As Islamophobia increases around Europe, which country sees the most anti-Muslim incidents?

Published connected 06/11/2025 - 15:36 GMT+1 •Updated 15:44

Europe was nan 2nd astir important hotspot for Islamophobic incidents successful 2024, according to nan latest yearly Islamophobia study of nan Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Islamophobia often takes nan shape of online hate, which is comparatively precocious successful Europe compared to different regions crossed nan globe.

"August and September witnessed a dependable summation successful Islamophobic manifestations, peculiarly successful nan United Kingdom, wherever debates complete migration argumentation intensified, and successful Germany, wherever far-right demonstrations targeting Muslim communities gained momentum," nan OIC study said.

Muslims correspond nan second-largest belief group successful nan EU, pinch astir 26 cardinal surviving successful nan bloc.

In nan EU, astir 1 successful 2 Muslims said they acquisition group discrimination, up from 39% successful 2016, according to nan latest study of nan European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).

This was particularly felt successful nan labour and lodging markets successful nan 5 years earlier nan study took spot successful 2022.

The FRA besides pointed retired that location has been a noticeable summation successful anti-Muslim incidents successful nan EU since nan Hamas attacks successful Israel successful October 2023, peculiarly successful Austria, Belgium and Bulgaria.

For instance, Austria knowledgeable an summation successful anti-Muslim dislike crimes, pinch complete 1,500 incidents reported successful 2023 — nan highest number since 2015.

Austria (71%), Germany (68%) and Finland (63%) besides reported nan highest rates of favoritism among 13 EU countries betwixt 2017 and 2022.

What forms does Islamophobia take?

Globally, far-right campaigns correspond nan largest class of incidents, astatine 25%.

Hate reside follows intimately arsenic nan 2nd astir communal occurrence, representing astir a 5th of each incidents.

Discrimination and verbal and beingness battle stock akin results, together accounting for much than a 4th of each incidents.

In nan EU, France and Germany are considered hotspots for Islamophobia owed to heightened levels of anti-Islam activity, according to nan OIC report.

It said that nan precocious complaint of incidents tin beryllium attributed to nan resurgence of far-right governmental movements successful countries for illustration France, Germany, and Sweden, wherever anti-immigration sentiment often manifests arsenic Islamophobia.

However, Europe's ineligible protections against favoritism are working to challenge and trim Islamophobic attitudes and policies.