Anti-Muslim acts 'rampant across Europe'

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,272563,00.html

VIENNA (Austria) - Hostility towards Muslims is
'widespread' across much of the European Union (EU),
where Islamic followers are subject to verbal and
physical attacks as well as discrimination in jobs and
housing, a human rights group said yesterday.

Distrustful attitudes towards Muslims have grown since
the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and the
Madrid train bombings on March 11, said the
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
(IHF).

'As the fight against terrorism has been stepped up,
and public debate has increasingly focused attention
on Islamic extremism, Muslim minorities have come
under growing pressure in these countries and
elsewhere,' said IHF executive director Aaron Rhodes.

The hostility goes beyond anti-Muslim sentiment, the
Vienna-based group said in a new report, noting a rise
in attacks on Muslims 'ranging from slurs and insults
in the street to vandalism and serious physical
violence'.

The 37-page report focused on complaints in Belgium,
Britain, Denmark, France, Germany and Italy.

In Britain and Germany, Muslims were targeted by
police searches and arrests 'in ways that have
infringed on the rights of Muslims who have nothing to
do with terrorism', it said.

In Italy and Denmark, politicians branded Muslims as a
security threat, and Muslims in Belgium and France
were caught up in government efforts to ban girls from
wearing traditional headscarves.

'In all these cases, moderate and peaceful Muslims
have been victimised because of the views and acts of
a minority of extremist Muslims who advocate violence
and intolerance,' Mr Rhodes said.

Estimates of the number of Muslims in the 25-nation EU
range from 15 million to 25 million, said the group,
which confined its study to countries in western
Europe.

Muslim communities in most western EU nations, which
comprised mainly post-World War II labour migrants and
their descendants as well as refugees and their
families, have a 'shared experience of intolerance and
discrimination', the IHF said. -- AP






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