آموزش اسلامی در اروپای شرقی

The chapter explores Islamic education in selected countries in Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Poland, and Ukraine). Islam in Eastern Europe has a long history: it arrived in Eastern Europe in the seventh and eighth centuries, and Muslims have lived in these countries for generations. Hence, the question of Islamic education has remained as a contested topic among Eastern European societies. One of the most important peculiarities in this region is that the Christian heritage and the political relations have left great imprint on the traditional relations between Islam and the state. Among Eastern Europe, there are different approaches to religious education: in some countries, multiconfessionalism is typical, while in others, religion is excluded from state education. This chapter provides examples of such different approaches in the three above-mentioned countries. In Poland, religion still dominates the nation and the majority of the population supports the enactment of the basics of Catholicism at Polish schools, but not Islam. In Bulgaria, multireligiosity is implemented, providing possibilities for Islamic education. In Ukraine, religion is separated from state education. The most common way for children to receive Islamic education in all three countries is to attend private religious schools.