Islam in the Czech Republic

Islam in the Czech Republic

History

First documented visit of a person with knowledge of Islam was made (964-965) by Íbrahím ibn Jaqúb, a Jewish merchant from then Muslim Spain. His memoirs were later published to became one of the first accounts about Central Europe in Islamic world. Occasionally, Muslim mercenaries were part of armies ravaging the country during its history (for example Cumans during Hussite Wars). During both sieges of Vienna reconnaissance groups of Ottoman armies reached Moravia. Strong trade links between Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire emerged during 19th century.

Influence on culture

Traditionally, influence of Islam on culture of Czech lands was and is small. Alois Musil and Bedřich Hrozný represented Czech Arabists.

Modern era

A law from 1912 recognized Islam as "state religion" and officially allowed its presence in the region. The first community ("Moslimské náboženské obce pro Československo") was established in 1934. In 1949 previous registration was abolished. An attempt to set up new community in 1968 failed. In 1991 "Center of Muslim communities" ("Ústředí muslimských náboženských obcí") was established. In 1998 a mosque was opened in Brno [http://brno.muslim.cz/] and a year later in Prague [http://praha.muslim.cz/] . Attempt to open mosques in a couple of other cities was stopped by local citizens. In 2004 Islam was officially registered: the community is thus eligible to obtain funds from the state.

The estimated number of Muslims (almost all of them Sunni) today in the Czech Republic is over 10,000. The number rose sharply during the 1990s and has remained stable since.

Most of the Muslims are refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina (early 1990s) and former countries of Soviet Union (mostly from Caucasus region, from the late 1990s until the present). A significant and influential part are the middle-class people of Egyptian, Syrian and other Middle Eastern ancestries (typically those who studied in Czechoslovakia and decided to stay). A few hundred Muslims are Czech converts.

Islamic terrorists reportedly conspired in 2006 to hold Jews hostage in a Prague synagogue and then blow up the building. The 2006 Prague terror plot was foiled by Czech security services [ [http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,441131,00.html Spiegel Online] ]

References

* Miloš Mendel, Jiří Bečka, "Islám a české země", Olomouc, Votobia, 1998. ISBN 80-7220-034-8

ee also

* Islam in Slovakia

External links

(all texts are in Czech language)
* [http://www.islamweb.cz/ Portal of Islam in the Czech Republic]
* [http://www.christnet.cz/magazin/clanek.asp?clanek=2016 History of Islam in the Czech Republic]