Multiculturalism, gentrification, and Islam in the public space: the case of Baitul Mukarram in Lavapiés

Abstract

In plural and secular societies today, religious communities understand access to public space as a right to the city. Thisright legitimises their status as social actors and, through various notions linked to modernity and transparency, entitlesthem to have a public life and be recognised by others. By examining the case of Bangladeshi Muslims in Lavapiés, oneof Madrid’s multicultural district undergoing intense gentrification and touristification processes, this article analyses theconditions through which this community accesses public space and achieves legitimisation and recognition through different practices and discourses displayed in a variety of events and festivities.

Kazakhstan Model of Interethnic Relations: Cultural Aspect

“…In this regard, the Assembly has become an essential element of the Kazakh political system, uniting the interests of all ethnic groups and ensuring respect for the rights of every citizen regardless of their belonging to a national or religious group. This system of interactions allowed for effective moderation of the society where representatives of over 130 ethnic groups live (Verkuyten & Yogeeswaran, 2020;Saleem, 2021).…”

“…One of the striking cultural aspects in interethnic relations is the issue of coverage of the involvement of citizens of Kazakhstan in the cultural life of the country and the use of their native language and culture is carried out in periodicals within the thematic areas. To this end, the coverage of topical issues of modernity, integration processes on the territory of the CIS, is also provided by active publications designed to subject the topics of national ethnic groups (Saleem, 2021). Thus, national schools function in places where ethnic minorities live, while Sunday schools for the study of native languages and traditions work at national cultural centres, and national media are published.…”

“…To develop this understanding, education becomes a key factor that contributes to the cultivation of awareness of ethnic and cultural differences in sociopolitical community, friendship between various religious and national groups (Kozhevnikova & Merkulova, 2020). It should be remembered that the development level of the educational system affects what values are formed in individuals in the process of communicating with the outside world (Kuzelnyi, 2020), as well as the inherent values (especially at school and student age) that affect the future of the state (Saleem, 2021).…”

“…One of the keys to understanding the structure of interethnic relations is the cultural, confessional, and linguistic diversity in a multi-ethnic state (Salguero Montaño & Hejazi, 2021;Thelamour & Mwangi, 2021), which Kazakhstan represents. In the chosen cultural aspect, the starting point in understanding this issue is the Kazakh tradition of multiculturalism and tolerance.…”

The Influence of the Soviet Regime on the Religious Beliefs of Ethnic Minorities

“…One of the main questions that arose at that time was the question of the evolution and transformation of religious relations on the territory of the Soviet Union, as well as the question of how the totalitarian machine of the Soviet regime, with the help of propaganda and manipulation, changed the worldview and religious beliefs of those nationalities who lived on the territory of the Soviet Union (McDougall, 2020). Attention should be paid to the religion of people who suffered from forced migration as they were ripped off not only from their religion but also from their usual cultural environment (Salguero Montaño and Hejazi, 2021). In the context of the so-called ideological monoculture, the Soviet leadership could not consider and recognise alternative and competing ideologies.…”