The EU Elections: A Time of Anxiety for Brown, Muslim Europeans

[Social Media]

Candidate for the upcoming European elections Marion Marechal, of the far-right Reconquete party, poses before a debate with other party leaders, Monday, May 27, 2024 in Paris. The European Elections will take place on June 9 in France. 

 

As the European Union prepares for its upcoming elections, many European citizens find themselves inundated with messages urging them to vote. These messages emphasize the importance of participating in the democratic process with the warning that if you don’t vote, “others will decide for you.” While my rational side agrees with this sentiment, urging me to do my part for democracy, my heart is not in it this time. As a brown, Muslim European who has always hoped for the success of the EU project, I find myself increasingly terrified by the growing influence and power of far-right politicians who are unabashedly racist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic.

 

The rise of far-right ideologies within and outside government poses a significant threat to the values I hold dear. These politicians’ vision for Europe is inherently hostile not only to Muslims but also to women, Jews, and LGBTQ+ individuals, despite what they might publicly claim. The increasing normalization of their views within the political landscape is deeply concerning and signals a bleak future for progressive Europeans, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities.

 

The fear is not unfounded. Evidence of pervasive and relentless racism across Europe is visible, with Islamophobia and antisemitism on the rise, exacerbated by conflicts such as the Israel-Gaza war. The far-right’s anticipated gains in power will likely worsen this situation, especially as the EU’s anti-racism action plan loses momentum. The corrosion of European democracy from within, fueled by racism, discrimination, and xenophobia, creates societal divisions and political polarization. However, these critical issues are rarely discussed in the predominantly white corridors of Brussels.

 

Compounding the problem is the fact that center-right and liberal politicians have often embraced, openly or tacitly, the extremists’ political agenda. This is evident in the EU’s new migration and asylum pact and the European People’s Party’s Rwanda-style plans for sending refugees and migrants to third countries. These policies reflect a toxic worldview that further alienates and marginalizes racial and ethnic minorities. Recent actions by EU governments, such as clamping down on freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly for those opposing the Israeli offensive in Gaza, have prompted warnings from Amnesty International. The European Commission’s invitation to Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz—whose statements on Palestinians have been cited at the International Court of Justice as evidence of genocidal intent—highlights the extent to which extremist views have infiltrated EU institutions.

 

The trajectory of European politics towards far-right territory was starkly illustrated by the formation of the new Dutch coalition led by Geert Wilders. Wilders, known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, threatens to close down mosques and ban the Qur’an and hijab. Such developments are alarming for Muslims and other minorities in Europe, and they underscore the need for a robust response from progressive forces.

 

There is some hope in the promises to construct a “cordon sanitaire” around newly elected far-right Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). However, only the left has made clear commitments to tackling systemic racism. There is a pressing need for EU institutions to become more racially diverse and inclusive and to decolonize Eurocentric trade, aid, and foreign policies. Ignoring these issues perpetuates the disconnect between predominantly white EU institutions and the reality of a vibrant, diverse, and multicultural Europe.

 

Representation alone does not guarantee racial justice. Some of Europe’s most hardline anti-immigration politicians are not white. For instance, Geert Wilders has Indonesian ancestry, and his coalition partner, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, leader of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, is a former child refugee from Turkey. Nevertheless, Black and brown members make up only about 3% of the current European Parliament, reflecting political parties’ reluctance to include people of color on their lists for the European elections. This lack of representation undermines the legitimacy of EU institutions and perpetuates a vicious cycle of exclusion.

 

For European Muslims, dealing with the EU is a special challenge. The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (Femyso), which brings together young people from across Europe, has struggled to engage with the EU. Despite repeated requests, they have yet to secure a bilateral meeting with the European Commission’s new coordinator for combating anti-Muslim hatred. Furthermore, a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, in 2021 was criticized by the French government over unfounded allegations of Femyso’s links with the Muslim Brotherhood, a charge the organization strongly denies.

 

Despite the challenges, many Black and brown Europeans, as well as members of Femyso and Diaspora Vote, remain enthusiastic about voting in the elections. They see it as their duty and responsibility to participate in the democratic process and to be part of the conversation about Europe’s future. Their commitment and passion are far more compelling than the bland platitudes of EU policymakers and politicians about the importance of voting.

 

As the EU elections approach, the stakes for brown, Muslim Europeans—and indeed all progressive Europeans—are higher than ever. The rise of the far right and the pervasive racism and xenophobia within EU institutions pose a significant threat to the values of diversity, inclusion, and justice. It is a time of deep personal anxiety, but also a time to stand up and be counted. By voting and actively participating in the democratic process, we can push back against the forces of intolerance and hate and work towards a more inclusive and equitable Europe.

 

Shada Islam, a Brussels-based commentator on EU affairs

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-05-29

 

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[JonnyF]

If anyone was expecting indigenous Europeans to just sit back and do nothing while liberal politicians imported large amounts of intolerant, unskilled and often criminal individuals with links to terrorism then they were very much mistaken.

 

For a more thorough understanding of the issues, I recommend the following book by the brilliant Douglas Murray.

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

If anyone was expecting indigenous Europeans to just sit back and do nothing while liberal politicians imported large amounts of intolerant, unskilled and often criminal individuals with links to terrorism then they were very much mistaken.

 

For a more thorough understanding of the issues, I recommend the following book by the brilliant Douglas Murray.

 

 

 

First you give us grossly generalized pejorative views against millions of people, then you round it out by presenting your reading matter from a far right, Islamophobic author.

 

 

[JonnyF]

36 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

First you give us grossly generalized pejorative views against millions of people, then you round it out by presenting your reading matter from a far right, Islamophobic author.

 

 

 

Murray is neither far right nor Islamaphobic (although as Murray is a gay man I can see why he might be worried about Islamic intolerance/homophobia) but I guess when that's your only card you have to play it. 

[Purdey]

I find it hard to dump a whole load of diverse people into one racially profiled group. There are good and bad in every society. I do hope the citizens who are enfranchised do vote and kick out those who want to hurt their democracy.

[Chomper Higgot]

38 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Murray is neither far right nor Islamaphobic (although as Murray is a gay man I can see why he might be worried about Islamic intolerance/homophobia) but I guess when that's your only card you have to play it. 

Are you playing the ‘Gay Card’?

 

I certainly wasn’t.

 

 

[JonnyF]

20 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Are you playing the ‘Gay Card’?

 

I certainly wasn’t.

 

 

 

No. You were playing the "anyone who opposes Muslim intolerance/homophobia is far right/Islamaphobic/racist" card.

 

But you already knew that. 

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

No. You were playing the "anyone who opposes Muslim intolerance/homophobia is far right/Islamaphobic/racist" card.

 

But you already knew that. 

I think people who write books laced with ‘the great replacement theory’ and resort to repetitive pejorative statements against millions of people on the basis of their faith are bigots.

 

When the particular faith they target is Islam and the particular group they target is Muslims, then yes they are Islamophobes.

 

You might disagree and I’m not in the least bit surprised if you do.

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I think people who write books laced with ‘the great replacement theory’ and resort to repetitive pejorative statements against millions of people on the basis of their faith are bigots.

 

Which statements would those be?

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

Which statements would those be?

I presume you’ve read the book you linked?

 

Any of the authors scribbling?

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I presume you’ve read the book you linked?

 

Any of the authors scribbling?

 

You made the claim, not me.

 

So back it up.

[GarryP]

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

You made the claim, not me.

 

So back it up.

Don't hold your breath. 

[roquefort]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

First you give us grossly generalized pejorative views against millions of people, then you round it out by presenting your reading matter from a far right, Islamophobic author.

 

 

So rather like the grossly generalized pejorative views against millions of people in the OP.

[Chomper Higgot]

40 minutes ago, roquefort said:

So rather like the grossly generalized pejorative views against millions of people in the OP.

You perhaps didn’t read the OP

[soalbundy]

Get used to it....it will get worse no matter who is in control. When global warming gets even worse, large areas of the planet will be depopulated and where will they want to go? Northern Europe. The population of Europe will unfortunately have to vote far right in order to survive, they can't and wont take hundreds of millions of climate refugees to their own detriment. Already the security departments in the West are gathering more and more information about its citizens, it's a forerunner to stop trouble before it starts because some nasty decisions will have to be made, like sinking boats full of refugees, closing mosques, curtailing the right to travel and imprisoning protesters. What is happening now is a slow warm up for the main event. I hope I am wrong, I wouldn't want my country to become a fascist state but I can envision this happening in the next 50 years.

[Chomper Higgot]

10 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

The population of Europe will unfortunately have to vote far right in order to survive,

How’s that worked out in the past?

[soalbundy]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

How’s that worked out in the past?

That went badly because (a) there was no existential need to do so and (b) because most of the world weren't on board with the idea.

Obviously there are huge geopolitical problems apart from the humanitarian ones. India and Pakistan will be two of the countries affected and they have atomic missiles. A large part of China is already desert, almost nobody lives in Northern China, China will want the water from the Himalayas, so will India. Siberia could become habitable with warm weather, China might want that, Canada's vast uninhabited Forests could have European like weather patterns, ideal for millions of refugee farmers, Canada nor America will like that idea, especially America who will want those areas for its southern population. Europe would have to accommodate the Australians of course, British stock. Everybody will want to go North and your passport will determine who can go where, nobody is going to consider liberal humanitarian politics, it will be every man for himself and thank god I have the right passport.

[Chomper Higgot]

16 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

That went badly because (a) there was no existential need to do so and (b) because most of the world weren't on board with the idea.

Obviously there are huge geopolitical problems apart from the humanitarian ones. India and Pakistan will be two of the countries affected and they have atomic missiles. A large part of China is already desert, almost nobody lives in Northern China, China will want the water from the Himalayas, so will India. Siberia could become habitable with warm weather, China might want that, Canada's vast uninhabited Forests could have European like weather patterns, ideal for millions of refugee farmers, Canada nor America will like that idea, especially America who will want those areas for its southern population. Europe would have to accommodate the Australians of course, British stock. Everybody will want to go North and your passport will determine who can go where, nobody is going to consider liberal humanitarian politics, it will be every man for himself and thank god I have the right passport.

It went badly because once the extreme rightwing gain power by scapegoating minorities, or anyone they can label as ‘the other’, and promising simple solutions to complex problems; they set about their actual objective. Absolute power.

Their own, absolute power.

 

 

 

[roquefort]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You perhaps didn’t read the OP

I read it. Did you?

 

It contained grossly generalized pejorative views against millions of people who vote for policies proposed by conservative parties that you would label as "far right" and I would call genuine conservative (as opposed to the pathetic, woke variety in the UK).

[soalbundy]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

It went badly because once the extreme rightwing gain power by scapegoating minorities, or anyone they can label as ‘the other’, and promising simple solutions to complex problems; they set about their actual objective. Absolute power.

Their own, absolute power.

 

 

 

Yes, it could be quite dystopian. Democracy is an expensive veneer that needs affordability to function, it's a new idea anyway and it's slowly but surely going out of fashion considering the state meddling in almost all facets of life, a few clicks  on a keyboard and the state knows all about you, as well as the tax office. Your passport, smart phone, smart fridge and TV, your bank account, tax number and social security number all have more than one purpose. When the $hit hits the fan the veneer will fall away and it will be the citizens who will do the tearing, they will want a strong government, if not a dictatorship, to survive and protect 'our way of life', a stupid platitude if ever there was one.

Of course what I envision would lead eventually to wars and famine and a breakdown of our civilization, that was envisioned, or rather calculated by a scientist in the 80's who gave our civilization another 40 years from now. With the expected sea rise large tracts of land in America and Europe in about 100 years would be under water so even less land to take in anybody. No country for old men.....I will be dead and gone by then.

[herfiehandbag]

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Are you playing the ‘Gay Card’?

 

I certainly wasn’t.

 

 

Well your particular "trump card" ( oh the irony of that phrase!) which you are never loth to play, is to label anyone who does not espouse your views on these matters as "far right" and Islamophobic.

 

Murray's writings on Islam and Muslim immigration feature articulate and well constructed arguments.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, herfiehandbag said:

Well your particular "trump card" ( oh the irony!)which you are never loth to play, is to label anyone who does not espouse your views on these matters as "far right" and Islamophobic.

 

Murray's writings on Islam and Muslim immigration feature articulate and well constructed arguments.

 

Murray is widely regarded as far-right and Islamophobic.

 

I’ve explained my own reasoning above.

[Chomper Higgot]

28 minutes ago, roquefort said:

I read it. Did you?

 

It contained grossly generalized pejorative views against millions of people who vote for policies proposed by conservative parties that you would label as "far right" and I would call genuine conservative (as opposed to the pathetic, woke variety in the UK).

Yes I did.

 

I borrowed a copy, I’m rather pleased I didn’t waste money on it, or more precisely, put any of my money in Murray’s pocket.

[Yellowtail]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Murray is widely regarded as far-right and Islamophobic.

 

I’ve explained my own reasoning above.

Only by the left. 

 

Islam is a religion of peace. 

[roquefort]

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Yes I did.

 

I borrowed a copy, I’m rather pleased I didn’t waste money on it, or more precisely, put any of my money in Murray’s pocket.

I was referring to the OP.

 

You seem to lose your way when we get into the detail. Of course nuance is a bit more difficult than smearing anyone who disagrees with you as far-right or Islamophobic.

[Chomper Higgot]

23 minutes ago, roquefort said:

I was referring to the OP.

 

You seem to lose your way when we get into the detail. Of course nuance is a bit more difficult than smearing anyone who disagrees with you as far-right or Islamophobic.

I read the OP too.

 

Perhaps you can point out the bit that supports your claim:

 

3 hours ago, roquefort said:

So rather like the grossly generalized pejorative views against millions of people in the OP.

 

[roquefort]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I read the OP too.

 

Perhaps you can point out the bit that supports your claim:

 

 

Virtually the whole piece, but I'll just quote the last sentence.

 

'By voting and actively participating in the democratic process, we can push back against the forces of intolerance and hate and work towards a more inclusive and equitable Europe.'

 

So by implication anyone who votes for the 'far right' parties which she has spent the whole article denigrating is in favour of intolerance and hate. That is an absurd generalisation and an unjustified slur on millions of voters whose individual motivations she knows nothing about.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, roquefort said:

Virtually the whole piece, but I'll just quote the last sentence.

 

'By voting and actively participating in the democratic process, we can push back against the forces of intolerance and hate and work towards a more inclusive and equitable Europe.'

 

So by implication anyone who votes for the 'far right' parties which she has spent the whole article denigrating is in favour of intolerance and hate. That is an absurd generalisation and an unjustified slur on millions of voters whose individual motivations she knows nothing about.

Or perhaps prone to accept g scapegoating and the idea of easy solutions to complex problems.

 

Or even totally blind to the threat the far right always represent to freedom, democracy and liberty.

[roquefort]

I would agree with you that politicians love to present easy solutions to complex problems. It's almost the only way they can get elected. But it's not a prerogative of the far right, they're all at it.

 

And yes, certain extreme elements can pose a threat to freedom, democracy and liberty. But that's true at both ends of the spectrum. The communist regimes in the Soviet Union and China in the 20th century killed far more of their own citizens than the Nazis. 

[0ffshore360]

IMHO it is and has not been difficult to ascertain the base cause of the rise in  adoption of polarized political appeal.

On left of theoretical center are those that favour a humanist presentation of ideology but which often is less than honest or in reality quite fake.

On the theoretical right are those that favour an individualist presentation of ideology but in all honesty want the socialist advantages of the leftist humanists.

The sick and sad reality is that the eventualities of both factions in their application of quite fascist policies of alternating interference or suppression on nations  made dependent by way of foreign policies that enrich the minority interests of a multinational few has led and continues to lead destitute people in massive numbers to attempt to "infiltrate" the territories that boast superiority in existence while creating the destitution.

Never truer than the  expression " Reap what you  sow! " but few ardent faithful on any part of the political spectrum stop long enough to comprehend the ramifications of blind affiliation.