Brussels, 22/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - It is a fact that there is more discrimination towards Muslims than ever before within the EU. Such are the conclusions reached by the report published on 18 December by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC). The report highlights the existence of Islamophobia, the upsurge in aggression, and discrimination when it comes to employment, education and housing.
The 117-page study entitled “Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia”, looks at the data available on this subject. EUMC, which estimates that there are at least 13 million Muslims (3.5% of the population) in the European Union, even states that the “available data and information on the extent and nature of discrimination against Muslims and Islamophobic incidents in the EU (…) remain severely under-documented and under-reported”, except in Great Britain and Finland. Beate Winkler, EUMC Director, states “greater efforts need to be made to ensure that all European Muslims enjoy the right to equal treatment and the same quality of life as other Europeans”. Generally speaking, evidence gathered shows the disappointment felt by Muslims regarding the perception that western society has of their religion. The EUMC believes that the ethnic diversity of these communities and the diversity of traditions and customs are not greatly recognised. The media and politicians, it states, are largely responsible for this.
The EUMC reports on hundreds of cases of violence or threats since 2004: - acts of vandalism against mosques or Islamic centres, insults aimed at veiled women or physical aggression, for example, in the case of a Somali family in Denmark that was attacked by a group of people armed with baseball bats covered in swastikas and racist slogans. According to the report, Islamophobia is due to a growing tendency to lump all Muslims together blaming them for terrorism committed by a small minority. This comes on top of already-existing xenophobia, which spreads discrimination into many circles. The study underlines the fact that data relating to incidents of religious connotation are collected in an inadequate and limited manner. Only Great Britain publishes a list of racist crimes that specifically identifies those committed against Muslims. Muslims believe that their acceptance is increasingly founded on “assimilation” and the notion that they should lose their Muslim identity, Ms Wrinkler stresses. Since the attacks on 11 September 2001, many feel they are under a general suspicion of terrorism. The document above all gives examples of successful collaboration between Muslim associations and the police in Belgium, the Netherlands (mainly after the assassination of Theo Van-Gogh), Austria and Greece. But the feeling of being perceived first and foremost as “suspects” has a strong hold on the Muslim community. The organisation also calls for the police to receive compulsory training on cultural diversity, for integration in schools and for the promotion of balanced media coverage in order to avoid all stigmatisation of Muslims.
The report recommends that EU leaders should unreservedly apply the 2000 European anti-discrimination directives (relating to racial equality and equality on the job market), and ensure the best possible use of their provisions, mainly when it comes to measures in favour of equality. It should be noted that the 2001 framework decision on combating racism and xenophobia has still not been adopted by the Council for the European Union. The Commission trusts that it will be adopted under German EU Presidency. Measures and practices to combat discrimination and marginalisation must become political priorities, EUMC states. Today, European Muslims are often disproportionately represented in areas where housing conditions are poor, where educational achievement is below average standards and where the rate of unemployment is above average. The report quotes a French study by way of example: in 2004, the Université de Paris I sent CVs of persons whose ethnic identity could be easily guessed in response to 258 job vacancy ads for the post of salesman. The result was that the likelihood of receiving a positive answer was five times lower for candidates of North African origin. The report notes that there are obstacles to the social promotion of many European Muslims, mainly among the young. This can give rise to a feeling of frustration and social exclusion. It goes on to underline the fact that racism, discrimination and marginalisation are serious threats to integration and to Community cohesion.
The Observatory, which does, however, give examples of successful initiatives for the promotion of dialogue (in Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands), calls for a greater effort to be made in providing data and information and a greater effort on the part of Member States to promote the integration of Muslims. If this is not the case, discrimination and racism could “undermine Muslim's sense of belonging in the EU”.
In December 2006, the European Union's Council on Justice and Home Affairs decided to broaden the EUMC's mandate so that, early 2007, it will become the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. (bc)