In the European Union, every second Muslim faces racism and discrimination in everyday life, a trend that has been sharply increasing since 2016, according to a report published on Thursday by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
The EU-based organization, headquartered in Vienna, states that Muslim women, men, and children are targeted for discrimination not only because of their religion, but also because of their skin color, ethnicity, or immigrant background. Based on a survey conducted in 2022 with the participation of 13 member states – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden – among Muslim immigrants, the report states that anti-Muslim sentiment has significantly increased since 2016, particularly in the labor and housing markets.
“In European countries, 47% of Muslims experience racial discrimination, 8% more than in 2016,” the report says. This rate is highest in Austria at 71%, followed by Germany at 68%, and Finland at 63%. The report states that 39% and 36% of Muslims most commonly face discrimination while job seeking or in the workplace, with these rates increasing by 8% and 13% respectively since 2016. 35% of respondents believe that discrimination against them has prevented them from buying or renting housing, compared to only 22% in 2016.
The FRA highlighted that women wearing traditional Muslim attire face even more discrimination, especially while job seeking. 45% of respondents have experienced discrimination for this reason, 14% more than 8 years ago. The report also noted that 27% of Muslims have experienced racist harassment at least once or multiple times. The FRA also finds the discriminatory “profiling” carried out by law enforcement agencies worrisome:
“In the year prior to the survey, nearly half of those stopped by the police felt that the authorities conducted checks based on their ethnic origin.”
The data also revealed that 31% of Muslim households struggle with poverty, compared to 19% of general households. In order to effectively address racism and discrimination, the FRA called on the EU and its member states to renew the EU Action Plan against Racism and include measures specifically targeting anti-Muslim racism. They emphasized the proper implementation of anti-discrimination laws and stricter sanctions for discrimination and hate crimes. It is also important that authorities responsible for equal treatment have the necessary mandates and sufficient resources for effective and independent handling of discrimination.
Sirpa Rautio, director of FRA, stated regarding the report: “We are witnessing a worrying increase in racism and discrimination against Muslims in Europe. This is fueled by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and further exacerbates the dehumanizing anti-Muslim political discourse experienced across the continent.”
