European Commission Coordinator for Combating Anti-Muslim Hatred, Marion Lalles (Social Media)

The European Commission Coordinator for Combating Anti-Muslim Hatred, Marion Lalis, reported that anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe increased after October 7, stressing the need to document cases of hatred and raise awareness in order to combat it.

Lalis, who assumed her position in February 2023, after it had been vacant for 18 months, indicated that they face the challenge of not reporting incidents of hatred against Muslims in Europe.

The official explained to Anadolu Agency that dealing with data and being fully aware of the dimensions of hatred against Muslims represent a major challenge in Europe. She added that they must ensure that Muslim citizens on the continent have confidence in law enforcement authorities.

Lalis pointed out the need to establish a network among European Union countries to collect data on hate incidents and share good models for combating them.

She also confirmed that, by the end of her first year in office, progress had been made in reaching the entire Muslim community, and enhancing participation between European Union countries to provide them with appropriate protection and support and to address the discrimination they face.

Hatred of Muslims in European Union laws

Speaking about the EU's 2008 framework resolution to combat racism and xenophobia, Lallis explained that the resolution gave member states the power to pursue cases on such matters.

She stressed that the events that began since October 7, 2023 have increased anti-Semitism and hatred of Muslims in Europe, pointing out that the European Union places equal importance on these two threats.

She explained that from their point of view, there is no sequential distinction between forms of racism and discrimination, and that anti-Semitism and hatred of Muslims have been dealt with together within the framework of the European Union Commission’s action plan for the period from 2020 to 2025 against racism.

Guidance to combat Muslim hatred

Regarding how to deal with cases of physical or verbal anti-Muslim hatred, Lalis explained that the person subjected to assault can file a legal complaint in European Union countries, noting that the first entity that must be contacted regarding these issues is the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

She noted that individuals can view information about the institutions that can be contacted and request assistance in each country via the agency’s website, in addition to providing instructions that can be followed in such cases.

The European official explained that there is another means that can be used to combat hatred of Muslims through “equality institutions” in the EU countries. She stressed that equality institutions in every member state (of the European Union) are required to support citizens who are subjected to discrimination or hate crimes.

Attacks on the Qur’an

In her speech, Lalis touched on the attacks that targeted the Holy Qur’an in some European Union countries last year. She stressed that such attacks represent individual and unacceptable actions, noting that they conflict with the values ​​of the European Union and are not supported by any member state of the Union.

Regarding the threatening messages that some mosques in Germany received, Lalis stressed that these threats represent actions that cannot be accepted. She added: "We are aware of the presence of extremism in our society, and we are working to confront it, as the police and law enforcement forces have arrested some gangs."

She pointed out that these actions show provocation, aggression, and disrespect towards Muslims around the world, noting that extremism is a problem in society and must be confronted, and that the police are working to control gangs.

She added that awareness should be increased to prevent Muslims from being targeted by other citizens, as hatred represents a threat to society and democracy, and recommended the necessity of awareness as a solution to this problem.

Ban on wearing the hijab

Regarding the decision of the European Court of Justice in November 2023 regarding the possibility of banning the wearing of the hijab for employees of government offices in the European Union, Lalis explained that this ban applies to all religious symbols.

She noted that if this ban were applied to all administrative employees without discrimination, it could be justified within the context of a neutrality policy.

The European Court’s decision ruled that public authorities in the European Union have the authority to determine the rules of neutrality that must be applied in public functions, while ensuring that the policy followed is balanced between the individual’s right to express his religious belief and the authorities’ right to ensure the neutrality of the public environment.

It should be noted that the issue of the hijab and wearing it has become a focus of discrimination against Muslims in Europe in recent years, at an increasing rate in conjunction with the escalation of the phenomenon of Islamophobia in the countries of the continent.

Source: Anadolu Agency