Portugal’s far-right Chega Sparks Controversy for Claiming “85% of Refugees Are Muslim”
A claim by Portugal’s far-right Chega party that “85% of refugees are Muslim” has reignited anti-Islam rhetoric, but UN statistics reveal a very different picture.
In recent days, a Chega-affiliated politician asserted on social media that Muslims make up the overwhelming majority of global refugees. The statement, amplified by Euronews, mirrors earlier remarks by party leader André Ventura, who has openly called for limiting Muslim presence in Europe.
Another Chega member, Pedro Frazão, repeated the claim, arguing that refugees “avoid Muslim-majority countries” and head primarily to the West.
However, UNHCR data for 2024 paints a more complex reality. The world hosts around 42.7 million refugees, alongside 73.5 million internally displaced people and 8.4 million asylum seekers. The top countries of origin are Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Venezuela, and Ukraine. While the first three are Muslim-majority states, Venezuela and Ukraine are not, meaning refugee demographics are far more diverse than Chega’s narrative suggests.
A UN spokesperson told Euroverify that, given the scale of Ukrainian and Venezuelan displacement, the 85% Muslim figure is “highly unlikely.” This underlines how Chega’s claim is more about political messaging than statistical accuracy.
Moreover, UNHCR figures show that Muslim-majority countries—not Europe—host the bulk of the world’s refugees. Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Chad are among the largest host nations, with Germany being the only European country in the top seven.
Experts note that displacement is driven primarily by war, economic collapse, and political instability—not religion. By framing the issue in religious terms, Chega risks fueling Islamophobia and deepening social divides in Europe.
The facts make clear that refugees, regardless of faith or nationality, are victims of global crises who deserve protection and dignity, free from political exploitation.
