OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Working Session 11: Tolerance and non-discrimination, including Islamophobia. Warsaw, 26 September 2016.

EMISCO is deeply worried about the rise of attacks motivated by anti-Muslim hatred, especially since the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks. We declare unambiguously that international developments, including acts of terror perpetrated by individuals or groups self-identifying with Islam, can never justify the normalisation of intolerance against Muslims.

We condemn all types of discrimination against Muslims and endeavour to prevent and protect against attacks directed at Muslim communities across the OSCE region, whether on persons, places of worship or religious objects. We note the disproportionate impact of intolerance against Muslims on women, who are exposed to discrimination and hate crime when trying to access education and employment.

Ethnic and religious minorities who came to Europe from the 1960s onwards admired the fact that they enjoyed the same rights as the majority. After the economic crisis, austerity and rising unemployment, minority presence became a focal point of public debate. Islamophobia has since been normalised deep into mainstream politics: views once associated with the radical right have been increasingly adopted by mainstream parties and absorbed into government policy. That is why EMISCO focuses on political Islamophobia, which we consider more dangerous than far-right anti-Islam movements.

We call upon the participating States to

  • Encourage political leaders and public figures to speak out strongly and promptly when anti-Muslim incidents occur;
  • Implement existing OSCE commitments on monitoring hate crime, with data disaggregated to show bias motivations related to religion;
  • Ensure that security and counter-terrorism measures do not target any ethnic, religious or cultural group in their design, implementation or impact;
  • Build effective partnerships with civil society and Muslim communities to address intolerance and promote mutual understanding;
  • Advance intercultural and interreligious education, as recommended by the Council of Europe;
  • Provide funding for independent civil society groups working on Islamophobia.

We call upon ODIHR to

  • Facilitate dialogue between governments, civil society and religious or belief communities;
  • Highlight patterns of intolerance and discrimination against Muslims;
  • Develop guidelines for preventing and combating hate crimes against Muslims, including data collection and victim assistance;
  • Present its annual findings on Islamophobia to the Permanent Council and the Human Dimension Committee.

Islamophobia is not just a Muslim issue; it is a European issue for all of us. The OSCE must stand firm and not let the continent slip back into an intolerant past. It is time we listen to the voices of sanity, not hate.

Bashy QuraishySecretary General of EMISCO
26 September 2016