Leiden University Student Repository

Looije, C.A. (2017)

The Moroccan State and Two Moroccan Dutch Mosques in the Netherlands: A Comparative Discourse Analysis

Master thesis | Middle Eastern Studies (MA)

As long as Moroccan Dutch migrants have been present in the Netherlands, discussions have been taking place about the influence of the Moroccan state in the religious sphere in the Netherlands. The official Islam of the state entails following the Malikite school of law, Asharite tradition of theology and Sufism. At the same time, some mosques with largely Moroccan Dutch attendees are known to outspokenly preach the same traditions. Both the Moroccan state and two examples of such mosques in the Netherlands produce discourses on reasons for following these specific traditions and how they relate to the national Moroccan identity. The influence of Morocco on these mosques in advocating a certain Islamic tradition is unclear. By studying both discourses, it may be concluded that the discourses on Islam of the Moroccan state and the two mosques are characterized by different national contexts, wider ongoing debates and positions of power within the wider society.

Morocco Islam Netherlands Transnationalism Madhhab Traditionalism

Author

Looije, C.A.

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

MA Middle Eastern Studies

Supervisors

Berger, M.S.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en