By Hussain Raissi | Issue 25
The primary objective of this article is to challenge the prevailing belief that being part of the Muslim community is fundamentally incompatible with being part of Western societies. This paper contests the widely accepted idea that these two identities cannot harmoniously coexist. By examining the specific case of New Zealand, I explore whether Muslim youth experience a sense of belonging to both the Muslim community and the broader New Zealand society simultaneously, or whether these two types of belonging are mutually exclusive, operating in a zero-sum fashion.
The time and geographical location of the interviews discussed here hold unique significance as they took place in the aftermath of the mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 March 2019. In this horrific incident, 51 Muslims lost their lives, and 49 were injured due to their religious beliefs. The Christchurch shootings shattered the sense of safety and security the Muslim community had previously enjoyed in New Zealand. It brought to the forefront the stark reality of Islamophobia and the deep-rooted prejudices that can exist within a society. This context provides a distinctive backdrop for exploring the sense of belonging among young Muslim immigrants in New Zealand. This research aimed to address the question: How much do Muslim youth feel they belong with the greater New Zealand society and the Muslim community?
This study involved semi-structured interviews with Muslim youth in New Zealand. The participants, aged 16-29, were immigrants and refugees. They were citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand. The interviews, which took place from January to May 2021, provided rich data relevant to the research question. A total of 20 interviews were conducted across urban areas of the country including Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. The participants represented a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds, including Afghan, Syrian, Malaysian, Chinese, Somali, Indian, Pakistani, Fijian, Iraqi, Malay, Kenyan, and Iranian. The interviews were conducted face-to-face, with the exception of three conducted via Zoom.
When asked to explore the concept of belonging, the majority of interviewees associated it with feelings of safety, identity, social relationships, and a sense of acceptance: “I guess it would be a bit hard to feel like I belong if the group didn’t accept me. So, for me, belonging is not just about how I feel, it’s also about how others view me”, said Abida. For Abida and a few others, a sense of belonging to New Zealand is a two-way process. It is not only related to Muslim immigrants integrating into the mainstream society, but also a need for their efforts to be recognised by the larger society.
A significant number of interviewees expressed a stronger sense of belonging within the Muslim community compared to the broader New Zealand society. However, they also held favourable perspectives towards the wider society. For instance, Aamir said: “First, I am Muslim and then, it is hard to say a sense of belonging with the wider New Zealand society or a sense of belonging to my own ethnic group...you know this society [New Zealand] accepted me, they helped me a lot… I can't forget that and the love that they gave me”. Additionally, Abdullah, who was involved in religious activities, described New Zealand as: “… nice and kind, especially the government”, he added that: “this country is a blessing for us... There is no restrictions, so you [we] can pray freely, and you [we] can do all other Islamic obligations freely, even in the universities and other places, you [we] can have your beard, and ladies can wear hijab”.
The solidarity and empathy which emerged from the Christchurch shootings were prominent. The shootings helped the Muslim community gain more acceptability from the larger society. Indeed, some interviewees mentioned the positive and constructive reactions of New Zealand society to the event of Christchurch, and also the responses of the government and especially the then Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden, as Abida said: “I give all the credit to the Prime Minister”. It was evident throughout the interviews that the shootings provoked their desire and attempts to belong with New Zealand society, despite their long struggle to be fully accepted due to discrimination and prejudice. A few of them narrated that although the shootings were a catastrophic event for the Muslim community, they led to many positive results for the community: Abida said that “people responded and supported with love and aroha [meaning ‘love’ or ‘compassion’ in Māori]”, and Fatima stated that “when the shootings happened, I feel like New Zealanders became known and open to Muslims”.
Within this intricate interplay of dual senses of belonging, Muslim youth demonstrate a remarkable capacity to belong to different groups and contexts. They are flexible and adaptable and engage with diverse communities, bridging the gap between their cultural and religious identities and wider society. However, this navigation comes with challenges. Muslim youth face dilemmas related to cultural integration and societal expectations. They strive for balance, which is seen as a means of minimising the risks of belonging to multiple cultural groups and competing demands.
This study provides a nuanced understanding of the experiences of Muslim youth in New Zealand, shedding light on their struggles, resilience, and the complex dynamics of identity and belonging in a multicultural society. It contributes to the broader discourse on immigration, identity, and belonging, offering valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and community leaders. By highlighting the voices of Muslim youth, which are often obscured from our wider cultural narratives, this research shows the importance of fostering inclusive societies that celebrate diversity and promote mutual respect and understanding.
Hussain Raissi earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Kabul, Afghanistan, and a Master’s degree in Social Problems and Sociological Diagnostics from the University of Bordeaux, France. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at Otago University, New Zealand, where his research explores the multidimensional aspects of belonging among Muslim immigrant youth. In addition, Hussain is actively involved as a research assistant in the Muslim Diversity Studies project at the University of Canterbury.
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