Islamopohobia with no boundaries

The racist extremists vandalized a Mosque in north Scotland and spry-painted ant-Muslim comments on its walls. The crime took place at Elgin Islamic center and the local police described the incident as unacceptable. Unlike certain West European countries and Scandinavian states of Norway and Denmark, no legislation against the Muslim tradition of full face veil exists on the statute book in the UK. Similarly the Human Rights groups there raise strong vice against Islamphobic tendencies. They gave a robust response when leaflets of “Hate Muslims Day” were circulated by racist elements last year.

The wave of Islamophobia was encouraged first in Denmark with the publication of sacrilegious caricatures in 2006 and the government tacitly justified it on the pretext of freedom of expression. In 2017 a French Magazine Charlie Hebduo wanted to do the same when its office was attacked before the press matter could go to the print. In June last year the Danish parliament passed a law making wearing full-face veil as punishable offence. Earlier such legislation was passed in France. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz authorized action of closing 7 Turkish Mosques and expulsion of 40 Turk Imams. In August last year, a German politician of Christian Social Union (CSU) in Bavaria Horst Seehofer made a statement stating “Islam does not belong to Germany.”The party is believed moderate as compared with Christian Democratic Un ion (CDU) and ultra nationalist party Alternative for Free Dutchland (AfD).

The wave of racism in Western Europe which is now directed against Muslims may take nationalistic connotations in addition to igniting feelings of animosity between Catholics and Protestants. The leadership of western democracies should not forget the 30 year long sectarian war in medieval Europe. The pro-EU demonstrations in the German cities of Berlin and Cologne are an expression against the likely emergence of extreme nationalistic sentiments across Europe.