On the occasion of the European Day against Islamophobia 2020, FEMYSO (Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations) and ARDI (European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup) held a public symposium under the title of “Tackling Gendered Islamophobia in Europe”.
The initiative is launched in a context of uncertainty and increase of inequality, due to the impact of the Covid19 crisis and the harsh consequences it is having on Asian communities, including the Muslim communities, therefore, propelling Islamophobia. As stated in the symposium’s introduction, Islamophobia cannot be reduced to a specific aspect of one’s life, but touches every single dimension of Muslim’s lives in Europe, particularly among women, whose religious tendencies can be more easily recognizable (through the use of headscarves or garnish). As explained by FEMYSO member Hande Tamer, we witness, in this case, an intersectional discrimination, based on the triple axis of religion, gender and ethnicity, all of whom are interweaved in the construction of an intersectional identity.
We witness an intersectional discrimination, based on the triple axis of religion, gender and ethnicity, all of whom are interweaved in the construction of an intersectional identity.
Inspired by the different movements and initiatives against racism in Europe, the aim of this online symposium was to both discuss the means and ways by which this discrimination takes place, and to promote a space for policy-solution, in the hope to have a better and more progressive world after the Covid crisis.
Thus, throughout the symposium, it was highlighted the need to adopt proactive stances against racism and islamophobia, the need to enforce the legal frames already in place within the EU member-States, as well as to adopt measures against those member-States that do not implement measures to combat racism and Islamophobia, the need to enforce the EU Gender Equality Legislation, and to ensure that gender and religious equality are mainstreamed, promoting its combat through education and social attitudes.
Participating in the symposium were:
- Samira Rafaela, Member of European Parliament, co-President ARDI
- Michael O’Flaherty, Director of Fundamental Rights Agency
- Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Equality, European Commission
- Evin Incir, of European Parliament, co-President ARDI
- Hande Taner, FEMYSO, CoE Advisory Council on Youth
- Sanja Bilic, Operations and Policy Manager, European Forum of Muslim Women
- Anna Bianchi, MEET Project, Fondazione L’Abero della Vita
- Fatima Younsi, Activist, Collectif des 100 diplômées
- Tomasso Chiamparino. European Commission Coordinator, Europe Commission Coordinator on combating anti-Muslim hatred
You can watch the event on the video above, or at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBe-rPBLxT0.
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