KUALA LUMPUR: The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) has called on European Union (EU) institutions to recognise Islamophobia as a specific form of racism.
The call was made following ENAR’s first of its kind pan-European qualitative survey of Islamophobia, which showed that discrimination against Muslims in Europe is widespread.
Muslims continued to experience discrimination in a range of areas, more specifically in employment, education, and access to goods and services, said ENAR, which represents EU-wide network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
According to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the ENAR study showed that Muslim women and girls are the most affected and face double discrimination on the basis of both their religion and their gender.
The report also highlighted an increase in hatred against Muslims in Europe manifesting itself as opposition to as well as protests against the building of mosques and damage to Islamic places of worship.
An uninhibited form of racism has also emerged, using freedom of expression and ‘white victimhood’ as justifications for promoting exclusion and discrimination, according to the report.
OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu concurred with the call made by ENAR, saying that “this is what we have been saying for a long time, that Islamophobia should be recognised as a form of racism and dealt with accordingly”.
He said Western leaders need to recognise Islamophobia as a threat to peaceful coexistence and understanding among people.
The OIC has just released its fifth Islamophobia Report, which indicates the rising trends in some national policies, laws, and administrative measures that stigmatise Muslims. — Bernama