Politicians, Media Fan Dutch Islamophobia

The Muslim section of the ECRI 2008 Report on the Netherlands says that almost all Dutch Muslims have experienced discrimination in different areas of life, including employment or access to public places, since 2000.

"For many Muslims, discrimination often happens at the intersection between religion, nationality and ethnic origin."

The rights watchdog said Muslims have also been the victims of racist violence and other racist crimes, including arson attacks on mosques, Islamic schools and Muslim-owned shops.

It said Islamophobia has intensified in the wake of some incidents including the 2004 murder of Dutch director Theo Van Gogh following his anti-Islam film.

"Reports of racist insults in the streets, on public transport and during sports events rose dramatically around that time and leaflets expressing anti-Muslim sentiment appeared in many places in the Netherlands."

The Netherlands is home to nearly one million Muslims, making up around 6 percent of the total population.

Muslims of Moroccan and Turkish origin account for about two-thirds of the total Dutch Muslim population.

The rest is essentially made up of Surinamese Muslims and, since the 1990s, refugees and asylum seekers from Bosnia, Somalia, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Hate Mongers

The pan-Europe anti-racism watchdog criticized the media for making "sweeping generalizations" in associating Muslims and terrorism.

It said these generalizations can be found in virtually all types of media, including newspapers, radio and television.

The ECRI found a backlog of Islamophobic rhetoric sweeping Internet chat rooms and websites.

"Islamophobic views are increasingly becoming part of mainstream thinking."

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