EU envoy: Anti-Muslim sentiment on rise

While the EU has spiked a report on Muslim anti-Semitism, an EU official worries that anti-Muslim sentiment is on the rise: "European Union Ambassador Giancarlo Chevallard said Monday that while he can't say whether there has been an increase in European anti-Semitism, there has definitely been an increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab feeling." This from the Jerusalem Post.

"But when asked whether he believes there has been an increase in anti-Semitism, or whether it is just anti-Israel expression, Chevallard said, 'I have no answer for you.'

"He said that while he is not 'ready to agree' that there has been an increase in anti-Semitism, anyone who goes to Europe can feel that there has been an increase in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim feeling.

"The increase of the Muslim population in Europe is seen by some as a challenge to their way of life, he said, adding that the much smaller Jewish population is not seen as a similar threat.

"Emanuele Giaufret, counselor in the delegation of the European Commission, said the reason the recent EU-commissioned study on anti-Semitism was shelved was because 'it did not meet' professional standards."

All this is in line with a chief reason why many Westerners cannot come to grips with the reality of Islamic terrorism: from the PC point of view, Muslims are victims. How can they be guilty of anything? It must all somehow be the fault of the West.

Posted by Robert at December 2, 2003 1:56 PM
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