Amnesty - anti-Muslim bias in Europe

sajmarhab
By sajmarhab

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17824132

Human rights group Amnesty International says Muslims who openly show their faith suffer widespread discrimination in Europe.

In a new report, the group urges Europe's governments to do more to challenge negative stereotypes and prejudices against Muslims.

In particular, it says Muslims face exclusion from jobs and education for wearing traditional forms of dress.

It also criticises the bans on Muslim women's veils passed in some states.

"Muslim women are being denied jobs and girls prevented from attending regular classes just because they wear traditional forms of dress, such as the headscarf. Men can be dismissed for wearing beards associated with Islam," the group's discrimination specialist Marco Perolini said.

"Rather than countering these prejudices, political parties and public officials are all too often pandering to them in their quest for votes."

'Freedom of expression'

The report highlights moves in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain to ban the full-face veils worn by some Muslim women, as well as the ban on minarets enacted in Switzerland in 2009.

It also criticises rules in many countries that forbid students from wearing the headscarf or other religious and traditional dress at school.

"Wearing religious and cultural symbols and dress is part of the right of freedom of expression. It is part of the right to freedom of religion or belief - and these rights must be enjoyed by all faiths equally," Mr Perolini said.

According to the rights group, bans on full-face veils cannot be justified by security concerns, except in certain circumstances such as security checks or high-risk areas.

While applauding the desire to stop women from being coerced into wearing traditional or religious dress, it says this should not be achieved by banning individual women from wearing certain items of clothing.

Amnesty International also accuses Belgium, France and the Netherlands of failing to implement properly laws banning discrimination in employment.

Its report says employers are being allowed to discriminate on the grounds that religious or cultural symbols will conflict with colleagues, customers or the company's image.

Citing statistics showing lower rates of employment among female immigrants from Muslim countries, the report says surveys of Muslim women suggest this is in part to blame on discrimination.

The report's recommendations include the creation of national anti-discrimination bodies and greater efforts to monitor discrimination on religious grounds.

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 14:40
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

shisha n u can watch this one

By insanityOO7• 25 Apr 2012 14:39
insanityOO7

"..........however should compare what is happening in Europe with what is happening in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, to name a few...."

First of all KSA never claimed to be a secular democratic country.

All along west has been denouncing these countries while proclaiming themselves to be the champiions of freedom. free speech and democracy.

Now where is their freedom ?? In europe there are laws which forbid you to speak against holocaust....whereas you can make cartoons of prophet and then claim you have freedom of speech.

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 14:38
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

21st or 1st century religion does not change

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 14:38
MarcoNandoz-01

britexpat: You will only need to go places like Cardiff and Briminghamsitan where the largest Islamic societies live to realize how sharply our world is divided across religious, race, color lines. Muslims in Europe need to break out of their self-inflicted besiegement and intorgate on all levels.

By shisha202• 25 Apr 2012 14:36
shisha202

BG i appreciate you to watch this

By Mandilulur• 25 Apr 2012 14:34
Mandilulur

Yup!

Mandi

By BlueBull• 25 Apr 2012 14:34
BlueBull

This discussion itself is biased.

By Xena• 25 Apr 2012 14:34
Rating: 2/5
Xena

Covered because they wanted too, not because they were compelled to.....

This was thousands of years ago... we are in the 21st century now - Why, if during those ancient times, they had a choice, don't the woman of this century?

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 14:33
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

"The woman who is in the state of Ihram should neither wear a Niqab nor put on gloves". But if the woman is among alien men, she should let a veil hung down from her head over her face for the Hadith of Aisha ( may Allah be pleased with her): " Men on camels used to pass by us while we were with the Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and in the state of Ihram. We would cover our faces with our gowns when they passed by us, and then, uncover them again". [Narrated by Imam Ahmed and Abu Dawood]. Allah knows best.

By Missteacher• 25 Apr 2012 14:33
Missteacher

F/b as in Facebook??!

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 14:30
MarcoNandoz-01

BG. According to the Scholars of Islam, wives of the prophet of Islam were the exception to the general rule.

The veiling verses were exclusively and primarily revealed for them, and are in no way applicable or compulsory on the general women of the Islamic public.

By britexpat• 25 Apr 2012 14:30
Rating: 3/5
britexpat

In any country , it is normal for first / second generation immigrants to live close to each other.. They feel comfortable and safe - similar for integration.

My point was that they need to participate more in local government etc.. I was also referring to the amnesty comment " In particular, it says Muslims face exclusion from jobs and education for wearing traditional forms of dress."

This can also cause divisions..

By shisha202• 25 Apr 2012 14:29
shisha202

BG what you are saying is its a compulsion and i have replied thats why i have stated the example of hajj for you to think.Be logical.

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 14:24
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

shisha202 prophets wives did they appear infront of strangers

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 14:22
MarcoNandoz-01

britexpat: for clustering up in small race/ethnicity-wise Ghettos. For failing to learn the language of their host country and for refuising to integrate.

By Mandilulur• 25 Apr 2012 14:21
Mandilulur

MT, lol, there have been some, but they are "undercover" so to speak! Hey, FB me for more!

Mandi

By Missteacher• 25 Apr 2012 14:19
Missteacher

....& then Insanity rocks in...

By britexpat• 25 Apr 2012 14:18
britexpat

Good article..

Yes, there is discrimination in some areas, but Muslims themselves must take some of the blame..

By shisha202• 25 Apr 2012 14:16
Rating: 3/5
shisha202

BG prominenet scholars says that covering your face is not important, muslim womens are asked to cover except their face and hands, and if a women chooses to cover her face alhamdulillah its well and good, maybe she'll be rewarded more for being modest, but there is no compulsion in Islam to cover the face, its upto personal choice, and dont forget that if there was a compulsion to cover face then while performing hajj also the muslim women would have asked to cover their face, and BG if u r a Muslim dont argue about anything in Islam unless and until you are 100% sure about it, because spreading wrong information about Islam is a sin.

By Mandilulur• 25 Apr 2012 14:15
Mandilulur

Churches, NM, quite a few. Just not church buildings. And priests and ministers as well.

Mandi

By Missteacher• 25 Apr 2012 14:14
Missteacher

No not seen many nuns in Qatar recently......

Levis & T-shirts??? oh times have changed!!! LOL

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 14:13
MarcoNandoz-01

Mandilulur: A church in Saudi? Where?

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 14:12
MarcoNandoz-01

Yawns! BG u can’t possibly know any more/better than the scholar in that YouTube video

He says it’s not and I trust his words more than yours. Sorry.

By Mandilulur• 25 Apr 2012 14:11
Mandilulur

MT, have you met any nuns recently, lol? Jeans and sweatshirts!

Mandi

By Mandilulur• 25 Apr 2012 14:10
Mandilulur

I was appalled at the attempted legislation against minarets in Switzerland. And I will defend with every fiber of my being the right of a woman to wear what she wishes. But you are wrong about KSA, there are churches in Saudi, but Saudi happens to be the ONE country in the world where there are no purpose-built churches (well, also the Maldives, but who counts them?)

Mndi

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 14:09
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

upto u i never said trust me study n find the right one

By Missteacher• 25 Apr 2012 14:09
Missteacher

The only thing I don't get is this;

I believe everyone should be able to dress the way they feel comfortable and the way they believe is acceptable.

Muslims: cover in accordance to Allah.

Other religions: (except nuns) don't cover in accordance to their God/beliefs.

Atheists: don't cover in accordance to their beliefs.

So why can't we all dress the way we want in any part of the world?

i.e Why can't non-Muslims show their shoulders and knees in any country if they want.

Why can't Muslims cover their bodies in any country if they want?

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 14:02
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

First of all it is essential to know that Muslim men and Muslim women are obliged to follow the commands of Allah and His Messenger, no matter how difficult that may be for people and without feeling shy of other people. The believer who is sincere in his faith is the one who is sincere in carrying out his duty towards his Lord and obeying His commands and avoiding that which He has forbidden. No believer, man or woman, has the right to hesitate or delay with regard to commands;

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 14:00
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

between her n Allah we r not to decide

By Prism• 25 Apr 2012 13:54
Prism

BG...what if a muslim women does not cover her face or does not wear niqab or burqa.

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 13:49
MarcoNandoz-01

BG- According to the prominent Schoalr of the Islamic faith Yusuf Estes, It's not of Islam.

By ramil26• 25 Apr 2012 13:48
ramil26

monkey talks, Boo hoo !!!

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 13:40
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

get ur awareness from good source my friend

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 13:39
Rating: 3/5
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

A woman is obliged to cover her face in front of anyone who is not her mahram (blood relative to whom marriage is forbidden). From this we learn that the face is the most essential thing to be covered. There is evidence from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the views of the Sahaabah and the imams and scholars of Islam, which indicates that women are obliged to cover all of their bodies in front of those who are not their mahrams

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 13:22
MarcoNandoz-01

Because there were Muslim women around at the time of Muhammad who didn't wear it and Muhammad didn't tell them to. Only his wives were commanded to wear it.

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 12:51
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

We are all aware that the wearing of the niqab and burqa is not a religious requirement

from where did u hear this awareness

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 11:50
MarcoNandoz-01

If you wanna know what discrimination is, then try preaching Christianity openly anywhere in the Muslim world and see if you don’t end up banged up and jailed.

We are all aware that the wearing of the niqab and burqa is not a religious requirement and neither the erection of big Middle-Ages styled Minarets. But rather a political statement saying ' I can wear what I want in your country' but you must wear what I say in my country.

By alien_guest• 25 Apr 2012 11:38
alien_guest

Just Pray at home as simple as that. One's relation to God is a personal.There are no Temples for me out here and i know My religion is Criticised out here but that does not stop me from being who i am. Atleast the people of the Muslim faith have Places of worship around the World...

By Rizks• 25 Apr 2012 11:37
Rizks

wat is tat gal on the top left side of the screen in underwear and bra doing there ? :(

By EXLegend• 25 Apr 2012 11:35
EXLegend

[Lets not get blocke by the Telco] refers to the word well illustrated in the video below as a part of modern literature:

By EXLegend• 25 Apr 2012 11:32
EXLegend

all i hear is F*cK peace!

go worship, play sport, do something... get a life!

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 11:31
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

believe me if i become the reporter the west will get all naked

By Korly• 25 Apr 2012 11:31
Korly

Becareful who you align yourself with. Some people here will leave a bad taste when they leave.

Monkey man will be one of them!

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 11:30
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

oho here comes my lovely stalker

By Korly• 25 Apr 2012 11:29
Korly

Talking out of your tail-end as usual???

I always love how you say one thing and then when the shoe is on the other foot, you change sides. Its the true sign of a man that has no clue what is happening in the world and prefers to babble on just to see his words in print.

I think you are in the wrong business, Monkey, why don't you go down a flight of stairs/across to the Qatar Tribune and ask for a job as a reporter if you so badly want to see your words in print?

By shisha202• 25 Apr 2012 11:29
shisha202

BG don't peel their skin like this...they dont like it...

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 11:23
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

LP memory weak

Rape was not a crime in France until 1980?

Strauss-Kahn New York Case May Curb Libertine Ways of Powerful French Men

The arrest in New York of former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges of attempted rape is forcing men to watch what they say and emboldening women to challenge the modern-day version of France’s “droit de cuissage,” a feudal practice giving masters the right to have sex with female servants... Early reactions from male French commentators to the maid’s allegations sparked outrage. Jean-Francois Kahn, founder of weekly magazine Marianne and a witness at Strauss-Kahn’s third marriage in 1991, laughed as he said on state-owned radio station France Culture, that “there may have been a careless action, how should I put it… the shagging of a servant.” He later apologized...

While sexual assault and attempted rape allegations that Strauss-Kahn is accused of in New York are also crimes in his home country, the French have been more indulgent when it comes to the indiscretions of their politicians. “Earlier, kings had their droit de cuissage with servants in palaces; this looked like a powerful person trying it on a maid in a New York hotel,” Jean Quatremer, a journalist with newspaper Liberation, said in an interview...

The laissez-faire attitude gives powerful people in France a sense of impunity, said Claude Katz an attorney, specializing in sexual harassment cases. The Strauss-Kahn affair “can move the lines slowly but surely,” Katz said. “It will empower victims of sexual abuse in France because if a maid can speak against a powerful man, others will have a stronger voice.”

Laws reinforcing women’s rights and safety are relatively recent in France. The law making rape a crime dates back only to 1980. Earlier decrees were based on 19th century moral codes. A law on sexual-harassment was approved in 1992 and one on moral harassment was passed in 2002. The last bill to fight violence against women was passed last year. Government studies show there are 75,000 rapes a year in the country. Only about 10 percent of the victims filed complaints, women’s groups say...

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 11:21
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

karzai signed with the american n brithish troops to kill n rape his own civilians

check the below link horrible western forces

&feature=related

By anonymous• 25 Apr 2012 11:18
anonymous

In France, rape is punished by a maximum of fifteen years' criminal imprisonment so it is illegal.

By shisha202• 25 Apr 2012 11:18
shisha202

MN as these people say they are highly civilized than east , so i dont understand why cant they allow people to practice their religion freely. Its a matter of human rights, or are they only concerned with the human rights of oil wealth nations??????

By anonymous• 25 Apr 2012 11:17
anonymous

Rape is legal in Afghanistan. President Karzai of Afghanistan signed the law into effect to bolster his own re-election.

It is not legal in any other country!

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 11:13
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

MN Muslims arent allowed to preach freely

Sri Lankan mosque forced to abandon prayers by protesters

Sri Lanka mosque protest Buddhist monks were also involved in the protest

A mosque in Sri Lanka has been forced to abandon Friday prayers amid community tensions in the central town of Dambulla.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17781372

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 11:11
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

And yes I do know something about Islam , can i know that "something"

"its their country follow their rules" - this is the so called western civilized country know as france where women were raped legally as it was not a crime

By turbohampster• 25 Apr 2012 11:10
turbohampster

Hear Hear Marco

Finally a reasonable well thought out response!

By MarcoNandoz-01• 25 Apr 2012 11:05
Rating: 5/5
MarcoNandoz-01

Yes I totally agree that there are some varying degrees of Islamphopia and discrimination against European Muslims. however should compare what is happening in Europe with what is happening in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, to name a few. There is no church, ashram, Buddhist Temple in KSA. On the other hand you find Mosque in every country around the world. Women are discriminated their even more if they are not Muslim as they are not considered as honorable women. The Holy Quran, the holy Bible do not discriminate but people who believe can interpret those holy book do.

By turbohampster• 25 Apr 2012 11:04
turbohampster

Haha good come back!

Although I should of known we will never get a objective or reasoned answer back from you..

Why don't you follow ur own advice though?

"its their country follow their rules"? haha

I would love to hear a reasoned intelligent response, instead of don't blabber your mouth!

And yes I do know something about Islam probably not as much as you, but we had to learn about all religions when I was at school as part of our studies.. And I've lived in Qatar for over 3yr's now so it is impossible not to learn something about it in that time!

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 10:52
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

turbo i already mentioned which country it is n dont blabber ur mouth if u dont know anything abt Islam

By turbohampster• 25 Apr 2012 10:48
Rating: 3/5
turbohampster

haha Babu

As you said so many times its their country so their rules! You have to respect the local culture as you always say!

And the ban on the veil in France is only for ones that cover the woman's face..

It is not required in Islam to completely cover ones face and they are still allowed to cover their hair body etc to comply with their faith

Like it or not covering your face in Europe in NOT acceptable to MANY people either they find it scary or just plain rude!

Just like in Qatar we are not allowed to wear normal clothing that we would in Europe!

And please do enlighten us which country is Rape not considered a crime?

By Krisp• 25 Apr 2012 10:48
Krisp

I think Thailand ppls not discriminate other in any form.

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 10:44
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

no mr brilliant - france

By anonymous• 25 Apr 2012 10:41
anonymous

Are you talking about Pakistan?

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 10:26
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

a country where RAPE was not considered as a crime wat do u expect more from them

By fubar• 25 Apr 2012 10:24
Rating: 2/5
fubar

The report is quite interesting, for anyone who has read it. If not, it's here:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR01/001/2012/en/85bd6054-5273-4765-9385-59e58078678e/eur010012012en.pdf

Part of the problem seems to be that bans on religious symbols, such as headscarves, also include bans on Christian crosses, or Jewish skull caps etc, in public schools. Since most devout Christian or Jewish students attend religious schools, this has limited their exposure to such discrimination.

By EXLegend• 25 Apr 2012 10:20
EXLegend

relax monkey! do your part ... wait for the results.

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 10:13
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

the whole world , media has a problem with islam and muslims

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 10:12
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

nah ban on muslim viel

By anonymous• 25 Apr 2012 10:07
anonymous

The ban on the veil in France is a LAW.

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 10:06
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

n its good for u that qatar is not as strict as saudi other wise u wldnt like the sun sand n see

By Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte• 25 Apr 2012 10:03
Baburao-Ganpatrao-Apte

laws n treatment ? laws r to follow why do u mix up things

By anonymous• 25 Apr 2012 09:58
anonymous

I would like to quote a QL member: It's their country, and their laws. If people don't like the way they are treated, they can always come to Qatar! Right, Babu?

By Prism• 25 Apr 2012 09:58
Prism

Name one country which does not discriminate in one form or the other.

By EXLegend• 25 Apr 2012 09:58
Rating: 2/5
EXLegend

true!

and here in the arab u dont need to wear 'Thob' and come to work...

By cherukkan• 25 Apr 2012 09:54
cherukkan

Double Satandards in terms of religion is the facemark of most modern countries.

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