BONN, May 17 (IslamOnline.net) - An official annual study about the ethnic status in the European Union (EU) countries warned Saturday, May 17, the Muslim and other ethnic and religious minorities in Europe were turning into a “scapegoat” to justify the problems existing within the EU societies.

The study - issued by the Center for Monitoring Racism and Fanaticism affiliated to the European Parliament (ECRI) - called upon the European politicians to shoulder their responsibilities and confront the surging racist currents in their societies.

The study, a copy of which was obtained by IOL Saturday, May 17, showed the high rates of hate crimes against Muslims in Europe all through last year, in the same levels that followed 9/11/2001 attacks on the U.S.

The signs of hate actions against Muslims took the form of discrimination, oppression, physical and oral assaults, most of which were directed at Muslim women wearing traditional Islamic veils (Hijab), as well as mosques.

The study set another example of discrimination against foreign minorities, in general, and Muslims in particular, in the form of new rigid immigration and asylum laws issued last year, coinciding with the surging gains of hard-line rightist parties in most of the EU countries.

A new variable that took place during the last year was also highlighted by the study; namely the prevalence of stereotype negative images and judgments about Islam and Muslims in an unprecedented way in the European societies.

Moreover, the study revealed that anti-Muslim discrimination has become no more limited to ordinary EU citizens, as was the case immediately after 9/11, but it has also widened to include public servants and administrative officials all through European social categories.

The study noted that while the 9/11 events increased the rate of hate crimes against Muslims, these unfortunate events actually broke loose buried European grudges that highlighted the negative types existing for centuries, adding, “the surge in previously-existing anti-Muslim feelings created an atmosphere where Muslims had to exert huge efforts to prove they were no terrorists”.

On the other hand, the study pointed that the rate of assaults against Jewish societies and institutions in Europe have increased remarkably last year. It also noted that anti-gypsy discrimination and oppression increased in Europe, though not as remarkably.