ABSTRACT
In recent decades, relations between Muslims and non-Muslims have been the subject of increased debate. Especially since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the United States, more attention has been paid to the negative attitudes toward Muslims held by non-Muslims. Several opinion polls conducted after the attacks showed that negative attitudes toward Muslims were widespread, especially in the Netherlands where a majority of the population (51 percent) indicated having a negative attitude toward Muslims, compared to 34 percent in France, 22 percent in the USA and only 14 percent in Great Britain (Pew Research Center 2005). In addition, a substantial part of the population believed that the culture and lifestyle of Muslims was incompatible with the Western way of life (Pew Research Center 2006; Sniderman and Hagendoorn 2007). Because the attacks of 9/11 were carried out by Muslims who had also been living in Western societies – the USA and Germany – it further was questioned to what extent Muslims should have the freedom to follow their own practices within Western societies.
