Integrating Immigrant Communities
After the riots in the French suburbs in 2007 (not to mention 2005), Olivier Roy – an expert on Islam and politics – said, “what these guys want is integration.” In a presentation of his book (published the same year), Secularism Confronts Islam, Olivier Roy discussed the “tools” of integration. With respect to the situation in Holland, Roy said, “After 9/11, after the assassination of Theo Van Gogh, suddenly there is a feeling in Europe that [assimilation and multiculturalism], in fact did fail. That multiculturalism is not working or is heading towards very negative side effects, and on the other hand, assimilation in France has created problems – not created, but has opened the door for polemics about what is the place, what is the role for religion in the French public place.”
This month, Human Rights Watch has released a report titled “The Netherlands: Discrimination in the Name of Integration.” The research looks at measures instituted by the authorities in the Netherlands “with the stated aim of better integrating its migrant population.” One of the measures is the overseas integration test, which aims to have new immigrants integrate into the Dutch culture before arriving in Holland. The test primarily targets the migrants from two of the three largest immigrant communities in Holland – Moroccans and Turks. These communities have specifically been under greater pressure because of allegations that they do not integrate. “The main targets for these attacks have been Muslim communities, especially Turks and Moroccans.” Human Rights Watch has found that the integration test is discriminatory on the grounds that it is not required from all immigrant communities and the costs of taking the test abroad may pose an excessive financial burden (indirect discrimination).
May 18th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
[…] -Muslim Immigrants to Europe: In a Foreign Policy Association Religion and Politics blog post by one of our charming and intelligent bloggers, Karin Esposito, the integration of Muslims into European society is discussed on her posting: Integrating Immigrant Communities. Karin points out in refer to author Olivier Roy, that after 9/11, the French immigrant riots and the killing of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh there is a feeling that assimilation and multiculturalism was a failure in the European context. In reference to a HRW report in Immigration in the Netherlands, she points out that tests sent to the home countries of many immigrants may act as indirect discrimination, targeting specific immigrant groups even before they come into the country as detailed in the report. The challenge is far from being resolved, as a new way to view integration will likely have to be created to promote any dialogue between communities, preferably without the use of Cartoons. […]
May 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Good Day Karin,
Im Rich Basas from the Migration and Latin America blog. I loved your posted and thought Id give it more attention via the Migration blog. Thanks again for your work…feel free to contact me anytime.
Cheers,
RB