Belgium, Unia (2023), Analyse Unia - dossiers geloof-symbolen 2017-2023 (Analysis Unia - case file belief-symboles 2017-2023), available at: www.equalitydata.unia.be/nl/p1.

Country

Belgium

Title

Belgium, Unia (2023), Analyse Unia - dossiers geloof-symbolen 2017-2023 (Analysis Unia - case file belief-symboles 2017-2023), available at: www.equalitydata.unia.be/nl/p1.

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Year

2023

Publication type

Report - official data on incidents

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

National human rights body

Institution

Belgium, Unia

Thematic focus

Discrimination

Groups

Muslims Migrants Other

Key findings

This report by Unia analyses 753 cases from 2021-2023 concerning religious or philosophical symbols. A striking 99% of cases relate to Islam, and 93% of the victims are women. Stereotypes and prejudice occurred in 28% of cases, of which 99% targeted Islam. Additionally, 38% involved Muslim women of non-Belgian origin, with 26% of these victims in vulnerable positions. In 4% of cases, discrimination or hate crimes were paired with stereotypes about Islam. The study highlights the intersectionality of religion, gender, and origin in these instances of exclusion and bias.

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

Quantitative (case file analysis)

Sample details and representativeness

This report utilised the internal registration system Metis, where all individual reports received by Unia are recorded, as the basis for its analysis. The focus was specifically on cases related to religious symbols. The study identified 743 cases during the 2017-2020 period and 753 cases for 2021-2023, highlighting a consistent number of reports over time.

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.