The European Union’s top-most official for equality has lamented the growing intolerance against Muslim minorities in Europe and voiced her determination to step up measures to tackle this acute problem.
“We are all here today to find joint solutions and approaches to fighting discrimination on ethnic and religious grounds, in particular the discrimination that Muslim communities in Europe are facing, ” Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Equality, told a video Conference on fighting discrimination against Muslim communities in Europe held on Thursday.
A copy of her speech was received by KUNA today, Friday. In her speech, she sent a strong signal to warn against all forms of discrimination, exclusion, and violence against Muslims in Europe.
“False news scapegoating Muslims or migrants for starting or spreading the (corona) virus reminds us of dark times in our history.
We must publicly condemn, act against and sanction such incidents of racism, xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance,” said Dalli, who hails from Malta.
She noted that a study in October 2018 showed that in more than a third of the EU Member States at least one in two people would not be willing to accept a Muslim as a member of their family or as a neighbor.
The 2019 EU’s Eurobarometer on discrimination shows that about three in ten persons would not feel fully comfortable to work with a Muslim person as a colleague, said the EU Commissioner. “We cannot fight marginalization and social exclusion if such barriers prevent them from accessing the job market,” she lamented.
Dalli pointed out that “Muslims or people perceived to be Muslims are the main targets of the far-right extremists.” “Real or perceived intolerance, hatred and discrimination risk breaking down the trust that Muslim citizens have in our public, democratic, institutions,” she warned.
“Several surveys show that Muslim communities seem to trust public authorities at higher rates than the majority non-Muslim population.
But mistrust and suspicion may increase if they feel that they are victims of discrimination due to their religious or cultural belonging,” stated the EU Commissioner.
“We cannot afford to run this risk. We must ensure that policies in other areas, such as for example in the field of security and anti-terrorism, firmly respect fundamental rights and do not stigmatize or disproportionately target members of specific communities,” she said.
“Muslims have been victim to such risks and violations over the past years and we have to reject this,” said the EU Commissioner.
She announced that the EU’s work to combat anti-Muslim hatred has also generated funding possibilities.
Since two years, the priority of promoting inclusion of Muslim communities and of tackling anti- Muslim hatred is included in the seven million euros (USD 7.8 million) budget of the Rights, Equality and Citizenship program of the EU.
Dalli stressed that she is also ready to lead the fight against discrimination wherever it exists and that the EU’s executive body will adopt anti-discrimination legislation to support this.
Over one hundred participants from different sectors, including representatives of national authorities, international organizations as well as of civil society participated in the virtual conference.
It was organized in cooperation with the current Croatian EU Presidency and the European network of Equality bodies.
Source: KUNA
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