Explaining the Accommodation of Muslim Religious Practices in France, Britain, and Germany

Abstract

Over nine million Muslims currently live in Western Europe, which makes them the largest religious minority in the region. Especially since the end of the Cold War, vexing policy questions have emerged related to the religious and political rights of Muslim immigrants and refugees. This paper analyzes state accommodation of Muslim religious practices in France, Britain, and Germany, first examining three major explanations: resource mobilization, state structure, and ideology. We then propose an additional explanation based on the constitutional and policy legacy of church–state relations in each country.