Research Reveals 'Massive' Job Discrimination Against Muslims in France
Categories: Latest News
Wednesday November 24 2010
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The Independent reported yesterday of “massive discrimination” faced by Muslims in France according to the first scientifically validated study of anti-Muslim bias among French employers. |
They now want to test whether there is a similar bias in Britain, where there is more unemployment among Muslims than any other religious group.
From The Independent:
“The French study found that a fictional job applicant with a traditionally Christian first name was more than two-and-a-half times more likely to receive a response from a potential French employer than an identical applicant with a Muslim name.”
“The scientists who carried out the research believe the highly significant difference in response rates was entirely due to the perceived religious affiliations of the job applicant rather than any prejudice connected with differences in race, age or gender.”
In 2004, an investigation by BBC Radio Five Live uncovered “shocking” racism among virtually every sector of the job market in Britain. Dummy CVs were sent to fifty companies on behalf of six fictitious applicants which had the same standard of qualifications and experience- Abu Olasemi, Fatima Khan, Jenny Hughes, John Andrews, Nasser Hanif and Yinka Olatande.
Research found that “almost a quarter of applications by two candidates given traditionally “white” names – Jenny Hughes and John Andrews – resulted in interview offers.”
“But only 9% of the ‘Muslim’ applications, by the fictitious Fatima Khan and Nasser Hanif, prompted a similar response.”
At the time, Professor Muhammad Anwar, then of Warwick University’s centre for research in ethnic relations, said the survey was proof of a rise in anti-Muslim feeling:
“I think there is a trend now or a shift from racial discrimination to more religious or cultural type discrimination.
“Certainly after 9/11 there has been a tremendous difference.
“When people look at Muslim men they may think again about whether that person should be invited for interview.”