Belgian cities have significant Muslim populations, comprised mostly of Turkish and Moroccan immigrants, as well as a growing number of native Belgians who converted to Islam.
Belgian Muslims are estimated at 650,000, or around 6% of the overall population, about half of them are from Moroccan origin, while 120,000 are from Turkish origin. The report stated that the Muslim population is young; nearly 35% of the Moroccans and Turks in the country are below 18 years of age.
Since 2008, the most popular name in Brussels for baby boys has been Mohammed. It is also the most popular name for baby boys in Belgium’s second-largest city, Antwerp, where an estimated 40% of elementary school children are Muslim. [Saudi Gazette] Read more
