Migrant integration and freedom of religion: modern problems

Abstract

The article explores theoretical and practical problems of socio-cultural integration of the Muslim migrants in the Western European countries. The study is focused on the reflection regarding the challenges that the European legal system is facing in new religious realities brought by migrant communities in the post-Christian cultural context.Based on the analysis of the data of sociological studies conducted in Europe, a number of factors determining the attitudes of the population of the receiving countries towards migrants are singled out. The author pays a special attention to social and legal aspects of migration processes. The reflection of the migration in the practice of the European Court of Human Rights marks certain changes in acceptable limits of restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, belief and religion.The study refutes criticism on the position of the European Court of Human Rights considered as discriminatory and assimilatory. The author proves that the religious right can be restricted to help ensure socio-cultural integration of the Muslim migrants.