ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT

EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2015
Islamophobia occurs in various fields in the social and political domains. More
qualitative research is necessary to shed light on the manifestation of Islamophobia
in different social domains. More and more stakeholders have joined efforts to
counter Islamophobia. CSOs have taken initiatives to counter Islamophobia by creating
hotlines and notification sites, campaigning against Islamophobia, carrying out
research, and presenting data and information on Islamophobia. This newly created
infrastructure needs to be reinforced to become more sustainable.
National and local authorities and civil society need to conceive discriminatory
aggression and violence against Muslims for what they are: cases of abuse of the right
to freedom of religion and the principles of equality and anti-discrimination.
Authorities need to react adequately in the case of discriminatory aggression
against the Muslim community by
• Supporting initiatives by Muslim communities to create reporting systems in
coordination with the existing general notification agencies.
• Serious and respectful treatment of people who complain and report d i s -
crimination to the police.
• Improvement of prosecution procedures and practices.
• Improvement of communication with the Muslim community to support them
in preventing discriminatory and aggressive acts against them and in developing
long- term and preventative policies aimed at education and dialogue.
Political parties should raise their voice against populist and discriminatory slogans
of racist parties such as the PVV. Relevant authorities should take a stance when
hate crime and discrimination are fuelled by propaganda in the media and politics.
Politicians need to function as role models and emphasise norms and values related
to democratic principles.
The Muslim community as a targeted group has an important role to play. They
may participate in dialogue and encounter and inform people about the significance of
religion as an expression of fundamental human norms and values. Muslim organisations
should reinforce their cooperation to better cope with the problems of discrimination
and to convince the faithful that reporting acts of discrimination is necessary to
get access to political agendas and to influence anti-discrimination policies.
CHRONOLOGY
January
• Calls for burning down mosques occur on Facebook after similar events in Sweden
on New Years’ Eve.
February
• The government announces the revision of the Action Programme against
Discrimination.
398
setav.org