Anti-Muslim hate crime

Although stereotypes against Muslims are centuries old, in recent years they have evolved and gained momentum under the conditions of the "war on terror", the global economic crisis and challenges related to the management of religious and cultural diversity. Anti-Muslim rhetoric often associates Muslims with terrorism and extremism, or portrays the presence of Muslim communities as a threat to national identity. Muslims are often portrayed as a monolithic group, whose culture is incompatible with human rights and democracy. ODIHR's reporting suggests anti-Muslim hate crimes and incidents increases following terrorist attacks, and on the anniversaries of such attacks. Attacks against mosques – particularly on Fridays and religious holidays – including leaving the remains of pigs outside mosques, community centres and Muslim families' homes, as well as attacks against women wearing headscarves, are among the anti-Muslim hate incidents commonly reported.

Beginning in 2002, OSCE participating States have explicitly condemned acts of discrimination and violence against Muslims and firmly rejected the identification of terrorism and extremism with any religion and culture. The Astana declaration (2010) stressed that international developments and political issues cannot justify any form of intolerance and discrimination against Muslims, and encouraged participating States to challenge anti-Muslim prejudice and stereotypes.

Anti-Muslim hate crimes can be recorded under a variety of categories, including anti-religious hate crimes, crimes motivated by ethnic bias, and can also be reported separately or as racist and xenophobic crime. Muslim NGOs are developing their monitoring capacity through outreach and online reporting, in recognition of the importance of hate crime monitoring as an important advocacy tool. However, a lack of trust in the authorities in some countries also lead to under-reporting of anti-Muslim hate crime, and this appears to have a significant influence on hate crime figures reported to ODIHR.

ODIHR TANDIS

International Reports

Austria

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) raised concerns over anti-Semitism and intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in Austria.

Belgium

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) raised concerns over anti-Semitism and intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in Belgium.

Bulgaria

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) raised concerns over anti-Semitism and intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in Bulgaria.

Canada

The OSCE Chairperson in Office’s Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims went on a joint visit with the other Personal Representatives to Canada. He stressed the importance of data collection on crimes against Muslims and the importance of police training.

Germany

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) strongly encouraged the German authorities to “take a more comprehensive approach to the phenomenon of racist, xenophobic and antisemitic violence”. It also raised concerns over anti-Semitism and intolerance and discrimination against Muslims.

Norway

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) raised concerns over intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in Norway.

Switzerland

The referendum in Switzerland on the question of whether to ban the construction of minarets was regarded as a particularly significant event touching on the portrayal of Muslims in Europe. Several organizations expressed concerns that the ban has the potential to create tensions and generate a climate of intolerance against Muslims, including the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).

United Kingdom

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) raised concerns over anti-Semitism and intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in the United Kingdom.

United States of America

The OSCE Chairperson in Office’s Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims went on a joint visit with the other Personal Representatives to the United States. He stressed the importance of data collection on crimes against Muslims and the importance of police training.

OSCE Region

During the 2009 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, ODIHR, Spain and the United States organized an event on intolerance against Muslims. The main recommendation produced at the event was to build coalitions between governments and civil society to effectively combat intolerance against Muslims.