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Strategic Trends Update: The Rise of Islam

from the December 05, 2006 eNews issue
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In recent months we have witnessed the reemergence of the Russian nationalist movement. Yet even as Russia's political climate cools towards outsiders, the Muslim population in the former Soviet Union is growing by leaps and bounds. Rising immigration and low birthrates among ethnic Russians have contributed to this trend. Russia's Muslim population has increased by 40 percent since 1989, to about 25 million. By 2015, Muslims will make up a majority of Russia's conscript army, and by 2020 they will constitute one-fifth of the population. Fifteen years ago, Russia had about 300 mosques, today there are approximately 8,000. Experts say that if current trends continue, nearly one third of Russia's population will be Muslim by the mid-century.

According the CIA World Factbook, Russia's overall population is dropping at a rate of 700,000 people a year, largely because of the short life spans and low birthrates of ethnic Russians. The national fertility rate is only about 1.2 children per woman. Russia's Muslims, however, are bucking that trend. The fertility rate for Muslims ranges from 6 to 10 children per woman. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Muslims immigrants have been flocking to Russia in search of work.

Russia has experienced difficulty integrating its growing Muslim population. Growing ethnic tensions in Russia have begun to mirror those of its European neighbors. Much like Russia, Islam has become significant part of the cultural and political landscape of Europe. There are between 9 and 15 million Muslims living throughout Europe today, and Islam has become the largest religious minority. Considering current population trends, it is likely that the number of Muslims in Europe will continue to grow exponentially.

The Muslim population in Europe has expanded so rapidly that Europe is experiencing growing pains. However the problem is not overcrowding, it is increased cultural tensions and the failure of devout Muslims to integrate into European society. The problem became the focus of world wide attention last November, when widespread rioting broke out in France. The violence stemmed from feelings of alienation and frustration among France's Muslim immigrant population. During the rioting more than 7,000 vehicles were torched, buildings were destroyed, several people were killed, and more than 2,000 people were arrested.

Islam is becoming an increasingly volatile catalyst in today's international scene. Islam is the worlds fastest growing religion, and it is second in size only to Christianity. The truth about Islam is exactly the opposite of what you will hear on the news. Many Americans believe that Islam is a religion of peace and that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. In public schools we teach our children a doctrine of tolerance, and in some schools students are even required to memorize passages of the Koran. While in comparison Islamic children are taught that America is the Infidel. We are the enemy. When the towers came crashing down on September 11, 2001 and thousands of innocent people were killed, Muslims all over the world danced in the streets and praised the hijackers. Islamic terrorists are referred to in the West as radicals and extremists, while in the Middle East they are heralded by fundamentalists as martyrs and heroes, and the families of suicide bombers are rewarded monetary pensions. The disparity between the two perspectives is staggering, yet Americans do not seem understand the truth about Islam.

If you want more information on the origin and nature of Islam we have a number of resources available, such as The Sword of Allah. See the links below for more information.