A culture shaped by the Enlightenment cannot be overrun by a medieval culture that refuses to change, and it is up to Europe to save itself.
Explaining the decline of the Roman Empire in The Story of Civilization, Will Durant wrote: “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within.” The same could become true of the European Union (EU) in the 21st century. Postmodern illusions of a benign and righteous multiculturalism are allowing Islamist ideology—which has no reservations about its supremacist ambitions—to spread its roots with unprecedented virulence.
Consider how a guilt-shame complex fostered by leftist academia in institutions, the media, and the public is eroding the Judeo-Christian ethos. Christmas is no longer Christmas but some silly secular celebration like ‘Winter Journey’ or ‘Destination Beautiful Winter,’ while ‘Merry Christmas’ is being replaced by ‘Happy Winter.’ In the U.S., France, Spain, Germany, and beyond, governments, schools, and media outlets have diminished, canceled, or sanitized Judeo-Christian festivals and done away with Christian symbols, lights, and even traditional songs.
At the same time, Islam is permitted a loud and visible presence. Ramadan celebrations are happening more often at iconic locations and major government buildings. Iftar prayers are increasingly being held in public spaces rather than in mosques. Belgium, for example, organized the longest iftar dinner—2 km long, crossing multiple communities, and serving over 8,000 guests. The adhan, which proclaims there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger, echoes from loudspeakers, asserting Islamic dominance and rejecting all other religions, to which such accommodations are outright denied.
In the U.K., iftars were even held within cathedrals in Manchester, Bristol, Southwark, Bradford, St. Paul’s, and Coventry. Declaring Allah as the only true God in a place dedicated to practicing Christianity is a direct violation of canon law, but the influence of public opinion and mood has increasingly led churches to permit it- perhaps as a gesture of virtue signaling or out of fear of criticism. No one questions whether the practices of other religions would ever be allowed in a mosque.
Public prayer is not permitted for other religions—even Christianity—in a predominantly Christian continent. Only Islam receives that privilege: in many cities in the U.S. and Europe, traffic is delayed when Muslims perform namaz on the streets. However, Christians are often arrested for proselytizing, preaching, or even praying. Constitutional rights—such as the freedom of belief and opinion—are selectively disregarded: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was charged twice for quietly standing and praying outside an abortion clinic.
The broad cultural shift across Europe has been toward a questionable and rigid rational-scientific-secular outlook when it comes to all religions other than Islam. The U.K. and other European countries have been going out of their way to accommodate Muslim beliefs. Laws and school guidelines warn against depictions of Mohammed and even of human figures—since Muslims might find them blasphemous. A 32-page booklet issued by the city of Leeds warns educators about Muslim “sensitivities” to art, dance, music, and physical education.
The UK’s new definition of “anti-Muslim hostility” includes a blasphemy law that closely resembles Islamic doctrine. Under this law, legitimate concerns and criticisms about Muslims and their practices could be easily suppressed. Even more concerning, it might also hinder police, public services, and NGOs from addressing issues like grooming gangs, female genital mutilation, and terrorism. Despite these broad protections, the Muslim Council of Britain described the changes as a “diminished version” that did not seek input from its leadership during discussions. This contrasts with the dhimmitude imposed on non-Muslims in Islamic countries.
Coordinated Islamization through peaceful and violent means continues rapidly in Europe because countries are welcoming a community that refuses to integrate. Large-scale migration is followed by the construction of more mosques and madrasas, a rise in sharia courts, and Muslims choosing to follow Islamic law over national laws. Landscapes are noticeably changing, and Muslim neighborhoods, where Islamic dress and dietary codes are enforced, are becoming more common in European cities.
Many Muslim neighborhoods have become no-go zones for law enforcement, despite being hotspots for crime, violence against women, Islamist indoctrination, and terrorism. A 2020 Swedish study found a strong connection between crime and immigration. From 2002 to 2017, immigrants (mostly Muslim) were suspects in 74% of murders, attempted murders, and manslaughter cases, and in 70% of robberies. Since 2018, Sweden, France, Germany, and the U.K. have experienced a rise in bombings, gang shootings, stabbings, beheadings, and assaults on police. Sweden, in particular, has become the rape capital of Europe, while the U.K. refuses to acknowledge the existence of grooming and rape gangs targeting underage girls.
These crimes are rarely prosecuted because Muslims have become a protected class in much of Europe, a status they have gained through large-scale immigration and deliberate pressure. As the Muslim population grows, so do accusations of racism and Islamophobia. Europe, in its obsession with multiculturalism and the idea of a secular state free from any cultural influence, goes above and beyond to accommodate Islamic beliefs and protect Muslims.
A Pew Research Center study estimated the Muslim population in Europe at 4.9%, projected to grow to between 7.4% and 14% by 2025, depending on migration trends and fertility rates, which are generally higher among Muslim immigrants than in native populations. Germany and Sweden could see Muslim populations reach 20–30%, while France, Italy, and Belgium could face similar pressure. Once large Muslim communities are established, they can advocate for laws that support Islamic dominance. Additionally, there is always an unspoken threat that any perceived wrong may lead to retaliatory terrorist attacks.
American Greatness
THE ARTFUL DILETTANTE 