(15/10/2015)
European Parliament debates anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hate speech in Europe
The European Parliament held a debate about rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hate speech during the Brussels mini-plenary. The debate was initiated by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) following a public hearing on “Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hate speech.”
The public hearing and debate were in response to rising anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hatred. In the past two years there have been terrorist attacks against Jewish people and sites in Toulouse, Brussels, Paris and Copenhagen. Similarly, Muslims have been victims of verbal and physical attacks in recent years as well being targeted by movements such as PEGIDA in Germany.
The debate was also an opportunity for Members of European Parliament to question the European Commission on how it aims to combat anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. MEPs called on the Commission to ask Member States to adopt national strategies on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and specify the work of the newly appointed anti-Semitism and Islamophobia coordinators.
Jean Lambert, Co-President of ARDI, said: “Rising anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hatred are issues that we must all take seriously. They are direct violations to the principles upon which the European Union was founded – democracy, human rights and the rule of law.“