Sociographie des associations islamiques au Luxembourg, à l'aune de l'institutionnalisation de l'islam

This dissertation consists in a research on the Islamic associations in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, under the light of the institutionalization process of the Islamic Cult. It is based on a qualitative research, relied on semi-structured interviews, participant observation and literature review done between 2014 and 2018. This present work is delimited by the particular Luxembourgish context, economically stable and multicultural, with a foreign national rate of 47.9%, nearly half of its resident population, representing more than 170 nationalities. This context is also marked by the reform of the current Constitution and a process of secularization in the country. The latter was accentuated at the end of 2013 under the impetus of the government in place, for the first time without the Social Christian Party, led by the Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (Democratic Party). With this political coalition, a new model of cooperation between the State and the cults is established, creating another generation system of convention. This latter model emphasizes more autonomy to the cults in their internal organization. It also includes, for the first time, the Islamic cult. The Luxembourg context is also specific regarding its Muslim communities, mainly of Balkan origin. These communities have specific characteristics, due to their Islamic cultural practices inherited from the Balkans, including those of Sufism. These communities set up Islamic associations around the country, mainly in the cities. Gradually, the Islamic associative become more diverse, bringing a landscape of organized Islam that is constantly evolving and changing. Thus, from a single Islamic Center in the late 1990s, there are no less than sixteen Islamic associations in 2018. These are animated by different intra-Islamic currents and sensibilities, dividing them into the national network of Islamic associations. Nevertheless, different Islamic associations pursuit at least one common issue, the institutionalization of Islam, in order to obtain certain benefices from it. These associations form together the Shoura, the only interlocutor of the Islamic cult with the Luxembourg State. The convention between these two parties is signed on January 26 2015, making Islam one of the recognized religions in Luxembourg. This dissertation proposes therefore a sociography of Islamic associations in the country, in order to understand the process of institutionalization of Islam in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was conducted.