1
December
2006

Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia

The report "Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia" published presents available data on discrimination affecting Muslims in employment, education and housing.

Manifestations of Islamophobia range from verbal threats through to physical attacks on people and property. The report stresses that the extent and nature of discrimination and Islamophobic incidents against European Muslims remain under-documented and under-reported. The EUMC report recommends therefore that Member States improve the reporting of incidents and implement measures to counter discrimination and racism more effectively. The report also includes initiatives and proposals for policy action by EU Member State governments and the European institutions to combat Islamophobia and to foster integration.

Firm political leadership is needed to ensure equal treatment of all Europeans, whatever their background. This includes:

  • Implementing EU legislation and adequately resourced equality bodies;
  • Recording and policing Islamophobic incidents;
  • Implementing social integration and inclusion policies for migrants and minorities,
  • Granting equal treatment in employment;
  • Improving educational achievement;
  • Ensuring equal access to housing;
  • Encourage European Muslims to engage more actively in public life (e.g. in political, economic, social and cultural institutions and processes). 

Corrigendum
Changes have been made to the report on "Muslims in the European Union - Discrimination and Islamophobia" after it was printed. The corrigendum pages replace the Annex page in the EN and FR version of the report.

Perceptions of discrimination and Islamophobia

The Report "Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia" is accompanied by a study on "Perceptions of discrimination and Islamophobia", which is based on in-depth interviews with members of Muslim communities in ten EU Member States. This study provides a snapshot of the opinions, feelings, fears, frustrations, and also the hopes for the future shared by many Muslims in the EU.

"Integration is a two-way process. Many European Muslims acknowledge that they need to do more to engage with wider society. At the same time Europe's political leaders must make a stronger effort to promote meaningful intercultural dialogue and tackle racism, discrimination and marginalisation more effectively," said EUMC Director Beate Winkler.