Forget about human rights in the Middle East and forget also about security issues: the reasonable doubts on embracing multiculturalist tenets concerning the French ban on the wearing of full Islamic covering in public spaces are to be traced elsewhere.

Over the past six months in France, a parliamentary committee was appointed to recommend (though not legally binding) a ban to put the burqa in government and in public places and transport: 18 measures to be taken against the full veil.

The young Czech Muslim community reflects what Europe is becoming: internally diverse, but united and connected to the world.

According to a survey conducted in 2005 by Eurostat, religion is a fundemental aspect of life for 53% of those asked. In general, 49.5% of European citizens are Catholic, 13.7% are Protestant, 8.6% are members of the Orthodox Church, 15.7% are Muslim, 0.4% are Israelite and 25.4% declares to be “not religious”. However, when it comes to mosques, then they all return to the fold and say: “yes, we are Catholic”

This weekend, German Muslims go out to cast their vote in the federal elections. More than a million out of four million are entitled to vote. While the conservative, small entrepreneur profile of many Muslims voters of Turkish and Arab origin would predict a conservative vote, a poll in March showed that most German Muslims would vote socialist or elect a Green politician. The reason has to do with the rhetoric of German parties.