Far from ‘outsiders,’ Europe and Islam have long been intertwined

This article was published more than 11 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

In the wake of the most recent attacks in Paris, the airwaves have been full of myths about Muslim communities in Europe. After the commentator Steve Emerson declared on Fox News that the English city of Birmingham had become a "no-go zone" for non-Muslims, he was roundly denounced by figures across the political spectrum. Even the British Prime Minister himself, David Cameron, used uncharacteristically harsh language to describe the regular Fox News guest as "clearly, a complete idiot." The Fox network finally issued an abject apology for perpetuating this urban myth.

The opening of the article. The full text is at The Globe and Mail.