The Diversification of the Muslim Community in St. Petersburg in the 2010s

Through the intensification of migration, the number of Muslims has multiplied in ethnically Russian areas, including St. Petersburg. Within the heterogeneous Muslim community of the city, countless new communities and initiatives have emerged, but they increasingly face suspicions and restrictions...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of religion in Europe
Authors: Aitamurto, Kaarina 1972- (Author) ; Gaidukov, Alexey V. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2018
In: Journal of religion in Europe
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Saint Petersburg / Secularism / Religious pluralism / Interreligiosity / Islam / Governance
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AX Inter-religious relations
BJ Islam
KBK Europe (East)
Further subjects:B Islam Russia Muslim minorities the governance of Islam pluralization of religiosity
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:Through the intensification of migration, the number of Muslims has multiplied in ethnically Russian areas, including St. Petersburg. Within the heterogeneous Muslim community of the city, countless new communities and initiatives have emerged, but they increasingly face suspicions and restrictions from the authorities. These difficulties reflect the general political urge to exercise more control over religious activity in Russia. Nevertheless, discussions about the need to police Islamic activity contain arguments—similar to those in Western Europe—about the alleged incompatibility of Islam and modern secular societies. This article surveys the development and challenges of new Muslim communities in St. Petersburg in the 2010s. It is argued that the diversification of religiosity is an expected outcome of the pluralization of modern societies. Paradoxically, the restrictive politics that are based on the supposed illiberal, anti-modern nature of Islam promotes religious monopolies and thus a very traditional understanding of religiosity.
ISSN:1874-8929
Contains:In: Journal of religion in Europe
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/18748929-01102008