I wanted to share the report by International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights with you.

With best,
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In March 2005 the Report by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (following – IHF) on intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in the EU has been published. "The purpose of this report "as it is noted in the preface of the document" is to raise awareness about intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in the EU, as well as to highlight problems with respect to the exercise of freedom of religion by Muslims in the region. The report covers eleven EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom". IHF expressed its concern toward the atmosphere of growing distrust against Muslims that has developed since September 11 threatens to undermine efforts to promote integration and further increase the vulnerability of Muslims to human rights violations and marginalization.

The report gives an information about the reasons of moving of Muslims to the European countries in the middle of the XX century, their number in each country, formal relations between the state and
Muslim community of the country, negative sentiments and harassment against Muslims, following the September 11 events, media coverage issues to Islam and Muslims, discrimination against Muslims in
different areas of society, issue of hijab in the West, religious education and Muslim schools and other related issues.

The report contains valuable information about the situation in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden under the above-mentioned items. It is
worth to note that, this report gives statistical data from different sources in each European country as well as their explanation, which enable us to get unbiased information about the situation among
Muslim communities in the mentioned western countries.

IHF also makes the concrete recommendations to the EU members regarding the protect Muslims and other vulnerable minority groups from religiously or racially motivated discrimination, promotion
systematic efforts to monitor discrimination against Muslims in employment, housing, access to service and other areas of society, engage in dialogue with Muslim communities for the purpose of developing strategies to promote the integration of Muslims in
different fields of society and to address problems related to the practice of Islam and etc.

The full text of this Report in the sites of IHF can be reached on
http://www.ihf-hr.org
http://www.oic-oci.org

The Secretariat of the ICYF kindly requests you to review the Report and to submit your proposals on the ideas and initiatives that meet the strategy of ICYF.

Secretariat of Islamic Conference Youth Forum
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