What is the EU doing about its Islamophobia problem?

Last November, the EU made a historic statement of solidarity with its Muslim citizens. In response to the increasing incidents of Islamophobia across Europe following Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, a group of EU officials urged their 27 member states to combat all forms of anti-Muslim bias and ensure the safety of Muslims in places of worship, workplaces, schools, and homes.

Their concerns were well-founded. The surge in anti-Muslim violence since October 7 highlights the deep-seated structural Islamophobia within the EU. Governments still tend to view European Muslims through a security lens, treating them as foreigners rather than citizens. This perspective persists despite numerous studies, including those from the EU’s own Fundamental Rights Agency, which report that Europe’s Muslims are well-integrated and overwhelmingly support democratic European values. Politicians seldom acknowledge the significant contributions of the Muslim community to the EU’s economic, cultural, and increasingly political life.

In a 2017 survey by the Fundamental Rights Agency, nearly one in three Muslims reported experiencing discrimination while job hunting, and one in four said they regularly faced racist harassment. As the far right entrenches itself in the European political landscape, this discrimination shows no signs of diminishing.

In France’s recent parliamentary elections, the openly Islamophobic National Rally (RN) was ultimately blocked from power by the Left-Green alliance of the New Popular Front but still became the third-largest party in the French assembly. The EU parliamentary elections in June saw three far-right blocs of MEPs arriving in Brussels: the newly-formed Europe of Sovereign Nations, led by Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland, and RN and Victor Orbán’s new group Patriots for Europe joining Giorgia Meloni’s European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).

Despite centrists’ efforts to unify and limit the influence of this emboldened far right, its corrosive brand of Islamophobia is steadily seeping into mainstream discourse. In Germany, the ruling Social Democrat/Green alliance — encouraged by national media — has unfairly blamed Muslims for rising anti-Semitism, much to the horror of German Muslims. Geert Wilders, who won the Dutch elections in November, recently described Islam as a “disgusting, reprehensible, violent, and hateful religion.”

The EU’s leadership is not oblivious to its deepening Islamophobia crisis. In June, the Council of Europe’s Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) warned that hate incidents against Muslims had “increased manifold.” Muslim women and schoolgirls who wear visible religious symbols or traditional clothing are often misrepresented as being associated with terrorism or extremism, facing discrimination in healthcare access as well.

EU institutions are actively gathering information to better understand the problem. In April, the EU’s rights agency asked member countries to publish regular data on racist incidents by police officers, who it said must receive anti-racism training. Belgium — which held the EU presidency until last month — organized the EU’s first-ever meeting of experts devoted solely to fighting racism targeting Muslims.

There are also positive developments in the implementation of some of the EU’s anti-racist agenda. In February 2023, former deputy EU ambassador to Yemen Marion Lalisse was appointed coordinator in charge of fighting anti-Muslim hatred. Lalisse works with European governments, officials, institutions, and civil society to strengthen policy responses to this problem. So do the EU’s equality bodies. These efforts are crucial, but what Europe’s Muslims really need and sorely lack is a senior political figure with a strong platform to call out the bloc’s systemic racism.

Under threat and underrepresented, increasing numbers of Muslims are choosing to leave the EU. However, many are stepping up to change the status quo. Rima Hassan, a 32-year-old legal scholar and activist, made history in June when she was elected the first French-Palestinian MEP. Dutch politician Esmah Lahlah has launched a spirited resistance to far-right colleagues who criticize her hijab. The Federation of European Muslim Youth Students Organisation (FEMYSO) and the European Network Against Racism continue to report and denounce Islamophobia and discrimination.

Building an inclusive Europe is challenging and will become more difficult as the far right begins to flex its newly won power. However, whether through their vote in future elections or by building alliances with principled and progressive European politicians and activists, European Muslims will continue to insist on making their voices heard.