The ongoing genocidal war on Gaza by Israel has not only devastated Palestinians but is also driving a sharp rise in Islamophobia across Europe, according to the European Islamophobia Report 2023. The report, covering anti-Muslim sentiment in 28 European nations, highlights how pro-Palestinian solidarity is being framed as extremism, leading to bans on protests and discriminatory measures targeting Muslims.
In the UK, Islamophobia surged by an alarming 600% following the October Hamas attack on “Israel.” British Muslims faced workplace discrimination, biases in education, and increased scrutiny under the government’s Prevent programme, which disproportionately targets Muslims. Meanwhile, online platforms failed to curb a spike in anti-Muslim hate speech.
France witnessed heightened institutional Islamophobia, with President Emmanuel Macron’s pro-Israel stance reinforcing anti-Muslim policies. Measures like the ban on headscarves in schools have drawn criticism for institutionalising discrimination, while the police killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk further exposed deep-seated inequalities.
In Germany, Islamophobic crimes rose by 140%, the highest on record. Palestinian symbols were banned in schools, protests were suppressed, and far-right narratives gained momentum. Politicians and media outlets played a significant role in amplifying anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Switzerland recorded over 1,000 Islamophobic incidents in 2023, including workplace discrimination targeting Muslim women wearing headscarves. Political campaigns weaponised Islamic dress to stoke xenophobia, embedding anti-Muslim sentiment into national discourse.
Bosnia and Herzegovina saw a rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric from Serbian nationalists, threatening Sarajevo’s multicultural identity. Mosque closures and the repurposing of religious land reflect efforts to erase the country’s Muslim heritage.
Austria experienced a surge in Islamophobia, with protests against Gaza’s genocide suppressed by police. Schools hosted workshops on radicalisation that, in some cases, promoted Islamophobic ideas, while the UAE’s alleged funding of anti-Muslim groups further exacerbated tensions.
For Palestinians, the findings underline how their fight for freedom is weaponised to justify global discrimination against Muslims. The report calls for European governments to recognise Islamophobia as a systemic issue, enact stronger legal protections against hate crimes, and hold media platforms accountable for spreading harmful narratives. These measures, it argues, are vital to protecting Muslim communities and supporting the global call for Palestinian justice.
