The European Union's Response to Islamophobia: An Assessment.

The European Union (EU) is home to more than 25 million Muslims who form an integral part of its society. However, in the aftermath of 9/11 and several other terrorist attacks in Europe - most of which were perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalists - there has been evidence of strong anti-Muslim sentiments among members of the larger community which is reflective of an underlying sense of Islamophobia. This has manifested itself in a variety of forms ranging from hostility against Islam to negative discrimination against Muslims and the use of violence to target them, thereby increasing the potential for greater societal cleavages and conflict. The EU as a supranational entity strives to create an inclusive and tolerant society and as such is committed to the ideals of human rights, equality and non-discrimination. Tackling the challenges posed by Islamophobia and its various manifestations then becomes a priority for this organisation. Against this backdrop, the objective of this research paper is to assess the EU's response to Islamophobia by examining the initiatives undertaken by it, and focusing on their adoption by the Member States of France and Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]