THE PORTUGAL NEWS

United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations Jorge Sampaio has this week called for new policies to integrate Muslim minority communities in Europe.

In a speech to MEPs in a session on the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, Sampaio said a gulf exists in mutual perceptions of the Western and Muslim worlds, with the former being viewed as condescending by the latter and followers of Islam, in their turn, seen as “fanatics and intolerant.”

“Discrimination and socio-economic marginalisation generate discontent and intolerance,” Sampaio told the European lawmakers, which aggravates existing differences and fuels ethnic stereotypes and polarisation to create more extremism.

“To tackle integration of Muslims in our European societies we need new policies at all levels. We need European action, but also initiatives at the level of national government as well as local measures.”

Jorge Sampaio, a former two-term Socialist president in Portugal, also highlighted the need to develop democratic citizenship through education geared to human rights, respect for others and dialogue towards intercultural understanding.

The Alliance of Civilizations is a UN initiative aimed at creating mutual respect and understanding between nations through youth, education, media and migration projects.