Minarets in the Mountains: A Journey Into Muslim Europe (Bradt Travel Guides (Travel Literature))

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Whilst some will say it's because they were communists, I believe that's only the tip of the iceberg and that it was built on Islamophobia, because long before it was communist, for almost six centuries much of it was Muslim. The author and his family moved from Bangladesh to East London at the peak of the racism controversy. His family accompany him on his journey, and this imbues the prose with a sense of warmth and humour. For more details, please consult the latest information provided by Royal Mail's International Incident Bulletin.

And yet he constantly reminds us of the long periods of tolerance and symbiosis, often forgotten in the din of war.

Emigration is also barely touched on – it’s a big issue in the Balkans, where some countries have lost 25% of their population since the fall of Communism. Shortlisted in the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2022: Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year. The most interesting parts were about the present-day and the people the author met, so it's a pity that this aspect wasn't as prominent as the long discourses on history and architecture (thank goodness for internet photographs, I say). A deep dive into the historical roots of European Islamophobia, and the places where Muslim Europe still exists make this one of the most compelling books for readers who wish to see the world through a wider lens. He is the creator of Britain’s first Muslim heritage trails and has produced award-winning radio for the BBC on America’s earliest mosques and Muslim communities.

All of this work is to essentially just try and move towards a normalisation of Islam being a part of the Western cultural landscape. As we journey through Islamophobia Awareness Month this November, and reflect on the hatred, exclusion, misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Muslims from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, this story of blond-haired, blue-eyed, white Muslims indigenous to Europe provides a lot of food for thought on the nature of anti-Muslim rhetoric from the past to the present day.Visiting Albania myself and be in the same places including NP restaurant I can say Country is more fascinating that one written in his book. Discover royal palaces, have a pint in a pub, and catch a West End show - all guided by local experts with fresh perspectives. That's because Western Europe considers Greek and Hellenic heritage as the very foundations of Western civilisation. This creates a wonderful balance for the reader; nothing feels forced; it’s almost like the vast wealth of information and history in the book comes to us through osmosis.

This included developing walking trails and identifying points of interest linked to the 17th century Thai-Muslim Sultanate of Singhora. The author visits historic mosques and old bridges, Sufi lodges and Ottoman hammams, all the while seamlessly weaving in tales of sultans and imperial architects. The book explores the historic roots of Islamophobia in Europe, as the author grapples with his multi-faceted identity, and considers where he and his mixed race Muslim family (Tharik’s wife, Tamara, is English), fit into modern Europe.But is it not possible that such an obsession over a book is going to drive excessive adherence to it? Even if you haven't been to any of these countries, just googling up the images from the places he visited and reading his description of his exploration of these long-forgotten towns and suburbs are enough to give you an idea of the current state of the countries and its citizens. Through travel’s most talented storytellers, you’ll face adversity along the Congo’s raging River Lulua, make new friends aboard Iraq’s night train, and embark on life-changing pilgrimages from India to Saudi Arabia. On a fundamental level, the book achieves the goal of any travel narrative: it made me want to dust off my backpack and head to the various places Tharik encountered on his journey.