Many international observers of European-Muslim affairs would hardly disagree with the statement that the current situation of Muslims in Europe seems to have worsened in last months. The recent Paris Attacks, the important stream of Syrian (and non-Syrian) refugees to Europe, and the chaotic situation in the Middle East have triggered many intense discussions about the “dangers” and the place of Islam in Western societies. The return of the rhetoric of the so-called “war on terror” in Western Europe is this time accompanied by some very intense fears of violence,... mistrust on both sides, and doubts about the future for Islam in Europe. The only ones who seem to benefit from this atmosphere of fear are the far-right movements in the West and ISIS, of course. While the most radicals on both sides seem to have found in the actual context the ideal conditions to push their agendas forward, the confusion of the silent majority is growing everyday. The public discussions are so heated and passionate that it is extremely difficult for non-experts to gain a clear and deep understanding of the situation.

How and why did we get here? What is particular about the situation of European Muslims? How can the history of Islam and Muslims in Europe in the twentieth century help us understand the current developments regarding the presence of Islam and Muslims in Europe? And what role can academic scholarship play in the promotion of social peace and mutual understanding in European societies? These and other questions will be at the center of the talk of Dr. Mehdi Sajid.

Dr. Mehdi Sajid is a German-Moroccan scholar specialized in the history of modern encounters between Islamic and Western cultures. He is currently a postdoc researcher at Utrecht University, where he is part of the ERC-funded project 'Muslims in Interwar Europe' under the direction of Dr. Umar Ryad. His recent publications include 'Muslims in Interwar Europe – A Transcultural Perspective', and 'Muslims in Interwar Europe and the Deconstruction of the Fascination with the West. A critical reading of Shakīb Arslān’s articles in the Egyptian journal al-Fatḥ (1926-1935)', (in German), both published in 2015.