The report revealed that Israel’s war on Gaza has led to an increase in Islamophobia across Western Europe [GETTY]
A report on Saturday has revealed that Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza have led to a significant increase in Islamophobia across Europe.
The European Islamophobia Report 2023 looked at anti-Muslim sentiment in 28 European countries, finding that the war on the besieged Palestinian enclave had “functioned as a geopolitical catalyst of anti-Muslim racism in Europe”.
The findings asserted that Islamophobia had manifested through “systemic discrimination, political rhetoric, media narratives, and societal attitudes”, which was exacerbated by events like Israel’s war on Gaza.
The report said the reaction of the European governments had “intensified Islamophobic rhetoric and actions”, as well as framing pro-Palestinian solidarity as “terrorism” and challenging calls for a ceasefire.
It said that French President Emmanuel Macron’s “pro-Israel” statements following the 7 October attacks had exacerbated institutional racism against Muslims.
To address the rise and awareness of anti-Muslim rhetoric, the United Nations General Assembly announced that 15 March would be the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.
Of the 28 countries in the report, only Spain had observed the day in 2023.
The report also highlighted the role of far-right parties exploiting Islamophobia for political gains with the legal systems in countries like France and Finland passing policies targeting Islamic practices like banning religious attire and the media’s role in perpetuating Islamophobic stereotypes and narratives where Muslims are dehumanised.
Islamophobic hate crimes also increased in countries like Norway, Spain, and Greece highlighting an uptick in verbal and physical assaults on Muslims.
Muslim women wearing religious clothing, in particular, experienced discrimination in employment, education, and housing, the report said.
In Switzerland, its report noted that Muslim women, particularly those who wear hijabs, faced workplace discrimination and were blocked from advancing in their careers.
The report also highlighted the closure of several mosques and hotels in Bosnia and Herzegovina being built on land that was meant for mosques as a way of erasing the country’s cultural heritage.
The writer of the European Islamophobia Report 2023 called for “robust political, legal, and societal interventions to combat this pervasive racist phenomenon”.
