People profile

Eastern Europe includes both historic Muslim communities as well as recently arrived Muslim refugees. Islam first came in conquering waves. Today there are large Muslim communities in Kosovo (95%), Albania (55%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (51%), North Macedonia (33%), Montenegro (20%) and Bulgaria (11%). The majority are Sunni, and are cultural, conservative, or even secular Muslims. Some 20% favor Sharia law and prefer to live in Muslim-majority communities.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the inter-ethnic tensions in the Balkan regions led to violent fragmentation around national-religious identities. Muslims were attacked by Serbs or Croats and they sometimes counter-attacked. Massacres followed, mostly of Muslims. The third Balkan war (1992-1995) involved horrific massacres, rape, destruction of sacred sites, creation of concentration camps, and vengeance attacks, leading to a major refugee crisis. Muslims fled everywhere within Europe, often to economically deprived sections of larger cities where other people from their ethnicity had already relocated.

Strategic prayer

  • The greatest need is forgiveness over the bloody past – both giving and receiving – leading to reconciliation. Eastern European Christians carry memories of centuries of suffering from Muslim oppressors. The recent Balkan War has opened old wounds.
  • The most fruitful Gospel conversations comes through discipleship classes, English classes, relationship-building, and hospitality.