Reports from Europe indicate that there has been an increase in the number of xenophobic attacks.
Most recently, a report released by the Paris-based Islamophobic Crime Monitoring Group indicates that the number of Islamophobic attacks in France increased by 34 percent in 2011 in comparison with the previous year.
Abdallah Zerki, head of the group, said he had written to French President Nicolas Sarkozy -- who once referred to Islamophobic crime as “insignificant” – and said Muslims are as equal citizens of France as Christians and Jewish people.
Head of the French Islamic Council Haydar Demiryürek spoke to the Cihan news agency on Thursday, saying research the council conducted also indicated a rise in Islamophobic crime.
“Some people were jailed over arson of mosques, but still legislation in this area is inadequate. The government should focus on this, condemn Islamophobia and adopt better legislation.”