Paper short abstract:

Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted within the project “(In)visible Islam in the City” (Lausanne), this contribution seeks to examine how public events staged by Muslim organizations of the Lemanic region challenge or reinforce the boundaries of religious, ethnic and/or national belongings.

Paper long abstract:

In a context marked by international conflicts and a culturalization of public debates on "integration", Muslims in Europe face a paradoxical situation. While evolving in very different cultural, economic and social settings, they are increasingly asked to speak with one voice as "Muslims" and to demonstrate their commitment to "European values" (i. e. secularism, democracy, gender equality). As a response to this injunction, Muslim organizations develop different strategies such as the building of unions struggling for recognition or the organizing of public events ("doors open days", "interreligious meetings") in order to reach non-Muslim audiences (political authorities, journalists, local population, etc.) as well as different Muslim groups.

Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted within the project "(In)visible Islam in the City", this contribution seeks to examine how public events staged by Muslim organizations of the Lemanic region challenge or reinforce the boundaries of religious, ethnic and/or national belongings. We will focus thereby not only on the discourses of the representatives but also on other aspects of these encounters such as food, musical performances, informal discussions or body language. During these events indeed, Muslim organizations try to address the differentiated expectations of their participants and audiences. This leads to the displaying, negotiating and sometimes folklorization of multiple belongings. What kinds of interactions are produced and what discrepancies can arise? To what extent do these events challenge a normative view on citizenship?