Starting from the policy of the British Government which opened the door to immigration as widely as possible, the influx of Islam continued to flow throughout the country. Not to be missed in Scotland, or Edinburgh to be precise.
There are a number of reasons behind the immigration of Muslims to the city which has the beautiful castle, Edinburgh Castle. First, economic factors. The Second World War has divided Islamic countries, leaving civil wars and dire conditions.
Poverty and loss of security is inevitable. Thousands of people also flocked to leave Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and other countries such as Yemen and Iraq.
Second, political issues. Some of these immigrants were people who opposed the government or those who were being hunted down by the authorities. Many of these immigrants were indeed forced to leave their countries because they were considered traitors, assistants to the occupation, to curlers of the occupation government. They were forced to leave their homeland.
Third, related to education. England and Scotland have a well-known tradition of education and are recognized around the world. Many Muslim students choose Edinburgh as a place to study, both for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Moreover, the British Government provides scholarships to students in a number of Muslim countries, and Edinburgh is also an option. Here there is the University of Edinburgh which is located next to the Edinburgh Central Mosque.
Fourth, related to the establishment of the Edinburgh Central Mosque. Indirectly, the Muslim community has grown rapidly since this mosque was founded and inaugurated in 1998. If in the 1980-1990s the number of Muslims in Edinburgh was still in the thousands, then in 2011 it had touched 10 thousand.
They consist of families, students and workers. This figure of 10 does not include Muslims who come as tourists and guests. Every year, the number of Muslim tourists from various countries in the world reaches millions who come to England, including Edinburgh. In this city, apart from Chinese tourists, we will easily find tourists from the Middle East.
The current population of Edinburgh is 480 thousand. That means there are two percent of them Muslim. They live in peace and maintain tolerance with local residents. This can be seen from the activities of the mosque which are filled with local residents, including the mosque canteen. Edinburgh, which has become an international city and has a mosque with modern architecture, is increasingly attracting the attention of Muslims to come and live there.
It is estimated that by 2020 the number of Muslims in this city, including converts, will reach 15 people. A huge amount for a city like Edinburgh. (Republika). *
