 The visibility and aesthetics of the Ulu mosque: an exception or an example? .... 26 2.2 The existence of the mosque: who belongs? ................................................................... 30 2.2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 30 2.2.1 The role of the Ulu mosque in community building and integration into society . 31 2.2.2 Who belongs to these markets? ............................................................................. 33 2.2.3 The market as a centre for community building .................................................... 35 2.2.4 The market as a two-way process of integration ................................................... 36 2.3 The meaning of the mosque: how to belong? .................................................................. 38 2.3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 38 2.3.1 Is the mosque still a spiritual place? ...................................................................... 39 2.3.2 New functions of the mosque? .............................................................................. 40 2.4 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 46 3 3 Place design of the mosque: Networking in the mosque? ......................................................... 48 3.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 48 3.1 The ‘kebab factory’, more than just a restaurant ............................................................. 48 3.2 The Muslim community and economic opportunities ..................................................... 50 3.3 Placemaking at the youth centre ...................................................................................... 52 3.4 Going beyond religious convictions .................................................................................. 54 3.4.0 Silent room ............................................................................................................. 54 3.4.1 ‘Friendship’ between the church and the mosque ................................................ 56 3.5 Men and women area: a place for discussion? ................................................................ 57 3.5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 57 3.5.1 Men area: A school for norms and values? ............................................................ 58 3.5.2 Women area: A school for norms and values?....................................................... 58 3.5.3 The creation of trust within these areas ................................................................ 59 3.5.4 The community and economic placemaking activities........................................... 60 3.5.5 Mosque or childcare? ............................................................................................. 61 3.6 Meet & Greet: the importance of a community? ............................................................. 61 3.7 The paradox of a community ............................................................................................ 63 3.8 The community: desirable or not? ................................................................................... 64 3.9 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 65 4 Conclusion and Discussion .......................................................................................................... 67 5 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................ 72 6 Appendix ..................................................................................................................................... 80 6.0 Appendix A. Topiclist ........................................................................................................ 80 6.1 Appendix B. Codebook ...................................................................................................... 81 4 1 A case study about a unique mosque 1.0 The Ulu mosque: a unique mosque in the Netherlands? “It is a place of unity, we are all different, but in the mosque we are one [..]in the mosque people don’t judge you based on nationality, because religion stands above nationality. Religion doesn’t know colour or race” (Mounir, Dutch-Turk, 26). With this statement Mounir addresses the desire of the Ulu mosque to function as an overarching religious and socio-cultural place in Utrecht. After the opening of the new mosque in 2015 newspaper articles arose with titles such as, “a mosque for the whole neighbourhood” and “Ulu mosque bucked with prayer area ‘for everyone’” (Huisman, 2013: Hoekstra, 2015). The openness and welcoming attitude of the board of the Ulu mosque creates among its visitors a representation of the diversity that graces multicultural Lombok, where over 40 different nationalities live (Brandpunt, 2017). The prospective imam of the Ulu mosque explained that the goal and duty of the originally Turkish mosque is to deal with the diversity in the neighbourhood, and that their divers visitors, from Moroccans to Syrians, are all welcome (O., personal communication, February 26,
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