Kosárová, D. (2023), Muslim´s Experience with Islamophobia in Slovakia, Journal of Religion in Europe 16/2023, 229-266, ISSN 1874-8929

Country

Slovakia

Title

Kosárová, D. (2023), Muslim´s Experience with Islamophobia in Slovakia, Journal of Religion in Europe 16/2023, 229-266, ISSN 1874-8929

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Year

2023

Publication type

Research evidence/report

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

Academic/research institution

Institution

Slovakia, Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence

Thematic focus

Hate crime Discrimination Harassment

Groups

Muslims

Key findings

Overall, 63 % of all the respondents experienced at least one of the four types of anti-Muslim incidents. Most of those having experienced anti-Muslim hatred encountered verbal attacks (68 %), followed by other forms of anti-Muslim hatred (54 %), and discrimination (51 %). When it comes to the external manifestation of faith, 65 % of respondents manifesting their faith externally have experienced at least one form of anti-Muslim hatred. In terms of gender 72 % of female respondents claimed to have experienced some anti-Muslim incidents, compared to 56 % of men. The analysis also shows that 57 % of those respondents who experienced anti-Muslim hatred had done so repeatedly. The highest number of repeated incidents (76 %) was related to verbal attacks.

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

This research aims at contributing to the existing research on anti-Muslim hatred in Slovakia through an exploratory case study from a perspective of Muslims themselves. The main objective of the research is to identify the magnitude and character of anti-Muslim hatred experienced by Muslims in Slovakia since 2015. Data were gathered using an online survey. The findings revealed not only the extent but also the most common features of anti-Muslim hatred experienced by Muslims, including the type of incidents, the places of their occurrence, and the nexus between anti-Muslim incidents and origin of respondents (Slovak or foreign), external manifestation of their faith, and gender/sex.

Sample details and representativeness

To create the questionnaire the Survio online tool was created. The link to the online survey was sent by email to different institutions, NGOs, and individuals cooperating with the Muslim community in Slovakia or dealing with the issue of anti-Muslim hatred, with a request to distribute the link among Muslims living in Slovakia. Some of the approached institutions/individuals distributed the link further, for example, by means of social media (Facebook or WhatsApp). In total, 59 Muslims responded to the questionnaire (around 1.5 % of the Muslim population in the Slovak Republic based on the numbers from the most recent census). The sample was not representative.

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.