Europe Ranked Second Worldwide for Islamophobic Incidents, OIC Report Finds

Europe Ranked Second Worldwide for Islamophobic Incidents, OIC Report Finds
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Europe has emerged as the second most significant hotspot for Islamophobic incidents in 2024, according to the latest annual report on Islamophobia released by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Euronews reported. The report highlights that online hate speech remains one of the most common forms of Islamophobia, with Europe recording relatively high levels compared to other regions.

The OIC noted that August and September 2024 saw a marked increase in anti-Muslim sentiment, particularly in the United Kingdom, amid political debates over immigration, and in Germany, where far-right demonstrations targeting Muslim communities gained traction.

The report identifies France and Germany as key European hotspots, attributing the trend to the rise of far-right political movements and anti-immigration rhetoric that frequently translates into Islamophobic attitudes.

According to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Muslims make up the second-largest religious group in the European Union, with about 26 million people. Nearly half of Muslims in the EU reported experiencing racial discrimination — a rise from 39% in 2016. The discrimination was particularly evident in the labour and housing sectors in the five years leading up to 2022.

The FRA also recorded a sharp increase in anti-Muslim incidents following the October 2023 war on Gaza, especially in Austria, Belgium, and Bulgaria. Austria, for example, registered more than 1,500 Islamophobic hate crimes in 2023, marking the highest number since 2015. Between 2017 and 2022, Austria (71%), Germany (68%), and Finland (63%) reported the highest rates of discrimination among 13 EU countries.

Globally, the OIC report found that far-right campaigns accounted for roughly 25% of Islamophobia cases, followed by hate speech at around 20%. Discrimination, along with verbal and physical assaults, represented more than a quarter of all recorded incidents.

Despite the concerning trends, the report emphasized that Europe’s legal frameworks and anti-discrimination policies continue to play an important role in combating hate crimes and promoting accountability, offering a counterbalance to the resurgence of extremist and exclusionary ideologies.