Muslim girls’ social integration in European countries: is it facilited by sports and physical activities?,

The immigrants’ integration into a European country, mainly if they are coming from non-European states, constitutes a complex social problem, influenced by numerous causes. This paper calls attention to the socio-cultural dimension of the migration question, and mainly two factors, which usually are considered of negligible importance, sport and religion. It is wondered whether these practices can make a positive contribution to the so-cial integration of Muslim girls in the host European country, or if, conversely, they consti-tute as many obstacles as positive solutions. Using outcomes from social research, led in some European countries ‒such as En-gland, Denmark, Holland, Norway, etc. ‒, this paper empirically tests the thesis that sports and physical activities can be useful resources in the process of Muslim girls’ integration in Europe or, conversely, push them towards a ghetto. Mostly this paper offers a typology of social policies, implemented in the main Euro-pean countries with reference to the migrant’s cultural and religious rights. This typology can also help to monitor the welfare politics of some European countries towards Muslim girls' right to practice sport and physical activity in schools and other public places.