Nearly half of the Muslims living in Europe face racism and discrimination in their daily lives, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has said in a report.
The report ‘Being Muslim in the EU’, released on Thursday and based on 2022 data, highlighted a sharp increase in anti-Muslim sentiment, with 47 per cent of Muslim respondents reporting racial discrimination, up from 39 per cent in 2016.
The survey shed light on the increasing challenges faced by Muslims across the EU, particularly in employment and housing.
“Muslims most often face discrimination when looking for work (39 per cent) or in the workplace (35 per cent),” it said.
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It underscored that these issues have ripple effects in other areas, such as housing, education and health care.
The report added that women who wear religious attire experience higher levels of racial discrimination than those who do not, particularly when looking for employment, and the rate rose to 45 per cent in 2022 from 31 per cent in 2016, with young women aged 16-24 experiencing the highest incidence at 58 per cent.
Discrimination in the housing market has also surged, with 35 per cent of respondents saying they were unable to rent or buy a house due to discrimination, a significant increase from 22 per cent in 2016.
The report also highlighted issues with law enforcement, with nearly half (49 per cent) of those stopped by police believing they were subjected to racial profiling.
FRA Director Sirpa Rautio called the situation alarming, saying, “We are witnessing a worrying surge in racism and discrimination against Muslims in Europe.”
She attributed this to conflicts in the Middle East and “dehumanising anti-Muslim rhetoric across the continent.”
“We need to ensure that everyone in the EU feels safe, included and respected, regardless of their skin colour, background, or religion,” Rautio added. (Anadolu Agency)
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