Episode notes
- What this episode asks: Can Islam, as lived and organized in Western democracies, align with one secular legal order, strong free-speech protections (including for blasphemy), and full gender/LGBTQ equality?
- Migration facts vs. fears: EU registered ~14M first-time residence permits (2015–2024). Muslim share remains single-digit and rising gradually; local concentration drives perceptions. Expect Pew’s next Europe update around 2026; arc remains incremental, not explosive.
- Sharia and secular law: Europe’s courts remain secular; most “Sharia councils” offer non-binding advice. Outcomes track integration quality—language, work access, civics, and consistent enforcement—more than slogans.
- Crime and gender violence: Young men in deprived urban pockets (native and foreign) drive a disproportionate share. Adjusting for age a ...