Podcast / Europe & Central Asia 22 June 2021 1 minute Understanding the Russian-origin Muslim Diaspora This week on War & Peace, Olga Oliker and Hugh Pope talk to University of Ottawa professor Jean-François Ratelle about the diverse Russian-origin Muslim diaspora across Europe, the various challenges faced in transit and host countries, and how to adapt migration policies accordingly. Share Facebook Twitter Email Linkedin Whatsapp Save Print Successive waves of Muslim-origin migrants have fled Russia since the 1990s. While some simply sought a better life, hundreds of thousands left due to conflict or persecution. Jean-François Ratelle, professor at the University of Ottawa, joins Olga and Hugh for an in-depth look at the resulting diaspora across Western Europe, Ukraine and Turkey. Together they unpack Crisis Group’s latest findings, from the various obstacles migrants face in transit and their increasingly cold reception in host countries to the way gender norms have evolved once settled. Jean-François explains that by oversimplifying the needs and experiences of such a diverse group, government policy has tended to alienate rather than support Muslims of Russian origin, to everyone’s detriment. These unique insights and ongoing research, he hopes, will help temper security concerns by informing a more nuanced approach to integrating these communities in their respective contexts. Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more information, browse Crisis Group’s Special Coverage page for our developing series on the Russian-origin Muslim diaspora. Related Tags Contributors Hugh Pope Former Director of Communications & Outreach Hugh_Pope Olga Oliker Program Director, Europe and Central Asia OlyaOliker Jean-François Ratelle Professor at the University of Ottawa More for you Podcast / Horn of Africa The Horn (Season 3) Podcast / Hold Your Fire! (Season 2)