#toleranceproject

“European countries appear to face another crisis beyond budget deficits – the disintegration of human values. One symptom is the increasing expression of intolerance towards Muslims. [O]pinion polls in several European countries reflect fear, suspicion and negative opinions of Muslims and Islamic culture. These Islamophobic prejudices are combined with racist attitudes – directed not least against people originating from Turkey, Arab countries and South Asia. Muslims with this background are discriminated [against] in the labour market and the education system in a number of European countries.”  – Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.

Discrimination against Muslims is a common issue in Europe, mainly in the countries of Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Switzerland.  In a multi-level analysis of survey data from 30 different European countries, it was found that prejudice against Muslims was more prevalent than prejudice against any other immigrants. Muslims face prejudices within many aspects of their lives, including education and employment.

When researching hate crimes against Muslims in Europe, I found an immense amount of examples of violence and destruction against individuals, places of worship, and cemeteries only because of their affiliation with the Muslim religion. A young girl, only 13 years old, was burned and robbed in Grangewood Park, London, United Kingdom on June 9, 2010. The victim’s hair was set on fire; she was cut with glass, and smashed against a tree by three teenagers.  It was said that anti-Muslim slurs were said by attackers during the assault. The attackers were only at the ages of 14, 15, and 18. Although this crime was reported and the attackers were punished, many hate crimes still go. This suggests that harsher consequences need to be enforced regarding violent hate crimes within these European governments. Something is obviously wrong with society if people at such young of ages are being attacked and doing the attacking just because of differences in religious belief.

Amnesty International, a non-governmental organization that focuses on human rights with over three million members, wrote a report on this issue called Choice and prejudice: discrimination against Muslims in Europe. This report portrays how the European Union (EU) anti-discrimination legislation, prohibiting prejudice in employment, has not been properly enforced, specifically in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. “Muslim women are being denied jobs and girls prevented from attending regular classes just because they wear traditional forms of dress, such as the headscarf. Men can be dismissed for wearing beards associated with Islam,” said Marco Perolini, Amnesty International’s expert on discrimination.  He also says that these issues aren’t being addressed because “Rather than countering these prejudices, political parties and public officials are all too often pandering to them in their quest for votes.” European governments need to help combat prejudices, not encourage them.

The prejudices and stereotypes towards Muslims are most of the time based on ignorance and incorrect information about the religion. If people had a clear understanding of their beliefs and learned to accept them, tolerance would be more widespread. Discriminating against people and giving them fewer opportunities because of their religious beliefs benefits no one. Teaching and spreading tolerance not only is moral, it gives people more equal opportunities to succeed and improve society. Tolerance is an option; we have the option to change society and humanity for the better.