One in two Muslims in the EU experiences racism and discrimination in their daily lives—a significant increase since 2016, reveals a report issued today by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Muslims, including women, men, and children, are targeted not only because of their religion but also due to their skin colour and ethnic or immigrant backgrounds. Moreover, young Muslims born in the EU and women wearing religious clothing are particularly affected.
These findings come from the latest report by the FRA, titled “Being Muslim in the EU.” The report highlights that racism, discrimination, and harassment remain a daily reality for many Muslims living in the EU. Based on an EU-wide survey conducted among immigrants and their children in 2022, the report shows a rise in anti-Muslim racism since the previous survey in 2016, particularly in the job and housing markets.
The “Being Muslim in the EU” report is based on the experiences of 9,604 Muslim respondents across 13 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. The data were collected from October 2021 to October 2022, before the Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza.
The key findings of the report highlight several critical issues, including racism, discrimination in the workplace and housing, prejudice related to religious clothing, and incidents of police misconduct. It also presents significant data regarding education and poverty among Muslims.
Almost half (47%) of Muslims report experiencing racial discrimination, an increase from 39% in 2016. The highest rates of discrimination among the 13 survey countries are found in Austria (71%), Germany (68%), and Finland (63%). Discrimination is most commonly encountered during job searches (39%) or within the workplace (35%), which has risen from 31% and 23% in 2016, respectively. This discrimination creates a ripple effect, negatively impacting other areas of life such as housing, education, and healthcare.
Additionally, two in five Muslims (41%) are overqualified for their jobs, compared to 22% of the general population. A third (35%) of respondents reported being unable to buy or rent a home due to discrimination, an increase from 22% in 2016. Muslim respondents with disabilities face even more significant challenges, with 46% experiencing discrimination in the housing market.
Women wearing religious clothing face higher levels of racial discrimination than those who do not, particularly when seeking employment (45% compared to 31%). This prevalence rises to 58% for young women aged 16 to 24. Almost one in three Muslims (27%) reported being racially harassed at least once in the five years before the survey, with many experiencing harassment multiple times. Nearly half (49%) of those stopped by the police in the year before the survey believed it occurred due to racial profiling.
Muslims in the EU also face significant educational inequities. Respondents indicated that Muslims are three times more likely to drop out of school early compared to the general EU population (30% vs. 9.6%). Poverty has a severe impact, with a third (31%) of Muslim respondents’ households struggling to make ends meet, compared to 19% of households in general. Additionally, they are twice as likely to live in overcrowded housing (40% vs. 17%).
“We are witnessing a worrying surge in racism and discrimination against Muslims in Europe. This is fuelled by conflicts in the Middle East and made worse by the dehumanising anti-Muslim rhetoric we see across the continent. Instead of sowing division in our societies, we need to ensure that everyone in the EU feels safe, included and respected, regardless of their skin colour, background or religion,” FRA Director Sirpa Rautio said.
To effectively address racism and discrimination, the FRA urges the EU and its Member States to extend the EU anti-racism action plan beyond 2025. This plan should specifically include measures to combat anti-Muslim racism.
Additionally, collecting data on all forms of discrimination is essential to enhance policymaking. Developing benchmarks, targets, and indicators for monitoring progress is necessary. Anti-discrimination laws should be enforced rigorously, with stronger penalties for discrimination and hate crimes.
The FRA also calls for implementing directives on binding standards for equality bodies. These bodies must have the appropriate mandates and adequate resources to address discrimination effectively and independently.
Moreover, the FRA urges the EU and its Member States to eliminate discriminatory institutional practices and cultures that result in unlawful police profiling. Combating racism across all areas of life, including education, employment, housing, and healthcare, requires targeted efforts.
