this presentation was presented to the Institute of European Studies in Brussel Middle East 2015/2016 overview. Role of EU in Middle East conflict What is Islam Muslims in Europe Conclusion

1. CONFLICTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST &
THEIR IMPACT ON THE EUROPEAN
UNION
2015/2016 OBSERVATION
By Dr. Karim Hamza: Khamza@vub.ac.be

2. AGENDA
 Middle East 2015/2016 overview.
 Role of EU in Middle East conflict
 What is Islam
 Muslims in Europe
 Conclusion

3. MIDDLE EAST 2015 (NEW COLD WAR)
 Brief
 Middle East is the confrontation zone for religious wars since ages.
 Saudi Arabia hold Makkah and Madinah the most holly places for all Muslims (Sunni and Shia)
 Jerusalem hold the most holly place for Muslim; Christian ; and Jewish
 Iraq hold Karbla a holy place for Shia
 49% of world oil reserve
 20% of Muslims almost 300 million
 Control red sea;Arabian gulf; part of mediterranean
 Conflict
 4 failed states since 2011 (Syria; Iraq;Yemen; Libya)
 Rise of confirmation between Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shia)
 Intense USA & Russia military presence in Syria
 Increase tension between Sunni and Shia in gulf region
 The Israeli / Palestinian conflict still on going
 Most of conflicts based on ethnic but is transforming into religious conflict

4. MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT ZONES
Role Syria Iraq Yemen Libya
Saudi Arabia Primary Primary Primary NA
Iran Primary Primary Primary Secondary
USA Primary Primary Secondary Secondary
Russia Primary NA NA NA
Turkey Primary Secondary NA Secondary
Militia ISIS |Hizballah| Kurds ISIS | Shia | Kurds Houthis | Qadaa Tribal

5. ROLE OF EU IN MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
 Negotiation between rebels in Syria and Libya
 War in Syria (France and UK airstrikes on terrorist targets in Syria)
 NATO coalition forces in south turkey on Syrian borders
 NATO joint air strikes on Libya
 Training and support for different rebel groups in Syria ; Iraq and Libya
 Part of smuggled oil in Syria; Iraq and Libya or sold to EU countries through Turkey.
 EU opened humanitarian support for Syrian refugees (Germany and France)
 EU release sanctions on Iran (oil prices and stock market go down)

6. MIDDLE EAST IMPACT ON EU COUNTRIES
 mass Immigration
 1 million in 2015
 SecurityViolation
 Paris attack, border review
 Economic risk
 Oil prices
 Spread of Ethnic conflict
 Raise of hate crimes against Muslims
 Regional Stability
 Undefined allies
`

7. Source:
http://www.bbc.com/ne
ws/world-europe-
34131911
Immigration
flow into
Europe

8. WHAT IS ISLAM
 Islam appeared in Makka (in Saudi arabia now) on 600 A.C by Prophet Mohamed
 Islam Recognize Chesses and Bible; Moses andTorah ; Abrham
 Quran presents the framework for worship and commitment to faith
 Pillars of Islam: comprise five official acts considered obligatory for all Muslims.The five pillars are
 Shahadah (witnessing the oneness of God and the prophethood of Mohamed ),
 Five daily prayers (salat),
 Paying zakah (charity) to the poor (2% of income)
 Fasting Ramadan month
 Hajj to Makka (pilgrimage during the second month after Ramadan) at least once in a lifetime.
 Jihad in Islam: the duty of Muslim to defend his/her sole; family; country ; other Muslims and belief against armed enemies.
 Muslims Populations is 1.6 billion (23% of world population, second largest religion)
 45 million Muslim in Europe
 Source http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1859?_hi=17&_pos=3

10. CONCLUSION
 Mix between Islam and terrorism
 Position ISIS “Dashe” as Islamic State
 Misunderstanding Jihad
 Rise of religious hate and crimes
 Media conspiracy
 DonaldTrump

11. THANKYOU
DR. KARIM HAMZA
Senior Associate Researcher
Khamza@vub.ac.be
www.karimhamza.com
The Institute for European Studies
Pleinlaan 5
B-1050 Brussels
Belgium
Email: ies@vub.ac.be
Tel : +32 2 614 80 01
Fax : +32 2 6148010