C L O S E R

EUMC – Reports on Discrimination and Islamophobia in the EU

Posted on December 18th, 2006 by .
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Young Muslims.

EUMC Website
Two reports on Discrimination and Islamophobia in the EU are published. First of all:

Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia

The report “Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia”, published presents available data on discrimination affecting Muslims in employment, education and housing. Manifestations of Islamophobia range from verbal threats through to physical attacks on people and property. The report stresses that the extent and nature of discrimination and Islamophobic incidents against European Muslims remain under-documented and under-reported. The EUMC report recommends therefore that Member States improve the reporting of incidents and implement measures to counter discrimination and racism more effectively. The report also includes initiatives and proposals for policy action by EU Member State governments and the European institutions to combat Islamophobia and to foster integration.

Firm political leadership is needed to ensure equal treatment of all Europeans, whatever their background. This includes:

* Implementing EU legislation and adequately resourced equality bodies;
* Recording and policing Islamophobic incidents;
* Implementing social integration and inclusion policies for migrants and minorities,
* Granting equal treatment in employment;
* Improving educational achievement;
* Ensuring equal access to housing;
* Encourage European Muslims to engage more actively in public life (e.g. in political, economic, social and cultural institutions and processes).

And second:

Perceptions of discrimination and Islamophobia

The Report “Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia” is accompanied by a study on “Perceptions of discrimination and Islamophobia”, which is based on in-depth interviews with members of Muslim communities in ten EU Member States. This study provides a snapshot of the opinions, feelings, fears, frustrations, and also the hopes for the future shared by many Muslims in the EU.

“Integration is a two-way process. Many European Muslims acknowledge that they need to do more to engage with wider society. At the same time Europe’s political leaders must make a stronger effort to promote meaningful intercultural dialogue and tackle racism, discrimination and marginalisation more effectively,” said EUMC Director Beate Winkler.

Some notes about the Dutch situation here, but first of all a general remark. The EUMC reports are usually quite good and also these two reports are very interesting. It would be wrong however to say anything conclusive about the state of Muslim integration in Europe, because one has only looked to the perspective and experiences of Muslims. Although this is a valid endeavour in itself, it is one sided. (more…)

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No teeth…? A mustache…? Smells like shit…? BOSNIAN GIRL!

Posted on December 18th, 2006 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

The poster was based upon very unfriendly texts about Muslims in Bosnia, supposedly made by members of Dutchbat. Members of Dutchbat III (who failed to protect the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica and prevent the slaughter of Muslim men and boys, stationed at Srebenica), have been awarded a medal which, according to minister of defense Kamp, acknowledges that their position at the time of Srebenica Massacre was extremely difficult and that the soldiers were powerless. Bosnian authorities have protested against this and for example the organisation Mothers of Srebenica see this as injustice and would rather see Dutchbat III as an example of the ‘Hall of Shame‘.

There has been not much debate about this in Dutch politics and Dutch media; which is extraordinarely. No matter which side you take, Srebenica is one of the biggest failures of the international community since World War II and the Dutch are part of it, whether they want it or not. Important to note is also that certain parts of Dutchbat II and III showed many anti-muslim sentiments; which is not to say that Dutchbat in itself was anti-Muslim or that all soldiers were anti-Muslim (there were also those who helped Muslims of course) or that some grievances were not caused by encounters with some Bosnian Muslims, or that the Dutch were the only ones with these sentiments.

Nevertheless, the sentiments among Bosnians these days about the medals for Dutchbat are understandably negative. One of the means the express these angers is an emailaction, called AFERIM:

In accordance with the acknowledgement to Holand batallion for their role during the stay in Srebrenica in 1995, now you can take part in the activity of congratulating for all their merits and send an e-card that will be submited to:

– Holland Government
– Holland Embassy in Sarajevo
– Dutchbat 3
– Holland Ministry of Defence

NOTE: AFERIM! means CONGRATULATIONS!

According to the Bosnian radiostation that organizes this, 16.000 emails have already been sent. But here in the Netherlands it remains all quiet. I wonder why.

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