PNN – Hate speech against Muslims in Europe has taken a dangerous path in recent years and has now established itself in the form of government laws, official positions, and media coverage; a trend that has posed a serious challenge not only to the civil rights of Muslims, but also to the human face of the Old Continent.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, Islamophobia, as an irrational fear or hatred of Islam and Muslims, has now become an official part of the laws and social structures of many European countries and has affected the lives of millions of Muslims. This phenomenon has manifested itself in an organized manner in various sectors of society, including politics, the media, and government institutions, and has led to widespread discrimination against the Muslim population of Europe.
A few weeks ago, a body monitoring Islamophobic crimes in the UK warned that the country was no longer a safe place for Muslims, but it was immediately criticized by officials and the government cut its funding.
Official statistics and data on Islamophobia in Europe
It is estimated that there are around 19 million Muslims living in Europe, which is approximately 6% of the continent’s population. Official statistics and European research indicate a worrying situation of Islamophobia, some of which are mentioned below:
Everyday discrimination: According to the latest report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in 2024, nearly half of Muslims in the European Union (47%) said they faced racism and discrimination in their daily lives, a significant increase from 2016 (39%). Hijabi women and young Muslims born in Europe are the most affected by discrimination. In some countries, the rate is even higher, with Austria reporting 71 percent and Germany reporting 68 percent.
Hate Crime: In many European countries, Muslims are one of the main targets of religious hate crimes. For example, in England and Wales, around 3,400 hate crimes against Muslims were recorded by the police in 2022-2023, accounting for 44% of all religious hate crimes. In France, according to Interior Ministry statistics, 188 anti-Muslim incidents were reported in 2022, slightly down from the previous year (213 in 2021). But this slight decrease comes after several years of increases, and the overall rate of incidents remains high. France also experienced a 53 percent jump in Islamophobic attacks in 2020.
Situation in Germany: The German government has reported that hundreds of crimes against Muslims have been recorded in recent years. For example, between 2017 and 2021, around 700 to 1,000 crimes motivated by “Islamophobia” were recorded each year (1,075 cases in 2017; 950 cases in 2019; 732 cases in 2021). The latest figures show that 610 anti-Muslim crimes were recorded in 2022, and this trend continued to increase in 2023, with more than 686 crimes against Muslims reported in the first 9 months of 2023 alone. This increase has occurred mainly after recent geopolitical events (including the Gaza War in October 2023) that have heightened tensions.
The role of European politicians in exacerbating Islamophobia
The statements and policies of some European politicians, especially right-wing and populist figures, have played a major role in normalizing Islamophobic discourse and fueling fear of Muslims. In recent years, anti-Islamic statements by leaders of far-right parties and even some mainstream politicians have increased, inflaming the social atmosphere against Muslims.
The role of European media in the spread of Islamophobia
Mass media also play a key role in shaping public opinion and, unfortunately, in some cases, have reproduced negative stereotypes and reinforced fear of Muslims. Studies indicate that there is a structural bias in news coverage of Islam and Muslims, which in turn fuels the spread of Islamophobia.
Various studies show that a significant portion of media coverage of Muslims in Europe is negative. For example, a large study in the UK found that the majority of news about Muslims in the country’s media is negative, with Muslims mostly portrayed in the context of problems or threats.
Government policies and laws that discriminate against Muslims
In addition to political and media discourse, some government policies and laws in Europe have structurally restricted the rights of Muslims or fostered discrimination. These actions, whether in the name of secularism or under the pretext of security, have had a profound impact on the lives of European Muslims in recent years.
Restrictions on religious dress and freedom: Several European countries have passed laws restricting Islamic dress in public spaces. France has been a pioneer in this direction; since 2004, a law banning the hijab and visible religious symbols in public schools has been in effect. Following this, France banned the wearing of the veil and burqa (full-face covering) in public places in 2010. Other countries have taken similar measures: Belgium and Bulgaria have banned the veil; Austria and Denmark have also outlawed full-face coverings in recent years.
Bans on religious practices: Some policies directly target Muslim religious or cultural practices. For example, bans on the non-anesthetized slaughter of animals (to produce halal meat) have been implemented in parts of Europe. Belgium introduced such a ban in the Flemish and Walloon regions in 2019, and the Court of Justice of the European Union upheld the ban in a ruling. Although this law affects both Jews and Muslims, Muslims are the larger group that requires halal meat and therefore feels discriminated against. Another example is local laws in some European cities to restrict the call to prayer from mosques or to be overly strict in issuing permits for mosque construction, all of which are seen as pressure on Muslim religious identity.
Security and surveillance policies: Following terrorist attacks in the 2000s (including ISIS attacks in Europe), many governments enacted laws to combat extremism. However, in practice, the implementation of some of these policies has led to excessive surveillance of Muslim communities and discriminatory treatment. In France, after the 2015 attacks, a state of emergency and then the so-called “Countering Separatism” law (2021) gave authorities broad powers to close mosques and dissolve Islamic associations.
Discriminatory immigration policies: The 2015 refugee crisis was a test for Europe, with some governments openly discriminating against refugees based on religion. The Visegrad Group countries (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia) accepted almost no Muslim refugees and imposed strict border policies. This is despite the fact that the same countries welcomed (mostly Christian) Ukrainian refugees with open arms in 2022. This double standard, observers say, is rooted in Islamophobia. Even in more Western countries, immigration quotas and social integration processes have sometimes been biased. For example, the Austrian government has implemented plans to reduce the concentration of Muslim immigrants in urban areas, which critics see as an attempt to break up Muslim communities.
Reactions and actions of human rights and Islamic groups in confronting Islamophobia
In the face of the growing wave of Islamophobia, human rights organizations, Muslim communities, and some international institutions have been working to defend the rights of Muslims by raising awareness, providing legal support, and putting pressure on governments.
Reporting and documentation: Civil society groups in many countries have begun to monitor and record Islamophobia. For example, in the UK, the organization Tel MAMA records cases of attacks and discrimination against Muslims and publishes an annual report.
Pressure and advice to governments: Prominent human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have issued reports and statements criticizing discriminatory policies. For example, in April 2024, Human Rights Watch issued a statement stating that “the German government is failing to protect Muslims from racism” and urged German authorities to take stronger measures to combat hate crimes and discrimination against Muslims. In the statement, the organization’s expert stressed that the government must have a better understanding of anti-Islamic racism and collect better data; otherwise the efforts will not be effective. In France, Amnesty International has also criticized the “anti-separatism” law and called for guarantees of fundamental freedoms for Muslims.
EU initiatives: The EU has also addressed the issue of Islamophobia as a supranational body. Since 2015, the European Commission has appointed a “Coordinator for Combating Anti-Muslim Hatred” to work with member states on this issue. After the position had been vacant for some time, in February 2023, Ms. Marion Lalis was appointed as the new coordinator to strengthen the EU’s efforts. The European Union also called on member states, within the framework of the “2020 Anti-Racism Strategy”, to develop national plans to combat racism, and specifically Islamophobia.
Legal Action and Litigation: Muslim communities and human rights groups have in some cases gone to court to address discrimination. Several cases have been filed in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in which European Muslims have claimed that their rights (for example, the right to wear the hijab or the right to build a mosque) have been violated.
Despite these efforts, experts say the fight against Islamophobia has a long way to go. Many believe that the fight must become a broad social movement in order to shake up discriminatory structures.