Alert icon
We're changing our privacy policy. This stuff matters.  Learn more  Dismiss

Discrimination against muslims women's in Media and life

Loading...

Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon
Upgrade to the latest Flash Player for improved playback performance. Upgrade now or more info.
36,494
Loading...
Alert icon
Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon

Uploaded by on Feb 25, 2008

Widespread Discrimination Against EU Muslims: Report
"Muslims have increasingly felt that they are stigmatized because of their beliefs," said Rhodes.

CAIRO, March 7, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) -- Muslim minorities across Europe have been experiencing growing distrust, hostility and discrimination since the 9/11 attacks, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) said in a report released on Monday, March 7.

The report, the Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims in the EU, said that a growing number of attacks on Muslims have been registered, ranging from verbal harassment to physical assaults and vandalism.

It covered racist attacks and anti-Muslim sentiments in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

"Pre-existing patterns of prejudice and discrimination have been reinforced and Muslims have increasingly felt that they are stigmatized because of their beliefs," Aaron Rhodes, IHF's Executive Director, said in a press release posted on its Web site.

Stereotypical Coverage

In the aftermath of September 11, the report said, media have increasingly been criticized for reinforcing negative stereotypes against Muslims.

"There is a tendency in the media to write about issues related to Muslims with a stereotypical approach, resulting in reports which reinforce public misconceptions," the 160-page document said.

"Muslim representatives also regret a tendency in the media to give wide attention to Muslims with extremist views, which are not representative of the majority of Muslims."

The report lamented that the internal diversity of Islam is often overlooked in media, and Islam is depicted as a "monolithic and one-dimensional religion that is fundamentalist and threatens western democratic values."

Media also portray Muslims as "alien" to EU societies, "an enemy within" and as a "fifth column."

British media, for instance, "have created the impression that the country's criminal justice system is successfully prosecuting 'Muslim terrorists'", said the report.

"In reality only three out of hundreds of [British] Muslims arrested under terrorist legislation are known to have been convicted of terrorist crimes and a vast majority of those arrested have been released without charge," it maintained.

In Germany, the report said more than 80% of those surveyed in 2004 associated the word "Islam" with "terrorism" and "oppression of women."

Unemployment

The report said that Muslims of immigrant background have a higher unemployment rate and a comparatively lower standard of housing than members of the majority population.

"Muslims are reportedly subjected to discrimination, inter alia, in employment, at schools and universities and when seeking access to service in places such as town halls, hospitals, shops and banks."

In Sweden, the report said, studies have shown that up to every fifth job is closed for people with Arabic-sounding names because of discriminatory hiring practices.

In the UK, Muslims have the lowest employment rate of any religious group, and their unemployment rate is three times the national average and twice the level of other religious minorities.

Racist Attacks

The report further said Muslim women wearing hijab and Muslim men with turbans and long beards were often the victims of harassment.

The French Organization against Islamophobia (CCIF) said that during the period from October 2003 to August 2004, 26 cases of verbal and physical assaults on Muslims, 28 cases of vandalism and attempted arson targeting mosques, and 11 cases of desecration of Muslim graves have been registered.

"Four of the attacks on individual Muslims were considered grave, and over 70% targeted Muslim women wearing the headscarf," the report said.

The CCIF also listed a considerable number of internet sites spreading anti-Muslim propaganda.

According to reports from the UK, Spain , Greece and other countries, Muslims have been further subjected to arbitrary identity checks and arrests by police since 9/11.

Hijab


French Muslim schoolgirl Cennet Doganay shaved her head in protest at the hijab ban.


In the last few years, hijab has become the subject of increasing controversy in European countries.

"In several of the countries covered by the report, discussions have evolved around the use of the headscarf in the public domain. A major theme of these discussions has been the compatibility of the use of the headscarf in schools and other public institutions," it said.

Muslim organizations have reported that discrimination against Muslim women wearing hijab peaked since September 11, the report said.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

License:

Standard YouTube License

  • likes, 126 dislikes

Link to this comment:

Share to:

Top Comments

  • We're free in Somalia, as Muslim women. I'm sick of all this propaganda. My mother and grandmother were free in Somalia. I wish I was there now. The only probelm with Somalia is WAR. I would be back there in a heart beat if it regained stability.

  • goodjob

see all

All Comments (9)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • the last one was free.. and also cute

  • "we are muslim women, covering ourselves because we will get the crap kicked out of us if we dont. I'm free cos my husband tells me i am, like he tells his other wives. Free to do what ever we want as long as it doesn't offend the filthy hypocrites who preach the koran. Free to read whatever i want as long as its the koran"

    Yep, that's freedom alright. Why should women walk around half naked when they could be all the above!

    Man, islam is retarded!

  • mashallah gameel

  • Of course you are free, you are in america, so go sudan e.t.c. and produce the same message ???

  • u are free sester ....

  • Mashallah... The one who is oppressed is the one who is walking half naked! now she is oppressed....

  • gr8 video to convey the message...!

    keep up the gud work.

    jazak-Allah

Loading...

Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more