عنوان

The added-value of minority rights protection for Muslims in Western Europe :

Number

TLets810280

Title Proper

The added-value of minority rights protection for Muslims in Western Europe :

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Berry, Stephanie Eleanor

Title Proper by Another Author

multiculturalist approaches and international law

Subsequent Statement of Responsibility

Xanthaki, A.

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brunel University

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2014

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Thesis (Ph.D.)

Text preceding or following the note

2014

Text of Note

Against the backdrop that multiculturalism has failed in Western Europe, this thesis argues that minority rights standards should be applied to Western European Muslims. Western European States have consistently excluded Muslims from minority rights protection under international law on the basis that they constitute 'new minorities'. However, this thesis asserts that the justifications given by States for the exclusion of Western European Muslims from minority rights protection no longer hold true and have the potential to undermine the object and purpose of the minority rights regime - security and justice. Furthermore, by considering the content of both generally applicable human rights standards and minority rights standards in the light of the situation and specific claims made by Muslim minorities in Western Europe, in relation to the preservation of their identity, this thesis proves that there is an added-value to minority rights protection for these communities. Minority rights standards and multiculturalist policies adopt a similar approach to the accommodation of societal diversity. Thus, given the exclusion of Western European Muslims from the additional protection offered by minority rights standards, this thesis submits that multiculturalist approaches to the accommodation of European Muslims have not failed; insufficient measures have been adopted to ensure their success. If a multiculturalist approach to the accommodation of diversity is to be pursued in Western Europe, States must allow Muslim minorities to benefit from the protection available under minority rights standards.

Minority rights; Freedom of religion; Muslim minorities; Multiculturalism

Brunel University

Xanthaki, A.

Brunel University

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y