Low domestic birth rates and rising immigration from the former Soviet republics are producing explosive growth in Russia’s Muslim community, which is on a track to account for more than half the population by mid-century.
As in many countries with growing Islamic populations, tensions are also on the rise. Many ethnic Russians fear their country is losing its traditional identity, while many Muslims are offended by widespread discrimination and a lack of respect for their faith.
Russia’s Muslim community is extremely diverse, including Volga Tatars, the myriad ethnicities of the North Caucasus and newly arrived immigrants from Central Asia. But they all share birth rates that are far higher than Russia’s ethnic Slavs, most of whom are Orthodox Christians:
Russia’s Muslims, however, are bucking that trend, says Paul Goble, a specialist on Islam in Russia and research associate at the University of Tartu in Estonia:
Source: Michael Mainville, Muslim birthrate worries Russia, Washington Times, November 21, 2006.
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FMF Policy Bulletin/ 28 November 2006
