International Women's Day - Gender and racism on Muslim women

At a conference on "Muslim Women in Europe: voices to be heard in the intercultural dialogue", Equal Opportunities Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, today urged for the end to the stereotyping and ignorance that surrounds Islamic women. Diamantopoulou also used the event, organized by Administrative Reform Vice-President Neil Kinnock, to stress that Muslim women living in Europe must be allowed to exert free choice and independence in their personal and family lives. "Fear and suspicion must give way to dialogue and trust; discrimination and hostility to equality and respect," she said. She went on to highlight the place of religion in upholding the founding values of the European Union: human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. Introducing a number of guest speakers alongside her, including the Moroccan Ambassador to the EU, Aisha Belarbi, Professor in Social Sciences of University of Northumbria Pandeli Glavanis, sociologist Samia Bounaira, political scientist Kadija Kourcha, and the convert to Islam Candice Vancraenenbroeck, Diamantopoulou went on to call for dialogue to address the pressing need for a wider hearing of the opinions and aspirations of women from the Islamic world.

The rise of anti-Islamic sentiments throughout the Western world following the September 11 events has aggravated the problems Muslims have and women in particular in feeling part of the European society. Indeed, the backlash against Muslims and people of Arabic origin has made it vital to try to dispel lingering fears that the Islamic world was to blame for the events or that such events stemmed from a clash between civilizations.

Commissioner Diamantopoulou also stressed it is vital to ensure that all citizens of the EU are treated the same way, irrespective of gender, religion or political belief. And just as religious intolerance against Muslims generally should not be tolerated, so any discrimination against Muslim women, be it in the home, workplace or wider world, should not escape censure, she added.

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• Commissioner Diamantopoulou's speech to the 2nd UN World Assembly on Ageing (8/4/2002)
• Déclaration de la Présidence de l'UE - Elimination du racisme et de la discrimination raciale (28/1/2002)
• Commissioner Nielson visit: food for work project in Kabul (4/12/2001)
• Déclaration de la Présidence de l'UE sur les femmes au développement (6/11/2001)
• Déclaration de la Présidence de l'UE sur la condition de la femme (3/6/2001)
• 4ème Conférence mondiale sur les femmes (6/10/2000)