Eesti islamikogukonna dünaamika: senine arengulugu ja praegune olukord

Abstract

Dynamics of Estonian Muslim Community: Earlier Developments and Current Situation
This article - outlining the extent and premises of the changes in the religious composition of Estonia - first provides an overview of the tendencies reshaping the Estonian Islamic community and lists previous surveys on this field, secondly focuses on developments of the last decades, mainly using the data of two last official censuses, sketching the change in relations between the former, Tatar-dominated part of community, and current, multi-national group of Muslims, acting as spokespersons of Turath Islamic Cultural Center in Tallinn. Doing this, the article also draws attention to difficulties of defining who are the members of today 's Estonian Muslim community and how different approaches to the question stipulate also different estimations of the size and state of the community.
If two decades ago the power of a religious authority was identified with position and person of mufti, today’s more fragmented community gives reason to talk about fragmentation of power to present Estonian Muslims. Converts’ activeness and international developments have shaped a whole new situation, where so far not so „visible“ Islamic community becomes more and more apparent in society.