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NGO report: Racism in Europe has taken new forms

BRUSSELS, March 10 (KUNA) -- In today's Europe, freedom of expression is increasingly used to justify the 'right to offend' ethnic and religious minorities and incite hatred against others, thus legitimising racism in the name of this right, according to a new report published by the NGO, European Network Against Racism (ENAR). The publication titled 'Recycling Hatred: Racism(s) in Europe Today' explores how racism manifests itself in Europe today and how one can counter racist and xenophobic attitudes and discourses.
The report notes that minorities and people from other cultures in Europe are portrayed as endangering the 'native' population, who would have become a 'minority' in its own society. In Eastern Europe, paramilitary groups are resurging, claiming to defend the 'fatherland' against minorities, in particular the Roma.
In Southern Europe, the view that the 'natives' are victims of 'uncontrolled migration' is more and more widespread, whereas in Western Europe, it is the notion that the majority citizens' rights have been eroded by excessive attention to the rights of minority communities.
The report states that as a result of these interlinked developments, manifestations of racism have become more assertive and politically acceptable.
"Yet European states and political leaders have not taken their responsibilities to respond to and counter these trends, due to a misguided fear of losing part of their electorate despite the fact that two-thirds of Europeans support policies in favour of equality and justice, " it stresses.
ENAR Chair Chibo Onyeji comments that "we had hoped that after the Breivik tragedy, leaders would wake up and things would change for the better. But two years on, the situation is only getting worse." A Norwegian far right extremist Anders Behring Breivik massacred 77 people in two separate attacks in Oslo and at a youth camp in Utoeya island in July 2011 .
ENAR calls for concerted action, in particular by courageous political leaders, to actively delegitimise current racist and xenophobic discourses in Europe by proposing an alternative and inclusive project.
Brussels-based ENAR is a network of member organisations across Europe. It combats racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in Europe. (end) nk.tg KUNA 101417 Mar 13NNNN