NationStates Jolt Archive

Muslims in Europe face discrimination in education, employment and housing and are often victims of verbal abuse and physical attacks, a monitoring group reported Monday.
[...]
"Greater efforts need to be made to ensure that all European Muslims enjoy the right to equal treatment and the same quality of life as other Europeans," Winkler said.
[...]
"Many European Muslims, particularly young people, face barriers to their social advancement. This could give rise to a feeling of hopelessness and social exclusion," the report concluded.

The EUMC, which is to become the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights in 2007, cited incidents "ranging from verbal abuse to physical attacks and arson"
[...]
About 13 million Muslims live in the European Union, according to official data and estimates from non-governmental organisations, making up 3.5 percent of the entire EU population, the EUMC report said.


Full article here (http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/news/world/20061218-Muslims-Europe.html). See also the BBC's article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6189675.stm), or Al Jazeera's (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BCB1A7C1-48C2-4159-8F69-84038DCB7DFE.htm) (none found on the CNN website).

Comments?

Intelligent comments only, please. No mindless flaming, xenophobia, Islamophobia or Europe-bashing.

I think this will improve, but it will take awhile. Hell, look at how long it's taken blacks to advance in the U.S., and they still lag behind in many areas due to discrimination. I don't know what the solution is, but it seems the only way to really see things get better is with the passage of time. Unless, of course, someone can think of a better solution.

Quite sad, and not at all surprising.

I have a hunch that it is somewhat like Pavlovian conditioning, whenever the average person sees muslims in the mass media its always in a story about terrorism or some other horrible thing. Thus when they see a muslim in their daily lives, they automatically associate it with violence.

Thats part of it, theres also been other problems with integration into the countries, on both sides, it's contributed to the exclusion.

Although, to be fair, discrimination against Muslims is not nearly as bad as discrimination against blacks in the U.S. used to be (and may still be, in some areas).

I think what the Muslims need is an MLK-type person, who can use persuasion, oratory, and moderation to win racist people over to the side of tolerance. They need to unite together to bring an end to this, and find a strong leader figure to head their efforts.

Just my thoughts.

I have a hunch that it is somewhat like Pavlovian conditioning, whenever the average person sees muslims in the mass media its always in a story about terrorism or some other horrible thing.

QFT if self confessed tabloids had there way we would be cowering in our homes *cough* The Sun *cough* plus everyone needs a scapegoat

Though I would say Anti-Muslim attitude is at its strongest in France

I don't know what the solution is, but it seems the only way to really see things get better is with the passage of time. Unless, of course, someone can think of a better solution.

Sadly, no. I've wondered about it, but as you say, with the passing of time it should improve.

In France, legislation exists against employers discriminating when hiring employees. There are organisations which put employers to the test and bring those who violate the law to court. Specifically, they submit virtually identical applications with different names, one French-sounding and the other African or Arab. There have been publicised cases of employers only replying to the French-sounding prospective employee.

Or in work-finding agencies, there have been cases where Black French or Arab French jobseekers with identical qualifications to White jobseekers have been offered fewer jobs because employers have specifically stated they want only white employees. There are organisations which document this and make it public.

I think what the Muslims need is an MLK-type person, who can use persuasion, oratory, and moderation to win racist people over to the side of tolerance. They need to unite together to bring an end to this, and find a strong leader figure to head their efforts.

MLK probably won as many people over as Malcolm X. He just organized angry people into a non-violent mob. The only thing to be done is forced integration.

The only thing to be done is forced integration.

That won't solve anything. It doesn't address the underlying causes of the problem. Moreover, coercing people who don't like each other to integrate is only asking for trouble. Tolerance must be taught. You can't impose it on people. Go to the root of the problem (intolerance) and solve that, and then let integration proceed.

IMO, a good start would be teaching tolerance in schools, and teaching people that diversity is a blessing to be cherished, not an adversary to be feared.

Tolerance must be taught.
How do you propose tolerance be taught while people remain segregated?

Although, to be fair, discrimination against Muslims is not nearly as bad as discrimination against blacks in the U.S. used to be (and may still be, in some areas).

I think what the Muslims need is an MLK-type person, who can use persuasion, oratory, and moderation to win racist people over to the side of tolerance. They need to unite together to bring an end to this, and find a strong leader figure to head their efforts.

Just my thoughts.

Well, they have Tariq Ramadan. But I don't think he has enough support among non-Muslim. Not to mention his religiousness probably won't help much with the current generation of Muslim youth.

More publicity is needed for the good things that Muslims do in western society rather than just the bad. Also, we should check the growth of religious schools as they encourage a 'them and us' mentality; what we need is a broadly secular education which teaches awareness and tolerance for all religions.

Full article here (http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/news/world/20061218-Muslims-Europe.html). See also the BBC's article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6189675.stm), or Al Jazeera's (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BCB1A7C1-48C2-4159-8F69-84038DCB7DFE.htm) (none found on the CNN website).

Comments?

Intelligent comments only, please. No mindless flaming, xenophobia, Islamophobia or Europe-bashing.

Wow. Just wow.

Of course I'm not surprised. Hasn't there been a "Muslim problem" in Europe since the wars with the Ottoman Empire?

The answer as the recent Nobel Prize Winner recently said is not to make more guns but a social solution, to curtail abject poverty and disillusionment in which 'terrorists' are born. As usual, I blame the right.

forcing employers to hire based on race is not a good idea. the government shouldnt tell employers how to run their business. what can be done is make public reports on company hiring practices. let the public decide who they wish to buy from/work for.

The answer as the recent Nobel Prize Winner recently said is not to make more guns but a social solution, to curtail abject poverty and disillusionment in which 'terrorists' are born. As usual, I blame the right.

So, would you characterize the various European governments of the past 20 years (the governments of the generation that has risen to be the adult terrorists of today) as generally right wing?

Take each in turn, as examples, and let me know:

The UK
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
and any other EU nations you think have a "Muslim problem"

Of course I'm not surprised. Hasn't there been a "Muslim problem" in Europe since the wars with the Ottoman Empire?

Please tell me your not equating Muslim immigrants to invading Turkish armies.

Please tell me your not equating Muslim immigrants to invading Turkish armies.

Please tell me that you can recognize sarcasm when you see it.

Yes muslims still face discrimination, but there's no need to blow it out of proportion. They're equal by law, and you can't force people to accept them straight away. Yes it would help if the media didnt only show negative images of muslims, but equally if muslims put more effort into trying to intergrate it would be easier...

So, would you characterize the various European governments of the past 20 years (the governments of the generation that has risen to be the adult terrorists of today) as generally right wing?

Take each in turn, as examples, and let me know:

The UK
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
and any other EU nations you think have a "Muslim problem"

Such clashes in these sensitive times are inevitable, but I think prolonged social policies, such as those that would be implemented if the socialists win elections in France, and if the conservatives go in the UK, would eventually calm things down.

In such cultural religious clashes, tensions will always be there, but it is poverty and social conditions that radicalise Muslim youths, employment and govt subsidised wages should help, young Muslims that would otherwise be radicalised would be unlikely to be influenced so when they owe so much to their State. That is the way to alienate and isolate the extremists. I also see the Scandinavian Welfare State Model to be extremely effective also in this goal. But nothing will happen overnight.

Such clashes in these sensitive times are inevitable, but I think prolonged social policies, such as those that would be implemented if the socialists win elections in France, and if the conservatives go in the UK, would eventually calm things down.

In such cultural religious clashes, tensions will always be there, but it is poverty and social conditions that radicalise Muslim youths, employment and govt subsidised wages should help, young Muslims that would otherwise be radicalised would be unlikely to be influenced so when they owe so much to their State. That is the way to alienate and isolate the extremists. I also see the Scandinavian Welfare State Model to be extremely effective also in this goal. But nothing will happen overnight.

You didn't answer the question.

Over the past 20 years, have governments been left or right leaning in EU countries?

You didn't answer the question.

Over the past 20 years, have governments been left or right leaning in EU countries?

Well, some are on the right, while others are on the left.