bOOK
MusLiMs OF EuROpE - ThE
“OThER” EuROpEANs
Review by
Tahereh hadian
H. A. Hellyer discusses the
presence of Muslims in
europe historically and
the concept of “Muslim
europeans”. He unfolds
the contribution islam and
Muslims have had in the
western civilization in terms
of art, culture, math, science,
astronomy, physics, etc. He
mentions that islam is not an
alien component in european
culture and has been part of combined with islamic prin-
it. He refers to the benefits ciples, as a specific reading of
europe has made from the law and how the two can co-
golden ages of islamic civili- exist. The reconciliation of
zations and the translations the two islamic and european
of works of philosophers such traditions, not the essential
as ibn Rushd, and Averros. reality of the Muslims being
islam has been part of europe in europe, is the subject that
and has played into the cur- H. A Hellyer discusses in
rent character of european Muslims of europe.
societies. The composition of the eU
There has been a long leg- and the inclusion of slovenia,
acy of hatred and exclusion Cyprus and Lithuania with
ExhibiTiON
contemporary and traditional towards islam and Muslims significant Muslim popu-
‘KpMG MiND, bODY techniques, using calligraphy, in europe; not to say that lations, and the growing
AND sOuL’ - ThE MicA painting, porcelain, sculp- Muslims have stopped immi- number of Muslims in
GALLERY. tures, and glass. grating to europe. The 9/11 europe, have created a new
Review by Fatema Zehra Kevin Jackson combines attacks in New York rein- platform for Muslims to rede-
KPMG hosted the launch of architectural textures and forced and revived the fine their rights in europe.
the islamic Art exhibition, colours of the Arab world, to animosity in europe and the european laws, such as the
to mark the Festival of eid. depict calming urban scenes Us. The London and Madrid right to religion, were not
The exhibition was organ- from across the Middle east. bombings again fuelled hos- granted to Muslims in the
ised under the direction of in contrast, Hassan Massoudy tility between europeans and same way it has been to other
the Mica Gallery of south (work pictured above) works the Muslims. Yet the majority religious groups, but this
Kensington, who specialise in on the simplistic and elegant of europeans did not attribute has now improved in several
islamic and contemporary art. movement of script to create the terrorist actions and the european countries.
The exhibition covered great strokes of colour com- radicalism to islam as a reli- Muslims. H. A. Hellyer
the theme of ‘Mind, Body bined with thought-provoking gion. An important matter states: “european societies
and soul’, a thought provok- words of wisdom. which shifted the perception and their Muslim
ing collection that provided a The islamic Art exhibition about Muslims in europe was communities thus find
beautiful and varied explora- is visual insight into an array that these bombings did not themselves in fascinating
tion of the beliefs, practices of themes of the relationship occur in islamic countries but states of affairs... in the hope
and cultures of islam. The of mind, body, soul, and one- rather happened on european of finding a future of mutual
exhibition explored iconic ness of God. lands. This led to reconsider- benefit.” He concludes that the
symbols and architecture of in Mica Gallery, South ing the status of Muslims in main debates and discourses
an array of styles and textures. Kensington (Mon - Fri, 10am- europe and its compatibil- on islam in the west is no
The Mica gallery also show- 6pm. Sat, 11-6) ity with western european longer islam and europe but
cased emerging artists of both
www.micagallery.com tradition, to say pluralism rather “european islam”.
www.emel.com | emel magazine 99
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