Choice and prejudice : discrimination against Muslims in Europe.
Amnesty International.
London : Amnesty International,
2012.
Muslims across Europe belong to many different ethnic groups and follow diverse cultural, religious or traditional practices. They are discriminated against for different reasons, including their religion or belief, ethnicity and gender. This report highlights discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief and illustrates some of its consequences. Restrictive dress-code policies and legislation are enforced in, for example, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. Muslims, and especially Muslim women, who express their cultural or religious background by wearing specific forms of dress or symbols have been denied employment or excluded from classrooms. Some political parties and authorities also oppose the establishment of Muslim places of worship, a component of the right to freedom of religion. In Switzerland, for example, the major political party successfully campaigned to ban the building of minarets. Some anti-discrimination legislation exists in Europe. Amnesty International calls on the authorities to enforce it at both European and national levels. Governments should not introduce general bans on religious and cultural symbols and dress, and should end the practice of restricting the right of Muslims to establish places of worship.
Title from cover.
1. Introduction. -- 2. Background. -- 3. International and regional human rights standards. -- 4. Discrimination on the ground of religion. -- 5. Restrictions on establishing Muslim places of worship. -- 6. Legislation prohibiting full-face veils. -- 7. Conclusions and recommendations. -- Appendix.
Muslims across Europe belong to many different ethnic groups and follow diverse cultural, religious or traditional practices. They are discriminated against for different reasons, including their religion or belief, ethnicity and gender. This report highlights discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief and illustrates some of its consequences. Restrictive dress-code policies and legislation are enforced in, for example, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. Muslims, and especially Muslim women, who express their cultural or religious background by wearing specific forms of dress or symbols have been denied employment or excluded from classrooms. Some political parties and authorities also oppose the establishment of Muslim places of worship, a component of the right to freedom of religion. In Switzerland, for example, the major political party successfully campaigned to ban the building of minarets. Some anti-discrimination legislation exists in Europe. Amnesty International calls on the authorities to enforce it at both European and national levels. Governments should not introduce general bans on religious and cultural symbols and dress, and should end the practice of restricting the right of Muslims to establish places of worship.
Religious minorities
Freedom of religion
Muslims
Religious discrimination