« Old » and « New » Islam : the case of Muslims
Abstract
Muslims of Greece do not form a homogenous group of population, neither on the social or economic level, nor as far as language, national or ethnic identity is concerned. First of all, Muslims of Greek citizenship belonging to the minority of Thrace (both Turkish-speaking and Bulgarian-speaking) and the Dodecanese islands [voir la carte en début de dossier] constitute a separate group with an important degree of internal coherence (Old Islam) despite ethnic and linguistic differences within the community. Special legal status attributed by the Treaty of Lausanne and implemented by a series of legal acts have contributed to this cohesion. Other Muslim groups of traditional settlement, such as the Muslims of the Dodecanese islands, do not have real social bounds with Muslims of Thrace.
The second category of Muslims, the immigrants (New Islam), who settled mostly in urban areas and especially in Athens, create a network of Islamic society apart, segregated through the national affiliation of each community. Islam, however, creates a common denominator which renders all Muslims a distinct ‘minorised’ group.
The second category of Muslims, the immigrants (New Islam), who settled mostly in urban areas and especially in Athens, create a network of Islamic society apart, segregated through the national affiliation of each community. Islam, however, creates a common denominator which renders all Muslims a distinct ‘minorised’ group.