Racism and Islamophobia persist for Muslims in Luxembourg and across Europe
Nearly half of Muslims in Luxembourg faced racism last year, as EU-wide discrimination remains a pressing issue
LUXEMBOURG CITY, Luxembourg (MNTV) – Nearly half of Muslims in Luxembourg reported experiencing racism in the past year, with 60% facing discrimination over the last five years, according to a report by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights.
The study found that most respondents in Luxembourg were from Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting skin color as a significant driver of racism.
The report revealed that a quarter of Muslims in Luxembourg faced discrimination when seeking housing, and 28% experienced bias in healthcare.
Harassment was another major issue, with 35% reporting insults and 5% encountering physical violence.
Additionally, half of the respondents believed racial profiling played a role in their most recent police stop.
These findings are consistent with data from the Luxembourg Observatoire de l’Islamophobie, which noted that 22% of Muslims faced Islamophobic incidents in 2023, compared to 21% the previous year.
Although instances of physical violence declined from 5% in 2022 to 1% in 2023, verbal aggression remains prevalent, especially for women wearing veils or niqabs, all of whom reported Islamophobic treatment.
The study placed Luxembourg in the context of broader European trends.
Discrimination rates in France and Belgium were reported at 39% and 53% over five years, while Austria and Germany saw rates of 71% and 68%, respectively.
The report also cited a 2024 incident of vandalism involving anti-Muslim messages at a mosque in Luxembourg, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by Muslim communities.
The European Agency for Fundamental Rights recommended strengthening anti-discrimination laws, implementing national action plans, and improving access to education, employment, and housing.
While 77% of Muslims in Luxembourg reported feeling safe, 64% said they faced less discrimination compared to neighboring countries.
As Muslims constitute Europe’s second-largest religious group at 26 million, or 5% of the population, the findings underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms to address racism and Islamophobia across the continent.
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