Brigitte Marechal – författare

The growing tensions and occasional clashes between believers in the two main strands of Islam have been major concerns. Upheavals within the Shia sphere of influence had altered the relationship: the Iranian revolution of 1979 changed the politics of Iranian Shiism, and impacted on Shia communities regionally, while the 2003 Anglo-American invasion of Iraq initiated a new phase of tension in Sunni-Shia relations. The spectre of a sectarian war in Iraq, a diplomatic and military offensive against the Lebanese Hezbollah and a potentially nuclear armed Iran (along with Tehran's support for Hamas) prompted King Abdallah II of Jordan to warn of an emerging 'Shia crescent'. However, away from such grand geopolitical gestures, Sunni-Shia relations are being rearticulated through an array of local, regional and global connections. This book presents wide-ranging and up-to-date research that sheds light on the political, sociological and ideological processes that are affecting the dynamics within, as well as the relationships between, the Shia and Sunni worlds. Among the themes discussed are the ideological and doctrinal evolutions that are taking place, the contextualisation of the main protagonists' political practices, transnational networks, and the role of intellectuals, religious scholars and the media in shaping and informing this dynamic relationship.

This volume provides an overview on the history of the Muslim Brotherhood and the ways its heritage is appropriated by its European members today. They define themselves as the “community of the middle way”, in the centre of Islamic orthodoxy, proposing an ethos and an ideology. However their heritage is composed of many different intellectual strata and these inputs are in tension. The current movement is both powerful and fragile as certain fundamental principles remain respected while many other themes are currently being cautiously questioned. By analysing private interviews and public discourse, this book fills in an important gap in scholarly research. No other in-depth study exists about this little known and reserved but important reference for European Muslims.

The Yearbook of Muslims in Europe provides an up-to-date account of the situation of Muslims in Europe. Covering 37 countries of western, central and south-eastern Europe, the Yearbook consists of three sections: the first section presents a country-by-country summary of essential data with basic statistics with evaluations of their reliability, surveys of legal status and arrangements, organizations, etc. providing an annually up-dated reference resource. The second section contains analysis and research articles on issues and themes of current relevance written by experts in the field. The final section provides reviews of recently published books of significance.The Yearbook is an important source of reference for government and NGO officials, journalists, and policy makers as well as researchers.

The Yearbook of Muslims in Europe provides an up-to-date account of the situation of Muslims in Europe. Covering 46 countries of Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals, the Yearbook consists of three sections: the first section presents a country-by-country summary of essential data with basic statistics with evaluations of their reliability, surveys of legal status and arrangements, organisations, etc. Data have been brought up to date from the first volume. The second section contains analysis and research articles on issues and themes of current relevance written by experts in the field. The final section provides reviews of recently published books of significance.The Yearbook is an important source of reference for government and NGO officials, journalists, and policy makers as well as researchers