According to a report just published by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, Islamophobia is growing in the EU. This will come as no surprise; the growth of far-right anti-Muslim parties across Europe plus a wealth of anecdotal evidence of hostility toward Muslims are proof that, since 9/11, Islamophobia in Europe has become widespread. It is also institutional: The opposition to Turkish EU membership from France and Germany is purely because Turkey is a Muslim country; in the UK, the current battle in Parliament over the government’s plans to place suspected terrorists under house arrest has to be seen against a background of the political and media message that terrorist equals Muslim; only last week, a British minister warned the Muslim community that it had to accept being targeted by the police because of the threat by Islamic extremists.
“Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims in the EU” makes depressing reading. In Germany, it points out, 80 percent of those surveyed last year associated Islam with terrorism. In France, the recent law banning women from wearing the hijab in public places has increased discrimination against Muslim women. In the Netherlands, it points to a growing hostility to Muslim schools, which are perceived, without any evidence, of undermining integration. In Athens, the Greek Orthodox Church has campaigned against building a mosque in the city center and one near the airport.
Neither Muslims, politicians and government officials in Europe, the media nor individual European citizens can remain complacent in the face of this report. The willingness to portray Muslims as “alien” to EU societies together with security and immigration measures that fuel public perceptions of Muslims as a “fifth column” are the highway to a new fascism that already manifests itself in discrimination, verbal and physical attacks on Muslims, right-wing populist parties whipping up anti-Muslim sentiment and stereotypical press reports portraying Muslims as an enemy within. This is dangerous to Europe, not just because of its inherent immorality but also because, as the report itself says, it has led to a growing distrust and hostility among Europe’s Muslims. It could fuel support for extremist organizations. So where to go from here?
The report makes a number of recommendations, including new laws on discrimination. This is being looked at. But governments cannot legislate away prejudice. If Islam has an image problem in Europe, as it does, it is ultimately up to Europe’s Muslims to change people’s hearts and minds. The US has an image problem in much of the world. No one suggests that it is up to the governments in the Middle East or in Europe to fix it. The Americans know that, which is why they are putting such efforts, and massive funding, into changing people’s views.
Sadly, there is no sign yet that Europe’s Muslims have woken up to the fact their future lies in their own hands.
