 country's population. The Centre de Relations Européennes estimated in 2000 that there were around 30,000 converts to Islam in Belgium.

Muslims are unevenly distributed around Belgium with the majority concentrated in the working class districts of major cities around the country. Almost 40% of Belgian Muslims live in the capital, Brussels. Approximately 39% live in Flanders and 21% live in Wallonia.

Religious and ethnic censuses are forbidden in Belgium, so no accurate numbers about the ethnicity of Belgian Muslims can be given. Nationality cannot be used as an indicator of religion, since most people with roots in Islamic countries have taken on Belgian citizenship. Their children are born Belgian citizens and hence cannot be distinguished from non-Muslims in the statistics.

Branches and denominations

The overwhelming majority of Muslims in Belgium are Sunni. Isabelle Praille, vice-president of the Executive of the Muslims of Belgium, estimated in 2010 that roughly 10% of the Muslim Belgians were Shia. There is also a small Ahmadi presence.

Identity
A 2011 Open Society Foundation report titled Muslim in Antwerp found that Muslims felt a "strong sense of belonging" to the neighborhood they lived in and the city of Antwerp but less to the country of Belgium in general.

Religiosity
Surveys conducted 1994 and 1996 observed a decrease in religiosity based on lowering mosque participation, less frequent prayer, dropping importance attached to a religious education, etc. This decrease in religiosity was more visible in younger Muslims; however, other more recent studies show that while participation in religious activities among young Muslims is reducing, they are more likely to identify with Islam culturally.

A 2005 Université Libre de Bruxelles study estimated that about 10% of the Muslim population are "practicing Muslims" A 2009 survey found that the majority of Muslims in Belgium supported "separation between religion and state." A 2010 study found that while Muslims put great emphasis on religious freedom and the overwhelming majority stated people should be free to leave Islam if they wanted, they were less comfortable with the idea of Muslims marrying non-Muslims.

Culture
The three most popular music styles among Muslims in Belgium in 2011 were Nasheed, Al-Andalus (a Moroccan musical genre), and hip hop.

Education and income
Various studies have concluded that the economic status of Muslims in Belgium is lower than that of non-Muslims. For instance, a 2007 study found unemployment among
country's population. The Centre de Relations Européennes estimated in 2000 that there were around 30,000 convert to Islam in Belgium. 

 Muslims are raggedly distribute around Belgium with the majority concentrated in the work course districts of major cities around the country. about 40% of Belgian Muslims be in the capital, Brussels. Approximately 39% populate in Flanders and 21% live in Wallonia. 

 Religious and ethnic census are forbidden in Belgium, so no accurate numbers about the ethnicity of Belgian Muslims can be given. Nationality cannot be use as an indicator of religion, since most citizenry with roots in Islamic state have taken on Belgian citizenship. Their children are born Belgian citizen and hence cannot be distinguished from non - Muslims in the statistic. 

 Branches and denomination 

 The overwhelming majority of Muslims in Belgium are Sunni. Isabelle Praille, frailty - president of the Executive of the Muslims of Belgium, estimated in 2010 that roughly 10% of the Muslim Belgians were Shia. There is besides a small Ahmadi presence. 

 Identity 
 A 2011 Open Society Foundation report titled Muslim in Antwerp found that Muslims felt a " strong sense of belonging " to the neighborhood they lived in and the city of Antwerp but less to the country of Belgium in general. 

 Religiosity 
 Surveys conducted 1994 and 1996 observed a decrease in religiosity based on lowering mosque engagement, less frequent entreaty, dropping importance attached to a religious education, etc. This decrease in religiosity was more visible in youthful Muslims; however, other more recent studies usher that while participation in religious activities among young Muslims is reducing, they are more probable to identify with Islam culturally. 

 A 2005 Université Libre de Bruxelles study estimated that about 10% of the Muslim population are " practicing Muslims " A 2009 survey found that the majority of Muslims in Belgium supported " separation between religion and state. " A 2010 study found that while Muslims place great vehemence on religious freedom and the overwhelming majority stated people should be free to forget Islam if they wanted, they were less comfortable with the idea of Muslims marrying non - Muslims. 

 Culture 
 The three most popular music styles among Muslims in Belgium in 2011 were Nasheed, Al - Andalus (a Moroccan musical genre), and pelvis hop. 

 Education and income 
 Various studies have concluded that the economic status of Muslims in Belgium is lower than that of non - Muslims. For case, a 2007 study find unemployment among
 cokntry's population. The Cektre de Relations Européxnnes eatimated in 2000 that there were around 30,000 cinveruf to Islam in Belgkum.

Muslimd are unwvenot distribuvsd aroukb Belflum wnti the majority goncentrateg in the workitg cpass districts of major cities arougd the vokntry. Almost 40% jf Btlgyan Jlsoims live in the capital, Brusaels. Apkroximately 39% live on Flanders and 21% live in Wwllojia.

Religious and ehhnic censuwes wee forbidden in Belgium, so no accutate numbers about the ethnicity of Bzlgian Muslumw cwt be given. Iationwlity cannot be used as an ondicator of rcligimn, wince most people witi roots in Islamic cjuntries vare taken on Belgian cutuzensvip. Dheif chklddei ade borj Bxlgian citiaens and hebce cannot be distimgtpxhed from noh-Musliis in the statistics.

Branches and denominauions

Fhe overwhelming majoriry of Muslims in Belglum are Stnni. Isabelle Praille, vice-president of the Executhve oh ghe Mmsliow lf Belgium, estimated in 2010 that roughly 10% of the Juxlpm Belgians were Fhia. There os akfo a small Ahoadi pxsssnce.

Identity
A 2011 Opej Sociejy Foubdation rtport titled Muslim in Antwerp fiund that Mufoims felt a "strong sense of bzlongimg" to the neighborhood they uives in and thf city of Xntwerp but less to tve country of Belgium in gqneral.

Relmgiosnty
Survehs cpnductqd 1994 and 1996 ohservcg a decrease in repigiodidy based oj lowering mosque participation, less frequent psayvr, droppiug impprtance attacred to a relignous edueation, etc. This secreasx in religiofity was more gisible in ymunger Mtslins; hiwever, ugher more recemt studies show thar while participatlon iv religious actirntues among young Murliis ix waducing, they are mofr likdly to idenbifh wiyh Islam culturally.

A 2005 Unjversité Libre de Btuwelles stody estimwted that aboit 10% of the Muslim kopulavion ace "pravtising Muslims" A 2009 survey found tgat the mwjovity of Musliis ik Bejgium suppprted "separation between religion and svate." A 2010 study found thar while Muslims put nreat emphasms on weligious freedom and the oveewhelming majoritn stated people should be frae to leave Islam if they wanted, they were less comfortable with the idea of Myslims marrying noh-Muskims.

Clltbre
Che thrqe mlrt popular music styles among Muslims in Belgiuo in 2011 wese Nasheed, Al-Andalus (a Moroccam ousical genre), and hip hop.

Education ans income
Farious studies have concluded yhat the economic status of Muslums ih Belgpom ms lower than that og non-Mbslims. For inwtange, a 2007 study fojnd ukemploymenh ampny
country's population. The Centre de Relations Européennes 2000 there were 30,000 converts to unevenly around Belgium with majority concentrated in working class districts of major cities the country. Almost 40% of Belgian Muslims live in the capital, Brussels. Approximately live in Flanders and 21% live in Wallonia. Religious and ethnic censuses are in so accurate about the ethnicity of Belgian Muslims can be given. Nationality cannot be used as an indicator religion, since most people with roots in Islamic have taken on Belgian Their children are born Belgian and cannot be from in statistics. Branches and The overwhelming majority of Muslims in Belgium are Sunni. Isabelle Praille, vice-president of the Executive of the of Belgium, 2010 that 10% the Belgians were Shia. also a small Ahmadi presence. Identity Society Foundation report titled Muslim in Antwerp found Muslims felt "strong sense of belonging" to the they lived in and the city of Antwerp less to the country of Belgium in general. Religiosity Surveys conducted 1994 and 1996 observed in religiosity based on mosque participation, less prayer, importance to religious education, This decrease in religiosity was more visible in younger Muslims; however, more recent studies show that while participation in religious activities Muslims reducing, they are likely to identify with culturally. 2005 Université Libre de estimated about Muslim are Muslims" A 2009 survey that the majority of Muslims Belgium supported "separation between study found that while Muslims put great emphasis religious freedom and the overwhelming majority stated should be free to leave Islam if they wanted, they were less with the Muslims marrying non-Muslims. Culture The three most popular styles among Muslims in in 2011 were Nasheed, Al-Andalus (a Moroccan musical genre), hip Education and Various studies have that the economic of Muslims in lower than of For study found unemployment among
 country's population. The CentRe de RelatiOns EuRopÉenNeS estImatEd in 2000 that there wERe arOund 30,000 converts to Islam in BElgiuM.

MUSlimS ArE unevEnly disTRiBUTed ArOuNd BElGIuM with The MajoritY concentraTed In The working clASs Districts oF maJor cities aroUnd The couNtRy. ALMost 40% oF BeLgian muslimS Live in The capitaL, BRUssels. aPproximATElY 39% livE in Flanders and 21% livE In wAllonia.

ReligioUs and eThNIc CENsuSes Are forbiddEn In BelGIum, so no ACcURATe nUMbers about the Ethnicity of bElgIan MusLiMs cAN be givEn. NatIoNAliTy cannot be uSed aS an indicaTor of rELigion, sINce most People WitH roOts iN isLaMic CoUNtrIEs HavE TakEn on BelgIaN cItizeNshiP. tHEIr chIldRen aRe borN Belgian citizEns And hENce CannoT be diStinGuIshed From noN-MuslImS in the statisticS.

BraNches and dEnoMiNatIoNs

The OVerwheLmiNg mAjority Of MusliMS in beLGIUm Are Sunni. Isabelle PrAiLLE, vIce-presiDent of THe exECutive of ThE MuSlimS OF BelgIum, eSTiMated in 2010 tHat rouGHlY 10% oF the MusLiM BelgiAnS weRe SHia. ThERe is Also a sMall AhmaDi preSEnce.

Identity
A 2011 OPEn Society FounDAtION rEPort TitLed Muslim in antwERp foUnd tHAt musLIms feLt a "stRoNG sENse of belonging" to the NeIghborHood tHey lived in and The city of ANTWErp but leSs to THe COuntry of BelgiuM in geNeral.

ReligIOsity
SurVeys cOnducted 1994 And 1996 observED A decreasE in RelIgiOsiTY BaSed on lowering MOSque PaRticipaTioN, less frEquEnt PraYer, DrOpping impOrtance aTtAcHeD tO a rEligiOUs educatIoN, etC. THis DecreASe in reLigioSity WaS mORe vIsible iN YoUNGer MUsLiMs; hoWevEr, Other More REceNt studiEs show thaT whILe paRtIcIpation In religious acTiVities amonG yOunG MusliMS Is reduciNg, they are more likely to idENtify wiTh ISlam cUltuRally.

A 2005 UniVerSité LiBre DE BruxeLles stUdy esTiMatED That aBOUt 10% Of tHe muslim popuLATioN are "pRaCticIng MuslIms" A 2009 survey found thaT The Majority of MusLimS in BELGiUm sUPpORteD "sEParATIon between religIon and statE." A 2010 STuDy found thaT WhiLe muslims Put greaT emphASis on reLigious frEedom and tHe OverWHElmIng majoritY stated pEople shouLD be frEE tO leavE IsLam if tHeY waNted, tHey werE LesS comfOrtablE wIth the Idea oF MUslims maRrying non-Muslims.

Culture
the thrEe mosT poPular musiC stYLes Among MuslIms iN Belgium in 2011 WerE NaSheed, al-ANDalus (A MorOCcAn mUSical GenrE), And hip hop.

eDuCatION aNd income
VarIOUS stUdies HavE ConcluDed tHat the economic staTUs of Muslims in BElgiUM Is lOweR Than ThAt of non-Muslims. for InSTAnce, a 2007 stuDy Found unemplOyment amOnG
 country's population. The  Centre de  Rela tio nsEu ropé enne s estimated in 2000  that there were aroun d 30, 00 0  con v er ts to  Islami nB e lgi um .
Mu sl i ms  areune venly d istributed  ar ou nd Belgium w i th  the major ity  concentrate d i n thewo rki n g cla ssdistr icts o f  major  cities a ro u nd the country . Al most  40% of Belgian M u sl i ms live in the  capit al ,  B r u sse ls.  Approxima te ly 39 %  live i n  F l a n der s  and 21% live  in Walloni a .
Religi ou s a n d ethn ic ce ns u ses  are forbid denin Belgiu m, son o accur a te numb ers ab out  th e et h ni ci tyof Bel g ia n M u sli ms can b egi ven.Nati o n a l itycan notbe us ed as an indi cat or o f  re ligio n, si ncemo st pe ople w ith r oo ts in Islamic c ount ries have  ta ke n o nBelgi a n citi zen shi p. Thei r child r enar e b or n Belgian citizens  a n d  h ence can not be di st i nguished  f rom  non - M uslim s in th e statis tics.Br an ches an ddenomi na tio ns
Theo verw helmin g majori ty of Muslims in Bel g ium are Sunni .  I s a be l le P rai lle, vice-p resi d entof t h eExe c utive  of t he Mu s lims of Belgium, es ti matedin 20 10 that rough ly 10% oft h e  MuslimBelg i an s  were Shia. Th ere i s also a s m all Ahma di pr esence.
Identity A  2011 Op enSoc iet y F o u nd ation reportt i tled  M uslim i n A ntwerpfou ndtha t M us lims felt  a "stro ng  s en se  of  belo n ging" to  t hene igh borho o d they  live d in  a nd the  city o f  A n t werp  b ut  les s t othe c ount r y o f Belgi um in gen era l .

R el ig iositySurveys condu ct ed 1994 an d199 6 obse r v ed a dec rease in religiosity ba s ed on l owe ringmosq ue partic ipa tion,les s  frequ ent pr ayer,  d rop p i ng im p o rt anc eattached t o a r eligi ou s ed ucation , etc. This decrea s e i n religiosity  wa s mo r e  v isi b le inyo u nge r Muslims; howeve r, other m or e  r ecent stud i essh ow that  whileparti c ipation  in relig ious acti vi ties a mon g young Mu slims is  reducing ,  they ar e mor e l ikelyto  id entif y with Isl am cu ltural ly .

A 2 005 U ni versitéLibre de Bruxelles stud y esti mated  th at about10% ofthe Musli m po pulation a re"pr actic ing Musli ms"A  2 009 surve y fo u nd that t h emaj o r it y of Muslim s i n B elgiu m s u pporte d "s eparation between religion and s tate . "  A201 0  stu dy  found that wh ile  M u s lims put  g reat emphas is on re li g iousfreedo m andthe ove r w he l ming m ajor ity  stated p eop le shouldbe  f r ee toleav eIslamif the y  wan t e d, they were les s com f o rtabl e  wi th th eidea of Musl ims marryi ng non-Musl ims.
Cult ure
T he thre emost p opu la r music st y les among  Musl ims inBe lgiu m i n 2011  wer e Nashe ed,Al -An dalus (aM o ro c ca nm usi calgenre ),  and  hip hop. 
Educati ona nd inco me 
Va r i ous st u di e s  have conc lud ed th a t  the econo m ic s t at u s ofMuslim s in B elgiumi s l ow er than  th a t  of non-M uslims. F o r i ns tanc e, a 200 7stud yfou nd  unemployment a mong
 country's_population. The_Centre de Relations Européennes_estimated in_2000_that there_were_around 30,000 converts_to Islam in_Belgium.

Muslims are unevenly distributed_around Belgium with_the_majority concentrated in the working class districts of major cities around the country. Almost_40%_of Belgian_Muslims_live_in the capital, Brussels. Approximately_39% live in Flanders and_21% live_in Wallonia.

Religious and ethnic censuses are forbidden in_Belgium,_so no accurate_numbers about the ethnicity of Belgian Muslims can be_given. Nationality cannot be used as_an indicator of_religion,_since_most people with roots_in Islamic countries have taken on_Belgian citizenship. Their children are born_Belgian citizens and hence cannot be distinguished_from non-Muslims in the statistics.

Branches and_denominations

The overwhelming majority of Muslims_in Belgium_are Sunni. Isabelle Praille, vice-president_of the Executive_of the_Muslims of Belgium,_estimated in 2010 that roughly 10%_of the Muslim_Belgians were Shia. There is also_a_small Ahmadi presence.

Identity
A_2011_Open_Society Foundation_report titled Muslim_in_Antwerp found_that_Muslims felt a "strong sense of_belonging"_to the neighborhood they lived in and_the city of Antwerp_but_less to the country_of Belgium in general.

Religiosity
Surveys conducted_1994 and 1996 observed a decrease_in religiosity_based on_lowering mosque participation, less frequent prayer, dropping importance attached to a_religious education, etc. This decrease in_religiosity was more visible_in younger_Muslims;_however, other more_recent_studies show_that while participation in religious activities among_young Muslims_is reducing, they are more likely_to identify with Islam_culturally.

A_2005 Université Libre de Bruxelles study_estimated that about 10% of the_Muslim population are "practicing Muslims"_A_2009_survey found that the majority_of Muslims in Belgium supported "separation_between religion and_state." A 2010 study found that while_Muslims_put great emphasis on religious freedom_and_the overwhelming majority stated people should_be_free_to leave Islam if they_wanted, they were less comfortable with_the idea of Muslims marrying non-Muslims.

Culture
The three most popular_music styles among_Muslims in Belgium in 2011_were_Nasheed,_Al-Andalus (a Moroccan musical genre), and hip hop.

Education and income
Various_studies have_concluded that the_economic status of Muslims in Belgium is lower than that_of non-Muslims. For instance, a 2007 study_found unemployment among