Different ways of recognising Islam in liberal societies: limits and contradictions

• Main Author: Encarnación La Spina
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) 2017-04-01
• Series: Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals
• Subjects: Islam; diversity; conflict; public space; human rights; Europe
• Online Access: http://www.raco.cat/index.php/RevistaCIDOB/article/view/321491/412080

The negative stereotypes and emotions projected onto a threatening image of Islam directly influence the ways diversity and coexistence are recognised, for example, in the wearing of the burqa or niqab, in the provision of food in accordance with religious beliefs and in the location of places of worship and cemeteries. This article first analyses the legal treatment of Islam in these specific cases of managing the public space; second, it reflects on the limits and contradictions that arise in the prevention of Islamophobic attacks; and it concludes that possible failures of coexistence derive from the lack of respect for human rights in terms of equality.