(01 October 2015) – On 1-2 October, the European Commission hosts the first Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights, in Brussels, as a survey shows that 50% of Europeans believe religious discrimination is widespread.
The challenge is highlighted by data from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights on antisemitic offences, published yesterday, and by a new Eurobarometer survey on discrimination, published today.
Statistics published in the Eurobarometer survey on discrimination show that:
- • 50% of Europeans believe discrimination based on religion or beliefs is widespread (up from 39% in 2012);
- 33% believe that expressing a religious belief can be a disadvantage when applying for a job (up from 23% in 2012);
- Muslims suffer from the lowest levels of social acceptance among religious groups, with only 61% of respondents stating that they would be fully comfortable with a colleague at work being Muslim, and only 43% being fully comfortable if their adult children had a relationship with a Muslim person.
The survey on discrimination and hate crime against Jews shows rising antisemitism in Europe; 73% of respondents felt that antisemitism online has become worse over the last five years.