Islamophobia: only 10% of Muslims believe discrimination is on the basis of religion

A somewhat overlooked report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published towards the end of May this year has shown up some interesting findings.

The report – the second ‘Data in Focus’ report from the ‘European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey’ (EU-MIDIS) – formed part of an EU-wide survey that asked immigrant and ethnic minority groups about their experiences of discrimination and criminal victimisation in everyday life. Surveying a total of “23,500 immigrant and ethnic minority people across all 27 Member States of the EU during 2008″, the FRA claim that EU-MIDIS provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of the extent of discrimination and victimisation against minorities in the EU.

New publication: “Islamophobie in Österreich”

I have contributed a chapter to a new book just published entitled, “Islamophobie in Österreich”.

Whilst the main focus of the book is – as it says on the tin – Islamophobia in Austria, my chapter opens the book with an overview of the recent history of Islamophobia in the European context. Special thanks to Lajali Abuzahra for translating this for me.

To purchase a copy of the book, you can do so by clicking here.

Alternatively, you can download the publicity about the book here.

NB: Both the book and the publication are in German.

‘Spin Spin Sugar’: terror arrests & household sweeteners

In a story that smacks of the same absurdity as the Brass Eye episode about ‘cake’ (for those unaware of ‘cake’ click here to read more), The Sun newspaper is reporting that anti-terror police have confiscated ’sugar’ from the houses of those arrested in the terror raids last week.

Under the headline, “Terror plot cops find ‘bomb part’ “, The Sun reports that:

COPS searching the homes of 11 terror suspects have seized bags of sugar — a common ingredient in home-made bombs.

“We Love Jews”: The BNP’s Euro Election Campaign

For a party routinely and regularly villified as anti-Semitic, the British National Party (BNP) have gone above and beyond the call of duty this week to try and convince British voters that they have parted company with their old ways.

To get people to vote for them in the European elections on Thursday June 4th, the BNP have this week unveiled a series of billboard posters featuring the world’s best known – and probably best loved – Jew: Jesus.

Alongside an image of Jesus, the poster quotes a part of a verse from John’s Gospel (15:20) in which Jesus says:

“If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you”

“Brit Muslim”: New Series by Media Art Ltd

‘Brit Muslim‘ is a new 12-part series of half hour documentaries produced by Media Art. As the producers put it:

The series aims to show a realistic portrait of the present situation of Muslims living in Britain and their contribution to the British society. The program pictures the situation of British Muslims from different perspectives, through investigating and analysing the status of Islam and Muslims in the British society. Brit Muslim looks at some of the most important issues and challenges facing Muslims in Britain.

It is a series that I was interviewed for and my contribution – I think – can be seen in the second edition which explores ‘Islamophobia’.

A short ‘teaser’ video is available to view at www.britmuslim.com.

Alternatively, you can view it on my Facebook page by clicking here where the video is kindly reproduced with the full permission of Media Art Ltd (thanks).