The Observatory of Islamophobia at Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta issued a monthly index of Islamophobia to monitor and analyze the most prominent attacks and violations against Muslims, their religious figures, and Muslim migrants to the west all of which are represented in a distribution map.

The Index is released on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual basis. This is the second edition of the index coming coincident with a growth in the number of Islamophobic attacks. The index aims to develop a practical and detailed work plan to combat ‘white supremacy’ extremism and violence against both Muslims and immigrants.

The Index reported 22 attacks in nine countries ranging between psychological and physical attacks, anti-mosque actions, legislative and administrative discrimination against Muslims, and profanity against Islam.

According to the Index for the month of October, France comes in first place in terms of the number of attacks against Muslims and Muslim religious figures with a figure of 36%. Coming up next is the US with 5 attacks thought to have been perpetrated by right-wing extremists. England and Belgium come in at third place with Holland, Ireland, Bosnia, Canada, and Australia following at fourth place.

The Observatory reported that physiological attacks against Muslims come at the top of the list with a figure of 50% of all kinds of attacks. The number of physical attacks and administrative and legislative discrimination against Muslims are equal coming in the figure of 18.2% each.

The number of attacks against mosques (9.1%) has declined in October compared to the figure recorded in the previous Index (37.5%).

The Index reported a new kind of attacks, blasphemy, coming in the figure of 5% of the total percentage of attacks. Despite this relatively low figure, it represents a dangerous and growing phase of Islamophobic attacks and a public and explicit fomentation of anti-Muslim sentiment by famous figures.

The Observatory concluded its report by noting that right-wing groups are the most hostile to Muslims and immigrants and that they seek to diffuse their toxic opinions and set agendas to distort Muslim religious figures and destroy Islamic icons.

12-11-2019