On the occasion of the annual International Day to Combat Islamophobia, 15 March, ECCAR would like to highlight the power of local action plans in combating institutional anti-Muslim racism. These plans focus on addressing systemic issues, changing harmful practices, and creating a more inclusive environment for Muslim communities at the local level.
Anti-Muslim racism is institutional, when processes within institutions discriminate against Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims. One example of such is incidents of racial profiling. Furthermore, these practices can take gendered forms. The recent report “Being Muslim in the EU” by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights shows that Muslim men were almost three times as likely to be stopped as Muslim women, and in particular on the street.
In combatting institutional anti-Muslim racism, the role of the local governments as democratic institutions, employers, providers of equal services, and rule makers becomes a specific focus. This means that cities and municipalities can create specific policies, either integrated into their local action plans against racism or as separate plans, to be implemented at the local level in schools, workplaces, law enforcement agencies, and other local government institutions. The ECCAR Guidebook on Local Actions against Anti-Muslim Racism includes contributions by the cities of Barcelona and Bologna on their action plans regarding how their respective local governments can specifically combat anti-Muslim racism. Other ECCAR member cities with similar policy documents are, for instance, Leipzig and Malmö.
However, ECCAR also recommends that cities and municipalities, in a participatory process with Muslim communities, develop a definition of anti-Muslim racism that can guide procedures for reporting, addressing, and preventing anti-Muslim racist discrimination within the local context. To support its members in this regard, ECCAR has published a non-binding working definition of anti-Muslim racism. Having a clear definition is the first step towards anchoring the work against anti-Muslim racism institutionally and thus also addressing its institutional forms.
Moreover, a clear definition sets the foundation for effective policy work and ensures consistent action. Without a clear definition, acts of discrimination, prejudice, or violence against Muslims might be overlooked or misclassified, leading to a failure to address the issue effectively. A clear definition also ensures that all stakeholders—law enforcement, educators, public servants, and the general public—are on the same page, reducing confusion or conflicting interpretations of what constitutes anti-Muslim racism in the city’s work on the issue.
Finally, defining anti-Muslim racism makes the local government more resilient in times of crisis. It helps establish clear expectations for public institutions, including schools, police forces, and health services. Vice versa, it increases community participation by facilitating Muslim communities’ advocacy for their rights. Most importantly, when a city establishes a definition of anti-Muslim racism, it helps build trust between the Muslim community and the local government because the Muslim community sees a government committed to addressing their specific needs.
