Muslims face growing suspicion in Europe

12/19/2004 3:00:00 PM GMT

Source: Times Online

A survey showed that most Europeans view Muslims with high levels of disapproval and suspicion, threatening Europe’s reputation as a tolerant place for people of different religions.

The survey indicated that the most pessimistic west European country was Sweden. It found out that 75% of Swedes said there is “definitely a lot” or “rather a lot” of disapproval of Muslims.

In Britain, only 39% of respondents said they believed that a number of people were against Muslims.

The poll was conducted after the September 11 attacks on the United States and the Madrid bombings to study religious attitudes. The survey asked 1,000 people in 19 European countries: “Do you think nowadays there is a lot of, a little of, or no disapproval of Muslims living in European society”.

About 13 million Muslims live the 25 nations of the European Union.

Seventy two percent said that there were a lot of anti-Muslims sentiments in Holland compared to 67% in Denmark.

In general, 52% of people questioned across western Europe believed that there was a lot of disapproval of Muslims.

The survey also showed that anti-semitism has grown; 30% of those interviewed believed that it had increased in their country over the past five years, 35% believed there have been no change and 14% thought it had declined.

Mark Hofmans of GfK Worldwide, the German market research company that prepared the study with The Wall Street Journal, said that he was shocked by the results. “Most shocking were the results about anti-semitism and attitudes towards Muslims, which were much more negative than we expected and widespread, too,” he said.

Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, deputy director of the Islamic Foundation, a Leicester-based centre that improves understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims, said that the report “reflects the general perception now prevalent in our society”.

“Anyone who has the wellbeing of society uppermost in his mind cannot but feel deeply concerned at these findings. Being a Muslim I am worried that Europe is replacing its anti-semitism with yet another cancer — Islamophobia. There is nothing worse than the feeling that you are not trusted or are viewed with suspicion by your neighbors and fellow citizens.” He said.

He added that Muslims believe that Britain is better than other European countries: “We feel we are much better treated here than anywhere else — the society as a whole is much fairer than the other European countries.

“In France for example (Muslim girls) are denied wearing the hijab in schools and in Germany, while the Turkish population have been living there for more than 30 years, they are still treated as guest workers and not allowed to be part of mainstream society.”

Azher Basharat, 35, a Muslim shop worker from Forest Gate, east London, said: “Things have got a little worse since September 11, but in the main things are fine. People in Britain are very tolerant.

“What has changed, though, is that some people look at us with greater suspicion. You can see it in their faces — they look a little uneasy. I’ve not been attacked or anything, though — and I can’t remember anyone saying anything racist or Islamophobic to me.”