Surge in Islamophobia Across Europe, EU Studies Find
A recent report by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) reveals a significant rise in islamophobia across Europe, particularly following the October 7 Hamas attacks and a mass stabbing incident in Southport, England. The findings underscore a troubling trend of increased anti-Muslim sentiment and violence.
According to the ECRI, there has been a “manifold” increase in hate incidents against Muslims since the October attacks. The report states, “Muslims received blame for the attack and other attacks in the Middle East, based on stereotyping of whole communities.” In France, home to approximately 6 million Muslims, 242 anti-Muslim incidents were recorded in 2023, reflecting an almost 30 percent rise from the previous year.
The report highlights the impact of misinformation on public perception, particularly following the Southport stabbing, where false rumors linked a Muslim asylum seeker to the crime, leading to violent riots targeting a local mosque. Despite police statements clarifying that the suspect was not connected to Islamist terrorism, the narrative persisted, fueling further unrest.
Far-right, anti-migration sentiments have also surged, resulting in riots across Britain. These disturbances have led to the closure of migrant support centers and attacks on facilities housing asylum seekers. Rioters set fire to hotels used for accommodating migrants in northern England earlier this month, exacerbating fears within the migrant community.
The ECRI report found that 76 percent of Jewish respondents across Europe occasionally conceal their identity, while 34 percent avoid Jewish events or sites due to safety concerns. The report highlighted a significant surge in antisemitic incidents, with some countries reporting numbers far exceeding typical annual figures in just a few months. Additionally, 80 percent of surveyed Jews believe antisemitism has increased in recent years, with 4 percent experiencing physical attacks within the past year, a figure that has doubled since 2018.
