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Belgium Sees 10% Rise in Islamophobic Incidents, Report Finds
Saturday 5 October 2019, by
The Collective against Islamophobia in Belgium (CCIB) has highlighted the increase in Islamophobic attacks noted in 2018. In total, 80 cases of Islamophobia were opened, which represents a 10% increase compared to 2017.
Islamophobia remains alive in Belgium despite a slight decrease compared to the year 2016 marked by post-attack effects. According to the Collective against Islamophobia in Belgium (CCIB), at least one Islamophobic act is committed every two days in 2017 and 2018.
Brussels occupies the first position with 38% of the reported facts. Followed by Wallonia and Flanders with respective rates of 31% and 10%. As for reports of insults or threats made on the Internet, they are around 19%.
Many women (77%) are victims of Islamophobic attacks, which is a specificity of Islamophobia, observes the CCIB.
According to the Collective, these figures are far from reality. In its view, each file is a specific story that highlights the journey of a person who finds themselves injured, stigmatized, harassed, discriminated against, insulted or assaulted.
"Moreover, beyond interpersonal conflicts, Islamophobia has also become a means for xenophobic groups or even political formations to gain points by polarizing their discourse, stigmatizing part of the Belgian community and pitting people against each other, while Muslim citizens aspire to live in peace and security in their neighborhood, in their city, in their country," laments the Collective.