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bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
=== News Update ===
European Muslims face rising 'Islamophobia' - Report
18/12/2006 - 13:50:10
EUMC Media Release
Vienna, 18 December 2006
Issue: 17-06-EN
----------
The report "Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and
Islamophobia", published by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and
Xenophobia (EUMC) today, presents available data on discrimination
affecting Muslims in employment, education and housing. Manifestations of
Islamophobia range from verbal threats through to physical attacks on
people and property. The report stresses that the extent and nature of
discrimination and Islamophobic incidents against European Muslims remain
under-documented and under-reported. The EUMC report recommends therefore
that Member States improve the reporting of incidents and implement
measures to counter discrimination and racism more effectively.
Discrimination is illegal and could undermine Muslims' sense of belonging
in the EU.
"This report presents available data showing the extent of the
discrimination being suffered by European Muslims," said Beate Winkler,
Director of the EUMC. "It underlines their vulnerability to discrimination
and demonstrates that 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. The report makes it clear that Muslims, along with
other migrant and minority groups, frequently suffer different forms of
discrimination which reduce their employment opportunities, and affect
their educational achievement. This can give rise to hopelessness, and
could undermine Muslims' sense of belonging in the EU."
The report gives examples of Islamophobic acts, ranging from verbal abuse
to physical attacks and arson. "Such behaviour is illegal. Firm political
leadership is needed to ensure equal treatment of all Europeans, whatever
their background," said Beate Winkler.
The report highlights that only one Member State - the United Kingdom -
publishes criminal justice data which specifically identify Muslims as
victims of hate crime incidents.
Anastasia Crickley, Chair of the EUMC Management Board, noted that yet
again it had proved difficult to measure the precise nature of the
discrimination suffered by European Muslims because of poor or missing
official data: "The work of the EUMC in helping governments provide
effective policies in the area of discrimination and xenophobia depends on
knowing what problems we face. The failure of many Member Stats to collect
effective data means that it is very difficult to develop workable policies
to counter racism."
The EUMC lists many examples of good practice by national or local
governments, NGOs and others, drawn from several Member States. The report,
however, proposes a number of further practical steps to be taken. The EUMC
finds that improving educational achievement, granting equal treatment in
employment, ensuring equal access to housing, and encouraging participation
in public life are further key issues to be tackled, particularly at the
local and regional level. The EUMC calls on all Member States to enforce
the EU Anti-Discrimination Directives, and to ensure that the Equality
Bodies which have been set up in each Member State are adequately resourced.
The report presents an overview of the situation of Muslims in the 25 EU
Member States and follows EUMC publications on the situation of Jews, Roma
and other groups in the EU. It presents available research and analyses
statistical data. It shows that Muslims, as a group, are over-represented
in low-paying sectors of the economy. Their educational achievement, in
general, falls below average and their unemployment rates are higher than
average. They are often disproportionately represented in areas with poorer
housing conditions.
The EUMC is publishing a further study on "Perceptions of Discrimination
and Islamophobia" at the same time. This study is based on in-depth
interviews with members of Muslim organisations and Muslim youth groups in
ten EU Member States. The interviews present a snapshot of the opinions,
feelings, fears, frustrations, and also the hopes for the future shared by
many Muslims in the EU.
"Integration is a two-way process. Many European Muslims acknowledge that
they need to do more to engage with wider society. At the same time
Europe's political leaders must make a stronger effort to promote
meaningful intercultural dialogue and tackle racism, discrimination and
marginalisation more effectively," said Beate Winkler. "Discrimination and
racism are illegal. The key challenge is to strengthen cohesion in European
societies. This means respecting diversity, upholding fundamental rights
and guaranteeing equal opportunities for all of us."
"Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia" and
"Perceptions of Discrimination and Islamophobia" can be downloaded at
<http://eumc.europa.eu/>http://eumc.europa.eu/ from 18 December 2006 noon.
source:
http://eumc.europa.eu/eumc/index.php?fuseaction=content.dsp_cat_content&contentid=4582ddc822d41&catid=43d8bc25bc89d&lang=EN
===
-muslim voice-
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