Combating anti-Muslim hatred

Why is the Commission taking action?

At national and EU level, reports and surveys point to persistent levels of hatred, hate speech and hate crime against Muslims. Anti-Muslim hatred impacts lives of individual Muslims and people perceived as such, including their dignity, safety, integrity, education, employment opportunities and access to goods and services. Anti-Muslim hatred also affects organisations and society as a whole.  Women are particularly affected by these challenges. 

The report “Muslims – Selected findings”  of the Fundamental Rights Agency's provides important EU-wide data on discrimination experienced by people with a Muslim background in different areas of life (labour market, education, housing, health and other services), criminal victimisation (including hate crime), police stops and social inclusion. 

The situation has deteriorated after 7 October 2023 with an increase of threats and hatred against Muslim communities in the European Union. 

The Commission's Coordinator on combating anti-Muslim hatred

In 2015, the Commission created the position of the Coordinator on combatting anti-Muslim hatred. The Coordinator strives to ensure a robust and holistic response across the Commission services: fighting anti-Muslim hatred requires efforts and funding in the field of education, in the area of integration and social inclusion policies, as well as in the areas of employment and non-discrimination. The Coordinator is the main contact point for EU organisations working against racism and anti-Muslim hatred. 

On 1 February 2023, the European Commission has appointed Marion Lalisse as its new Coordinator on combatting anti-Muslim hatred.

More information on the Coordinator is available in the announcements in English, French and German.

Watch the video message from the Coordinator

Listen to the interview with the Coordinator 

La lutte contre la haine à l’encontre des musulmans, Radio France, 18 June 2023

Following 7 October 2023, the Commission cosigned a Joint Statement of the Coordinators, Special Representatives, Envoy and Ambassadors on Combating Anti-Muslim Hatred and Discrimination. The statement recalled that Muslim persons and interest representatives have become targets of physical and verbal attacks, feeling more unsafe and threatened, both online and offline.

The Council of Europe and the European Commission organised a first-ever coordination meeting on combatting anti-Muslim hatred in Strasbourg on 14-15 March 2024, with participation from Member States of the EU and the Council of Europe (in addition to US and Canada), as well as international organisations. A joint press release was issued on this occasion.

A meeting of Equality bodies was convened in Brussels by the European Commission and Equinet on 22-23 May 2024, around the topic of anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination. The event gathered 13 European equality bodies and civil society representatives and drew the attention to the lack of trust and awareness of the Muslim community about equality bodies. 

Legal and policy framework

The EU has very clear rules, in particular the 2008 Framework Decision on combating certain forms of expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law, which prohibits public incitement to violence or hatred based on race, colour, ethnicity and religion. EU Member States had to transpose these rules into their national criminal laws. This means that those who preach hatred or call for violence, based on anti-Muslim prejudice, can be prosecuted by national authorities.

• In addition, the relevant EU legislation to combat racism, discrimination and other forms of intolerance are : the Victims Rights Directive which establishes minimum standards regarding the rights, support and protection of all victims of crime, paying particular attention to victims who have suffered a crime committed with bias or discriminatory motive
• the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, banning incitement to hatred in audiovisual media services and the promotion of discrimination in audiovisual commercial communications
• legislation in the field of non-discrimination, in particular the Race Equality Directive prohibiting discrimination on grounds of racial or ethnic origin in several areas of life, and the Employment Equality Directive prohibiting discrimination on several grounds in the field of employment
• the EU regulation on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (EU) 2016/399 which prohibits discrimination during border controls
• the  Digital Service Act requires digital platforms to take steps to remove illegal content, including hate speech against Muslims and people perceived as such. In case of non-compliance with this obligation, platforms will be subject to sanctions. 

Having a clear set of rules is important, but it is not enough. An ambitious policy against racism and intolerance is needed, across all sectors, as well as linking anti-racism measures to anti-discrimination ones. Policies based on better training, reporting and awareness campaigns must be implemented. Some examples are trainings for police officers on racist and xenophobic bias motivations; better support to victims which helps reporting; and concrete measures in areas such as education, promoting values of equality, inclusion and diversity.

The High-level Group on Non-Discrimination, Equality, and Diversity has been set up to combat discrimination based on sex (including gender identity), racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual. In addition, the High-Level Group on combatting Hate Speech and Hate Crime has also been created. Both High-level are important formats to discuss the combat against anti-Muslim hatred. Under the High-level group on Hate Crime and Hate, the Commission asked the EU Fundamental Rights Agency to coordinate a Sub-group to develop methodologies for recording and collecting data on hate crime. This led to the creation of a database on anti-Muslim hatred.

Since May 2016, the European Commission together with major social media platforms agreed on a Code of conduct to fight illegal hate speech online, including hate speech against Muslims. By signing up to the Code, the platforms commit to reviewing the majority of valid notifications in less than 24 hours and remove or disable access to such content, if necessary.  Progress is regularly reported. The Digital Service Act encourages the drawing up of voluntary codes of conduct at the EU level to contribute to the application of its provisions.

Data, tools and resources

Learn more about the Commission’s engagement on the subject: 

May 2024 Joint Equinet - European Commission Meeting: Tackling Anti-Muslim Hatred

15March 2024 Press release A greater international cooperation and coordination is needed to tackle anti-Muslim hatred 

29 November 2023 Joint Statement of the Coordinators, Special Representatives, Envoy and Ambassadors on Combating Anti-Muslim Hatred and Discrimination

The 2023 Special Eurobarometer on discrimination presents some interesting findings on Muslims. 

Member States are key stakeholders in the fight against anti-Muslim hatred. Some documents published by Member States and local authorities are available below: 

2023 Swedish Government’s Action programme to combat Islamophobia

2023 Germany’s report of the Independent Group of Experts on anti-Muslim sentiment in German

2020 Report on intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in Spain in Spanish

2023 French Practical Legal Guide for combatting anti-Muslims crimes in French

Links to other reference documents, databases, reports and tools on anti-Muslim hatred, hate crime in general:

ECRI Revised General Policy Recommendation n°5 on preventing and combatting anti-Muslim racism and discrimination

FRA database on anti-Muslim hatred

FRA report on addressing racism in policing

ODIHR Hate Crime Data

2021 Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief on “Countering Islamophobia/Anti-Muslim Hatred to Eliminate Discrimination and Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief”

ODIHR Understanding Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes - Addressing the Security Needs of Muslim Communities: A Practical Guide

ODIHR leaflet on how to recognise anti-Muslim hate crime

ODIHR Guidelines for Educators on Countering Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims

ODIHR Trainings against hate crime for prosecutors and law enforcement

Civil Society Organisations are also key partners in tackling anti-Muslim hatred, here are some examples of trainings and good practices:

2023 European Coalition of Cities Against Racism - Guidebook on Local Actions against Anti-Muslim Racism 

European Coalition of Cities Against Racism – 10 points Action Plan 

Facing Facts online course on Understanding & Identifying Anti-Muslim Hate crime