Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies
Vol 11, No 1 (2021): Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies

Countering Islamophobia in Portugal: experience of Indonesian Muslim expatriates

Sa'adi Sa'adi (State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) Salatiga)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Jun 2021

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the Indonesian Muslim expatriate experiences in countering Islamophobia in Portugal. There are 488 Indonesian expatriates in Portugal, of whom 384 (78%) are Muslims, working on diplomatic missions, students, traders, professionals, laborers, and others. To analyze the data, the researcher used triangulation techniques such as interviews through guided written questions, observation, and documentation, using factor analyses covering items of Portugal government policy on religious life, characters of Portuguese culture, the characters of Indonesian Muslim socio-culture, educational background of Indonesian Muslim expatriates, and normative Islamic teaching inspiring their socioreligious views and attitude. As the main findings, the research revealed that in countering the Islamophobia experience, the Indonesian Muslim expatriates in Portugal feel joy, safety, peace, a harmonious life. Also, they feel like in their home towns; they can access public services easily and practice private, and religious activities normally, although the number of mosques in public places is very few. None of them experienced extreme hatred, prejudice, harassment, hostility, bad words, bad attitudes and treatments, discrimination, and Islamophobia from local citizens or other groups.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijims

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities

Description

Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies (IJIMS): This journal should coverage Islam both as a textual tradition with its own historical integrity and as a social reality which was dynamic and constantly changing. The journal also aims at bridging the gap between the textual and contextual ...