Amnesty International releases report on discrimination against Muslims in European countries

London, April 25 (ANI): Amnesty International has released a report on discrimination against Muslims in Europe, which has highlighted cases of prejudice in education and employment sectors against the community.

The report titled Choice and Prejudice: Discrimination against Muslims in Europe has urged European governments to work on the negative stereotypes and prejudices that have fueled discrimination against Muslims, especially women, in Europe.

The group also appealed the European governments to avoid introducing bans on wearing religious and cultural symbols on the community, Gulf News reports.

Amnesty has also criticized Switzerland for a 2009 ban on the construction of minarets.

"Muslim women are being denied jobs and girls prevented from attending regular classes just because they wear traditional forms of dress, such as the headscarf. Men can be dismissed for wearing beards associated with Islam," Marco Perolini, Amnesty International's expert on discrimination, said.

The report has mainly focused on countries such as Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.

Despite various legislations against discrimination, Muslims in Europe suffered from inequality in education and employment sectors.

The report mentioned that according to 2010 figures, there were nearly 44 million Muslims living in Europe. Moreover, Muslims made up to less than 10 percent of the population in any Western and Northern European country.

The report has come after far right leader Marine Le Pen scored a surprisingly strong third-place showing in France's presidential elections. Her anti-immigrant platform singled out Muslim practices for criticism. (ANI)