Muslims in Europe face “more and more racism and discrimination”according to the European Union human rights agency. This institution has highlighted a “sharp increase” in discrimination, even before the Hamas attack against Israel caused “an increase in anti-Muslim hatred.”
Several nations have reported an increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic acts since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, which then launched a retaliatory offensive against Gaza, according to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA for its acronym in English).
“We are aware of reports from several EU countries highlighting an increase in anti-Muslim hatred, as well as anti-Semitism, following the Hamas attacks,” FRA spokesperson Nicole Romain told AFP. But even before that, a new FRA report shows that “it was becoming more difficult to be a Muslim in the EU”.
Almost one in two Muslims in the EU face racism and discrimination in their daily lives, “a sharp increase” up from 39 percent the FRA found in the last edition of its survey in 2016.
The highest rates were recorded in Austria, Germany and Finland.
“We are witnessing a worrying rise in racism and discrimination against Muslims in Europe,” said FRA director Sirpa Rautio. “This is fueled by the conflicts in the Middle East and worsened by the dehumanizing anti-Muslim rhetoric that we see throughout the continent,” Rautio added. Between October 2021 and October 2022, more than 9,600 Muslims were surveyed in 13 European countries.
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