Anti-Muslim hate crimes on rise in France, report claims скачать в хорошем качестве

Anti-Muslim hate crimes on rise in France, report claims

(26 Aug 2014) France is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes being committed in the country. That's the conclusion of a report that also says western governments are not doing enough to combat the issue. On the streets of Paris, many cultures and religions live side by side. France is home to the largest Muslim population in Western Europe - put at between five and seven million. But it's not always easy for Muslims to live in a country which prides itself on it's secular identity. A 2014 report says that anti-Muslim sentiment, in France, and wider Europe, is on the rise. It's been written by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a group which collates Islamophobic incidents across the world. The document refers to one report which claims there were 226 attacks on Muslims in France in 2013, an apparent rise of 11.3 percent. The OIC study also highlights incidents such as graffiting of two mosques in Besancon, in eastern France, in November 2013. Slogans such as "France for the French," "Arabs out" and "Death to Muslims" were sprayed on the walls. Elsa Ray works for a Paris-based group which monitors Islamophobia, called Collectif Centre l'Islamophobie en France (CCIF). Like the OIC report, she says the number of hate incidents in the country have increased sharply this year. "For the first half of 2014 we have recorded more than 400 Islamophobic incidents. Most of the time it is (about) discrimination; discrimination at work, but also in public services and there is also aggression, physical, violent aggressions," she explains. CCIF make a note of incidences via their call centre and encourage those who feel they've been victimised to call in. The OIC report also says western governments are not doing enough to combat anti-muslim feeling, or prosecute the perpetrators. They give the example of France, where political gains by the National Front (NF) party have seen a number of local laws introduced. For example, the NF announced at the beginning of April, that they were stopping schools from offering special lunches to Muslim pupils in the 11 towns where it won local elections. Ray agrees with the view that the French government haven't made things easy. "They (government) also encourage it (because), as Islamophobia is not recognised officially as a specific type of hate crime, they feel open and free to stigmatise Muslims, to attack Muslims in their speech and they think it's a common thing to do, that it is not a big deal actually." France, as a republic, has always maintained a sharp separation of church and state. In 2010, a new law was introduced making it illegal for anyone to cover their face in a public place - including shops, parks, museums and in the street. The government has argued that covering the face poses a security risk and includes helmets and masks in the law. But France's Muslim community, especially women who wear the full niqab, feel particularly singled out. A similar law brought into force in 2004, saw religious symbols banned from public school. It says Muslim scarves and other obvious religious symbols, including Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses, must be kept out of schools to keep them secular. Again, Muslim women who wear the veil felt particularly targeted, their religious symbol more visible than a cross. At the time, thousands of people protested across French towns and cities against the plans when they were first announced, many shouting "One veil, one choice". Ten years on, some people say they are still having problems. Kamelia Ouici, 18, called into CCIF in mid-June. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...