Muslims are still heavily discriminated in Europe

A new survey published last week by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights shows that Muslims in Europe suffer discrimination in all areas of life.

The study, which surveyed Muslim immigrants and descendants of immigrants in 15 European countries including the United Kingdom, shows troublesome figures about the level of integration of the European Muslim population. The study was conducted in key European countries where 94% of European Muslims live.

Although 76% of respondents feel strongly attached to the country they live in, the study shows that Muslims continue to face barriers to their full inclusion in European societies.

One in three Muslim respondents experience discrimination when looking for a job, which consequently hampers their meaningful participation in society. One in four respondents suffer harassment due to ethnic or immigrant background, and one in three experience discrimination, harassment or police stops for displaying religious symbols, such as religious garments.

In this regard, 35% of Muslim women respondents indicate that public display of religious clothing is a reason for discrimination.

16% of Muslim respondents were stopped by the police in the 12 months preceding the survey, and 42% say that this occurred due to their immigrant or ethnic minority background.

Stop and Search regulation is not the only security issue seemingly targeting Muslims. European counterterrorism laws are also considered “seriously flawed” by a number of international groups, including Amnesty International, the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), European Digital Rights (EDRi), the Fundamental Rights European Experts (FREE) Group, Human Rights Watch (HRW), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Open Society Foundations (OSF).

As a result, the EU survey continues, respondents who indicate having been victims of dis­crimination, harassment or violence because of their ethnic or immigrant background show considerably lower levels of attachment to the survey country than those who have not experienced such maltreatment.

Islamophobia, the study suggests, remains a big problem in Europe. Despite the adoption of some important measures to tackle discrimination in all its forms, the current representation of Muslims as a threat in many public and media discourses still fuels both discrimination and alienation of a whole population group.