A story about discrimination against Muslims which takes no notice of the many documented acts of violence by Muslims against others, or of the possibility that Muslim groups’ stated intention to replace the existing order with Sharia states may give rise to “distrustful attitudes toward Muslims.” From AP, with thanks to Ali Dashti:
VIENNA (Austria) – Hostility towards Muslims is ‘widespread’ across much of the European Union (EU), where Islamic followers are subject to verbal and physical attacks as well as discrimination in jobs and housing, a human rights group said yesterday.
Distrustful attitudes towards Muslims have grown since the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and the Madrid train bombings on March 11, said the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF).
‘As the fight against terrorism has been stepped up, and public debate has increasingly focused attention on Islamic extremism, Muslim minorities have come under growing pressure in these countries and elsewhere,’ said IHF executive director Aaron Rhodes.
The hostility goes beyond anti-Muslim sentiment, the Vienna-based group said in a new report, noting a rise in attacks on Muslims ‘ranging from slurs and insults in the street to vandalism and serious physical violence’.
The 37-page report focused on complaints in Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany and Italy.
In Britain and Germany, Muslims were targeted by police searches and arrests ‘in ways that have infringed on the rights of Muslims who have nothing to do with terrorism’, it said.
In Italy and Denmark, politicians branded Muslims as a security threat, and Muslims in Belgium and France were caught up in government efforts to ban girls from wearing traditional headscarves.
‘In all these cases, moderate and peaceful Muslims have been victimised because of the views and acts of a minority of extremist Muslims who advocate violence and intolerance,’ Mr Rhodes said.
Well, that is unfortunate. Maybe the moderates could make everyone’s task easier by distinguishing themselves somehow. Maybe they could, say, help identify the radicals? Or at least expel them from their communities? Then they might find they would get “victimized” a lot less often.