Islamophobia in Europe fuelled by politicians

When it comes to education, opportunities and employment, Muslims are routinely discriminated against in Europe, according to a report released on Tuesday by Amnesty International. The release of the report comes a day after the results of the first round of the French elections showed the National Front of Marine Le Pen registering nearly a fifth of the popular vote for its hardline right-wing views on the growing "threat of Islam" in France.

And now both remaining candidates, Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist challenger Francois Hollande are courting Le Pen for support — and that means isolating Muslims in their country even more.

The Amnesty International report highlights discrimination across Europe against Muslims, with the governments of Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland coming under criticism for their anti-Muslim legislative acts. Whether it is through laws imposing fines on those who wear the burqa, or failing to ensure job applicants are treated equally in the workplace, anti-Muslim sentiment has become mainstream and politically expedient.

In a Norwegian courtroom, sickening testimony from Anders Breivik highlights a growing and twisted logic that taking violent action against multiculturalism will turn back the tide of Islam. Clearly, his thinking is sick and perverted.

Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. It is not a social threat in Europe. Sowing the seeds and fomenting Islamophobia in Europe, as is the case in the United States, is the work of an insecure few who seek to blame those who they do not understand, who they fear, and who are easy targets, for their social and economic woes.

Sadly, European history shows the dangers of a right-wing movement that spreads fear and hatred against a religious minority, blaming it for social and political woes. Muslims in Europe need to be afforded the same treatment regardless of race, creed or class, like every other citizen.