Legal Aspects of the Formation of Muslim Communities in Germany: Towards the History of the Issue

The article analyzes the process of emergence and development of Muslim communities based on migration to Germany of people from the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe based on historical and legal retrospective. The article studies the ethnic, religious, socio-professional composition of German Muslims, examines socio-political and professional organizations created to protect the rights of Muslim workers and migrants by the beginning of the 21st century. The article examines the features of German immigration legislation and policy on integration of Muslims into German society. Based on the materials under consideration, it is concluded that among the majority of modern Muslims in Germany, two fairly stable waves of migration can be distinguished, differing in their socio-economic and cultural characteristics: the descendants of Muslims who came to the country as migrant workers after World War II to restore the destroyed economy in the conditions of labor shortage, as well as refugees of the early 21st century, forced to flee to Europe under the influence of military and political conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa.