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Minorities Post 911

The EU public ranks the Top Terrorist Nations: But is there a hint of Racism in the selection?
by Sophia Barkat




Recently, in a European Union public poll to rate the most Terrorist Nations, Israel ranked first and the US second along with N. Korea. (See link)

According to an AFP report,


" According to the Eurobarometer poll, based on interviews with 500 people in each of the 15 EU states, some 59 percent of Europeans replied "yes" when asked whether or not Israel presents a threat to peace in the world," reports AFP.

A total of 53 percent said Iran, North Korea and the United States pose a threat, followed by 52 percent for Iraq, 50 percent for Afghanistan (news - web sites) and 48 percent for Pakistan.

Countries lower down the list included Syria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, China, India, Russia and Somalia. The EU itself was described as a threat by eight percent of respondents.

The EU survey was presented in the form of a list of 15 countries, from which some 7,515 respondents were asked to say which ones they thought pose a threat to world peace."




Racism?

The public poll, while reflective of a fear of the US and of nations stereotyped terrorist, reflects racism in Europe and an "anti-minority" sentiment. Somalia, for one, has no reason to be identified as a terrorist nation. It should be noted that Somalians, like other Africans, represent a growing minority group in Western Europe.

The fact that Somalia made it into the list suggests that the public poll might not be free of racist undertones. And there are no major movements in Europe that reflect racial equality. The EU nations have not undergone movements akin to the Civil Rights Movement in the US and have a dual attitude towards minorities. While some see racial diversity as a good thing, most don't.

Hoping to change this anti-immigrant mentality, the EU has constructed a special commission to deal with the crisis. The EUMC, based in Vienna, is an independent body of the European Union established by Council Regulation (EC) 1035/97.

"The primary objective of the EUMC is to provide the Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and comparable data at European level on the phenomena of racism and xenophobia in order to help them take measures or formulate courses of action within their respective spheres of competence." says the EUMC site.

I wanted to see if the EUMC had any reports documenting racism and anti-minority attitudes in the EU. Here is what I found.




Before Sept 11, 2001


Here's the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) 2000 report on THE ATTITUDE OF EUROPEANS TOWARDS MINORITIES.

The EUMC report (2000) reveals that there is a widespread tendency in the EU nations to blame minorities -- Arabs, Eastern Europeans, Africans, Asians -- for unemployment, crime, loss of welfare eroding  national identities. The report revealed more or less the same anti-minority attitude throughout the EU. In the report some startling national profiles were drawn.

Austrians showed more racist attitude towards minorities than average EU citizens, though 2-out-of-3 Austrians surveyed thought that minorities who were citizens should no longer be sent back to their homelands -- a view that showed a changing of opinions since 1997.

Belgium also showed more than average anti-minority sentiment, and more predominantly amongst voters of the political parties: Vlaams Block and Front Nationale.

Denmark did not want to repatriate immigrants. It did show a fear of social conflict rising from the presence of immigrants and loss of social welfare to immigrants.

Finland shows little anti-immigrant opinion. They don't believe immigrants lead to more unemployment, for e.g.

France showed average scores. While they are very afraid of losing welfare and social benefits to immigrants and thought the presence of immigrants lead to social conflicts, they prefered to be diverse.

Germany showed a low level of acceptance of immigrants and foreign workers.

Greece showed above-average anti-immigrant attitude.

Ireland showed that it's public felt afraid of immigrants and thought they brought violence to society.

Italy has fewer immigrant-friendly legislation. Italians showed little interest in racial intermingling.

Luxemborg showed very low acceptance of minorities.

Netherlands wants more cultural assimilation. They also favor cultural diversity on some grounds.

Portugal, like Italy, showed no wish to give immigrants equal footing legally.

Spain showed a high level of acceptance towards minorities.

Sweden was the best country to live in for minorities. Minorities businesses account for 20% of the economy.


The report also showed that males and females voted the same way towards minorities in each country.




After Sept 11, 2001


The fear of attack similar to those on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon has compounded a fear of the al-Qaeda in the western world. The EU, compounded by existing racism, is now having to deal with increased Islamophobia.

The EUMC’s Summary Report on Islamophobia, conducted by the Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, finds that Muslims in the EU are more vulnerable to racist attacks, but that this has not stopped with acts of violence and aggression towards Muslims. Other minority groups are feeling the backlash as well. Xenophobic organizations are also on the rise.

This has gone hand-in-hand with a renunciation of America and Israel for perpetuating the cycle of violence in the Middle East, which is feared will only increase the backlash on the West.

A country-by-country report revealed worsening attitudes towards Muslims, Jews and other minorties all over Europe, though in some countries politicians and religious groups have tried to heal the wounds.

Austria reported that Muslim women wearing Hijabs and Sikh men wearing turbans -- mistaken for Muslims -- have become the targets of verbal abuse, showing that latent feelings were now being widely expressed. Polls conducted showed that foreigners and Muslims were equally unwelcome. While this happened, the Christian and Muslim communities entered into dialogue to help resolve such differences and some progress is being made.

Belgium reported acts of verbal abuse towards Muslims, even in schools, where pupils and teachers alike participated. People of Moroccan descent and asylum-seekers were particularly targeted.  Anti-Semitism is also on the rise. The Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, has called upon political parties to stop the racism by signing a declaration of common mutual respect, which all the parties except Vlaams Blok, have signed.

Denmark reported a rise in both verbal and physical attacks and arson towards Arabs and minorities. The Danish media was fueled the rift by voicing negative stereotypes of minorities. Polls revealed that more than half the population think that the War on Terrorism is actually a War on Islam. The far-right parties have openly asked for boycott of Muslim-owned businesses. Muslims have been called upon in their communities to state that the Danish Constitution is above the Quran. The Danish People’s Party uses the word ‘Enemy’ when talking about Muslims.

Finland reported verbal attacks and hostility in the workplace towards Muslims. In response, the Finnish Lutheran Church has called upon its followers to differentiate between Muslims and Terrorists. Also peaceful demonstrations were organized in protest of the US attacks on Afghanistan.

France showed no anti-Muslim attitude in its Press reports, though there has been a rise in anti-Islamic sentiment. The National Republican Movement has been outspokenly anti-Muslim and anti-Immigrant, while other parties have expressed mixed sentiment. The National Front has opposed America’s actions in the Middle East.

Germany reported rising phobia towards Muslims, especially women and children. Muslim organizations reported murder threats and bomb threats and also rising government scrutiny of Muslims. This scrutiny went hand-in-hand with an increased curiosity of Islam, and bookstores reported rising sales of the Quran. Politicians expressed the need to differentiate Muslims from Terrorists. The country declared the Day of the Open Mosque to increase communication between people and Muslims.

Greece reported a surge in anti-American sentiment, while attitudes towards Muslims was unchanged. Most political parties remained neutral towards Muslims and immigrants, while the Greek Front party called for mass deportations of all Muslims. Politicians, in general, called for differentiation between Muslims and Terrorists.

Ireland reported an increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Sikh attacks, while the government has declared a Know Racism forum to educate people. Many high-profile public figures showed their solidarity with the Muslim community.

Italy reported a rise of verbal and physical attacks on Muslims, and also reports of arson, including a paper bomb attack on an outspoken Imam’s house. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s remark in Berlin that "Western Civilization is superior to Islam" didn’t help the situation any either.

Luxemborg reported verbal abuse of Muslim children in schools and minor incidents towards women wearing Hijabs.

Netherlands reported a serious concern about rising Islamophobia. Verbal, physical, arson – all kinds of violence and hostilities were reported. Muslims expressed a fear of sending children to school, and fewer women went out in Hijabs. Polls revealed a strong public view to deport Muslims.

Portugal reported more reconciliation towards Muslims. Some reports of mosque vandalism occurred and violence against Sikhs. The government organized a multi-faith forum to discuss these concerns.

Spain reported mosque vandalism, one death, and a rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Foreign conventions and activities were cancelled due to fears of violence. Neo-Nazi groups are more active.

Sweden reported a rise in anti-American, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic sentiments along with rising violence towards Muslims, a marked change from the 2000 report.

UK reported a large rise in anti-Muslim sentiment and reports of violence towards minorities, with the British National Front, a far-right group, leading the way with it's anti-Muslim rhetoric. A nationwide Islam Awareness Week is organized in November to increase better relations. Both the Labor Party and the Conservative Party denounced anti-Islamic rhetoric.



Can pre-existing racism in the EU explain the ranking?

In the polls the EU public mention that pre-existing racist or anti-immigrant opinion did not influence their ranking of the top Terrorist Nations. Despite rising Islamophobia the Arab nations did not rank at the very top of the list.

The countries that did are indeed actively involved in State-led violence. The US has attacked two nations since Sept 11th and Israel has increased it's violence in the West Bank. Both nations top the list of nuclear weapons. The US has recently broken away from the International Criminal Court and has never signed the Geneva Conventions. Both the US and Israel have gone against recent UN General Assembly and Security Council calls to reduce their acts of terrorism.

North Korea, which came in second with the US, is reported to be upping it's nuclear program against the West, though North Koreans would state that this is happening out of a need to protect itself from an aggressive US, not necessarily an aggressive EU. That the EU public would rank North Korea as a terrorist nation might show that the EU public identify with the US on some level -- a common vulnerability to terrorist attack perhaps -- though they do not agree with current US foreign policies or the way it is handling the War on Terrorism.

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