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This paper examines the effects of participatory devices on public action through the particular case study of the local regulation of Islam in Brussels. Indeed, despite the current extensive academic literature on participation issues, when it comes to the link with ethnic and, notably, religious minorities, many questions remain unanswered. Consequently, in this paper, I try to conciliate these two dimensions by showing that the question of Islam in Europe can be apprehended by the study of Muslim leaders’ investment in formal and informal participatory devices. More generally, the findings bring to light how political, institutional and demographic environments shape the political engagement and participation of a religious minority.