Patrick Charlier, director of the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities (Unia), has pointed out a troubling increase in anti-Muslim attitudes throughout Europe, with Belgium showing that 90% of discrimination cases involve Muslims, especially veiled women.
A recent report by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights revealed a significant uptick in discrimination against Muslims since 2016, indicating that half of all Muslims experience discriminatory treatment on a daily basis. Factors contributing to this discrimination include not only religion but also skin color, ethnic background, and immigration history, with young Muslims born in Europe and veiled women particularly affected.
In Belgium, 43% of Muslims report experiencing housing discrimination. Charlier emphasized the seriousness of discrimination, hate speech, and hate crimes targeting Muslims, particularly in employment settings where women wearing headscarves face the most significant challenges.
He also noted the connection between anti-immigrant sentiments and anti-Muslim attitudes, explaining that discourse against asylum seekers often targets Muslims, even if not explicitly labeled as such. This discrimination remains a persistent issue in Belgium, with ongoing challenges related to Islamophobia and xenophobia.
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