Czechia

Islam in Czechia (the Czech Republic) is a very small minority religion, but it has been growing gradually over the past few decades. Here are the key points:

1. Muslim Population:
Muslims make up less than 0.1% of the Czech population — around 20,000–25,000 people in a country of over 10 million. The Muslim community consists mainly of:

  • Immigrants from countries like Turkey, Bosnia, Kosovo, the Middle East, and North Africa.
  • Czech converts, though their numbers are modest.
  • Students and expatriates, especially from Islamic countries.

2. History of Islam in Czechia:

  • Islam has no deep historical roots in Czech lands, unlike in parts of the Balkans or Eastern Europe.
  • It was only officially recognized as a religion in 2004, granting Muslims certain religious rights and the ability to establish organizations.
  • Most Muslim migration happened after the 1990s, following the fall of communism and the Yugoslav wars (many Bosnian Muslims arrived then).

3. Mosques and Islamic Centers:
Czechia has a few mosques and Islamic prayer rooms, the largest being in:

  • Prague (the capital)
  • Brno (second-largest city)
  • Teplice (with a growing Arab community)

The mosques are generally small and sometimes housed in multipurpose buildings rather than purpose-built structures.

4. Islamic Organizations:

  • The main Muslim organization is the Center of Muslim Communities in the Czech Republic, which oversees religious and cultural activities.
  • Other Islamic groups provide Halal food certification, language classes, and religious education.

5. Religious Practice:

  • Muslims in Czechia observe Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and daily prayers.
  • Due to the small community size, large-scale Islamic events are rare and usually limited to mosque gatherings.
  • Access to halal food and Islamic education has improved but remains limited outside major cities.

6. Public Perception and Challenges:

  • Czech society is among the most secular in Europe, with high levels of religious skepticism or indifference.
  • Unfortunately, there has been a rise in Islamophobia and public suspicion, especially during the European migrant crisis (2015–2016).
  • Negative media portrayals and political rhetoric have sometimes targeted Muslims, even though the actual Muslim population is small and peaceful.

7. Interfaith Relations:

  • Despite suspicion from some sectors of society, there have been interfaith dialogues between Muslim leaders and Christian or Jewish organizations.
  • The Czech Muslim community generally emphasizes integration and peaceful coexistence.

8. Legal Status:
Islam is recognized under Czech law, which allows:

  • Marriage ceremonies performed by Muslim clerics.
  • Islamic religious instruction (though limited).
  • The right to operate mosques and Islamic centers.

Czechia (Czech Republic)
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .cz
Country Code: +420