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EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2019
EUROPEAN
B
y gathering 35 local scholars, experts, and civil society activists specialized in
racism and human rights, the fifth edition of the European Islamophobia Report
ISLAMOPHOBIA
addresses a still timely and politically important issue. All 32 country reports
included in this book follow a unique structure that is convenient, first, for comparing
REPORT
countries and, second, for selected readings on a particular topic such as politics, em-
ployment, or education with regard to Islamophobia across Europe.
2019
The present report investigates in detail the underlying dynamics that directly or indirectly
ENES BAYRAKLI • FARID HAFEZ (Eds)
support the rise of anti-Muslim racism in Europe. This extends from Islamophobic state-
ments spread in national media to laws and policies that restrain the fundamental rights
of European Muslim citizens and threaten the whole of society. As a result, the European
Islamophobia Report 2019 discusses the impact of anti-Muslim racism on human rights,
multiculturalism, and the state of law in Europe.
This fifth edition of our report highlights how European societies are progressively over-
whelmed by the Islamophobic discourse of the “Great Replacement” and other far-right
conspiracy theories. The 32 country reports demonstrate how governments and main-
stream media participate in reproducing such discourses that put the fundamental rights of
millions of European citizens in jeopardy and how one can counteract these developments.
This compendium of useful insights and data aims to provide European policy-makers,
institutions, and NGOs with recommendations on how to tackle anti-Muslim racism in
Europe seriously.
About SETA
ENES BAYRAKLI • FARID HAFEZ (Eds)
Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) is a non-profit research
institute based in Turkey dedicated to innovative studies on national, regional and in-
ternational issues. SETA is the leading think tank in Turkey and has offices in Ankara,
Istanbul, Washington D.C., Berlin and Brussels. The objective of SETA is to produce
up-to-date and accurate knowledge and analyses in the fields of politics, economy, and
society, and inform policy makers and the public on changing political, economic, social,
and cultural conditions. Through research reports, publications, brain storming sessions,
conferences and policy recommendations, SETA seeks to guide leaders in government,
civil society, and business, and contributes to informed decision making mechanisms.
9 786257 040525
ANKARA • ISTANBUL • WASHINGTON D.C. • BERLIN • BRUSSELS
EUROPEAN
ISLAMOPHOBIA
REPORT
2019
ENES BAYRAKLI • FARID HAFEZ (Eds)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, without permission in writing from the publishers. ISBN: 978-625-7040-52-5 COPYRIGHT © 2020 by SETA First Published in 2020 Cover and Layout: Erkan Söğüt Proofreading: Dr. Eva Stamoulou Oral Printed in Turkey, İstanbul by Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık A.Ş., SETA | FOUNDATION FOR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH Nenehatun Caddesi No: 66 GOP Çankaya 06700 Ankara TÜRKİYE Phone:+90 312.551 21 00 | Fax :+90 312.551 21 90 www.setav.org | info@setav.org | @setavakfi SETA | İstanbul Defterdar Mh. Savaklar Cd. Ayvansaray Kavşağı No: 41-43 Eyüpsultan İstanbul TÜRKİYE Phone: +90 212 315 11 00 | Fax: +90 212 315 11 11 SETA | Washington D.C. 1025 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 1106 Washington, D.C., 20036 USA Phone: 202-223-9885 | Fax: 202-223-6099 www.setadc.org | info@setadc.org | @setadc SETA | Berlin Französische Straße 12, 10117 Berlin Germany Phone: +49 30 20188466 SETA | Brussels Avenue des Arts 27, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique Tel: +3226520486
ABOUT EDITORS Enes Bayraklı Mr. Bayraklı earned his BA, MA and PhD from the Department of Political Sci- ence at the University of Vienna, and conducted research for his PhD thesis at the University of Nottingham in Britain between 2009 and 2010. He took office as a deputy director at Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in London in 2011-2013. Mr. Bayraklı also served as the founding director of Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centers in Constanta and Bucharest during the period of August-December 2012. Mr. Bayraklı has been a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at the Turkish-German University since 2013. His fields of research include the Trans- formation of Turkish Foreign Policy, Cultural Diplomacy, Foreign Policy Analysis, German Politics and Foreign Policy. bayrakli@tau.edu.tr Farid Hafez Farid Hafez, PhD (Political Science, University of Vienna), is a political scientist and non-resident senior researcher at Georgetown University’s “The Bridge Initiative” at the School of Foreign Service. He defended his habilitation thesis on “Islam Politics in the Second Republic of Austria” at the University of Salzburg in 2019. In 2017, he was a Fulbright visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley and in 2014, he was a visiting scholar at Columbia University, New York. Since 2010, he has been the editor of the Islamophobia Studies Yearbook, and since 2015 the co-editor of the European Islamophobia Report. Hafez has received the Bruno Kreisky Award for the “Political Book of the Year” for his anthology Islamophobia in Austria (co-edited with John Bunzl). He has more than 100 publications in leading journals such as Politics and Religion, Patterns of Prejudice, and German Politics and Society. His latest publications are Islamophobia in Muslim Majority Societies (Routledge, co-edited with Enes Bayrakli, 2019) and Feindbild Islam. Über die Salonfähigkeit von Rassismus (Islam- ophobia. On the Acceptance of Racism. Bohlau, 2019). Email: farid.hafez@sbg.ac.att For more information about the EIR: www.islamophobiaeurope.com islamophobia@setav.org
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN ESTONIA
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN
ESTONIA
NATIONAL REPORT 2019
EGERT RÜNNE, LIINA LAANPERE
islamophobiaeurope.com • @islamophobiaEIR 247EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2019 248 setav.org
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN ESTONIA The Authors Egert Rünne is the executive director of the Estonian Human Rights Centre. He is the Estonian project manager of the European Union Agency for Fundamen- tal Rights research network FRANET. Currently, Rünne is also involved in various studies related to the Roma community and their well-being in Estonia and Europe. Email: egert.rynne@humanrights.ee Liina Laanpere is a lawyer at the Estonian Human Rights Centre and partici- pates as a legal expert in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights re- search network FRANET. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Tartu Uni- versity and a Master’s degree in International Human Rights Law from University College Cork, Ireland. Email: liina.laanpere@humanrights.ee Disclaimer: Statements of fact and opinion in the national reports of the European Islamophobia Report are those of the respective authors. They are not the expression of the editors or the funding institutions. No representation, either expressed or im- plied, is made of the accuracy of the material in the national reports. The editors of the European Islamophobia Report cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The reader must make his or her own evaluation of the accuracy and appropriateness of the material. To cite this report: Egert Rünne and Liina Laanppere: Islamophobia in Estonia: National Report 2019, in: Enes Bayraklı & Farid Hafez, European Islamophobia Report 2019, Istanbul, SETA, 2020. islamophobiaeurope.com • @islamophobiaEIR 249
EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2019
Executive Summary
The Estonian Muslim community makes up approximately 0.1% to 0.3% of the
national population, based on different estimations. The local Muslim community,
historically comprising largely of Tatars, is rarely the target of any negative attention.
However, Islamophobic attitudes are rising in the context of immigration.
In 2019, there were two examples of physical attacks that could be considered
Islamophobic, although it is difficult to make a distinction between anti-migrant
bias and specifically Islamophobic bias. Verbal attacks were more common, accord-
ing to refugee organisations, but they were usually not reported to the police. The
attacks reflect a hostile attitude towards refugees and migrants, promoted by right-
wing politicians. After the elections in March 2019, the far-right nationalist Con-
servative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE) became part of the ruling coalition. The
figureheads of the EKRE actively spread anti-refugee and anti-immigration views,
which often include Islamophobic stereotypes.
In 2019, the Estonian media mainly focused on incidents involving Muslims in
other EU countries; however, there were examples of reporting styles that generate
fear and distrust towards Muslims and migrants in general.
There are no legal restrictions to the practice of Islam. However, there is a need
to amend the regulation concerning hate speech and hate crime, to ensure that peo-
ple are held accountable for inciting anti-Muslim hatred, and prosecuted accordingly
when committing hate crimes against Muslims or other minority groups.
There were a few positive examples of initiatives aimed at challenging stereo-
types and promoting equal treatment of different minority groups. There are no
initiatives directly targeting Islamophobia, as it is usually dealt with in the context
of xenophobia.
250 setav.orgISLAMOPHOBIA IN ESTONIA
Kokkuvõte
Erinevate hinnangute põhjal moodustab Eesti moslemikogukond umbes 0,1–0,3%
riigi elanikkonnast. Kohalik moslemikogukond, millest on ajalooliselt moodustanud
suure hulga tatarlased, satub harva negatiivse tähelepanu alla, kuid islamofoobsed
hoiakud on tõusetunud immigratsiooni kontekstis.
2019. aasta jooksul raporteeriti kaks füüsilist rünnakut, mis võisid olla ajen-
datud moslemitevaenust, kuid samas on keeruline eristada konkreetselt moslemi-
vaenulikku motivatsiooni üldisemast migrandivaenulikust motivatsioonist. Pagu-
lasorganisatsioonide sõnul olid verbaalsed rünnakud sagedasemad kui füüsilised
rünnakud, kuid politseile neist tavaliselt ei teatatud. Rünnakud kajastavad vae-
nulikku suhtumist pagulastesse ja migrantidesse, mida propageerivad parempool-
sed poliitikud. Pärast 2019. aasta märtsis toimunud valimisi sai paremäärmuslik
Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond (EKRE) valitsevasse koalitsiooni. EKRE juhid
levitavad aktiivselt pagulas- ja immigratsioonivastaseid seisukohti, mis sisaldavad
sageli ka islamofoobseid stereotüüpe.
Eesti meedia keskendus 2019. aasta jooksul peamiselt moslemitega seotud intsi-
dentidele teistes Euroopa Liidu riikides, kuid leidus näiteid artiklitest, mis õhutavad
hirmu ja usaldamatust moslemite ja migrantide suhtes üldiselt.
Eesti seadused ei sätesta takistusi Islami praktiseerimisele. Samas vajab muu-
datusi vaenukõne ja vaenukuritegude regulatsioon, et tagada vastutusele võtmine
moslemivastase vaenu õhutamise eest ning kuriteole vastav karistus vaenukuritegude
toimepanijatele.
Positiivsena on võimalik esile tõsta mõned näited algatustest erinevate pagulas-
organisatsioonide ning Sotsiaalministeeriumi eestvedamisel, mille eesmärk on stereo-
tüüpide murdmine ja erinevate vähemusrühmade võrdse kohtlemise edendamine.
islamophobiaeurope.com • @islamophobiaEIR 251EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2019
Country Profile
EIR 2019
Country: Republic of Estonia
Type of Regime: Democratic Republic
Form of Government: Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Ruling Parties: Centre Party, Conservative People’s Party of Estonia, Pro Patria
(coalition)
Opposition Parties: Reform Party, Social Democratic Party
Last Elections: 2019 Parliamentary Election (Reform Party: 34 mandates, Cen-
tre Party: 26 mandates, Conservative People’s Party of Estonia: 19 mandates, Pro Pa-
tria: 12 mandates, Social Democratic Party: 10 mandates, Total: 101); 2017 Munic-
ipal Council Elections (Centre Party: 27.3%, Citizens’ elections coalitions: 26.8%,
Reform Party: 19.5%, Social Democratic Party: 10.4%, Pro Patria and Res Publica
Union: 8%, Conservative People’s Party of Estonia: 6.7%, Estonian Greens: 0.8%);
2016 Presidential Election (Kersti Kaljulaid was elected president of the Republic of
Estonia with 81 votes in the parliament)
Total Population: 1,3 million (estimated in 2019)
Major Languages: Estonian
Official Religion: No official religion (secularism)
Statistics on Islamophobia: There are no available statistics on Islamophobia.
Statistics on Racism and Discrimination: N/A
Major Religions (% of Population): Christianity (28%), No religion (54%)
Muslim Population (% of Population): 1,508 (0.12%) according to the last
national census in 2011
Main Muslim Community Organizations: Estonian Islamic Centre, Estonian
Islamic Congregation
Main NGOs Combating Islamophobia: NGOs that focus, amongst other
things, on equal treatment of Muslims and other minorities in Estonia are the Esto-
nian Human Rights Centre, Estonian Refugee Council, Johannes Mihkelson Cen-
tre, and International House Tartu.
Far-Right Parties: Conservative People’s Party of Estonia
Far-Right Movements: Soldiers of Odin
Far-Right Terrorist Organizations: N/A
Limitations to Islamic Practices:
ű Hijab Ban: None
ű Halal Slaughter Ban: None. According to the Animal Protection Act, to
slaughter a farm animal for a religious purpose, a religious association must
obtain the relevant permit.
ű Minaret Ban: None
ű Circumcision Ban: None
ű Burka Ban: None
ű Prayer Ban: None
252 setav.orgISLAMOPHOBIA IN ESTONIA
Introduction
The Muslim community in Estonia is one of the smallest in Europe, although it
is difficult to estimate its exact size. According to the last national census in 2011,
there were 1,508 people in Estonia who stated their religion to be Islam, making
up approximately 0.12% of the Estonian population. However, it is estimated that
the actual number is higher, as many Muslims preferred not to state their religious
affiliation in the census.1 In 2005, based on the Estonian Islamic Congregation’s
estimation, the number of practicing Muslims was approximately 3,500. In 2013,
due to increased immigration, Estonians’ and Russians’ conversion to Islam, and the
increased religious activity of younger descendants of Central Asian and Caucasian
immigrants, the number was estimated to be nearly 4,500.2 The three largest ethnic
groups in Estonia who identified themselves as Muslims in 2011 were Tatars, Azer-
baijanis, and Estonians. In the past years, there has also been a growing proportion
of new immigrants from North Africa and Asia.3
There are no mosques in Estonia. At first, the Estonian Islamic Congregation
held religious services in rented rooms. In 2009, the congregation’s activities moved
to a permanent location in a former office building near Tallinn Airport. In 2015,
the Estonian Islamic Centre was established with the main goal to administer, main-
tain, and use these premises, as well as to represent Islam in Estonia.4
Discussion of Islamophobic Incidents and
Discursive Events
Physical and Verbal Attacks
According to the Ministry of Justice, there was one crime recorded in 2019 that was
possibly motivated by anti-Muslim bias. It was a case of physical abuse (§121 of
the Estonian Penal Code). Before the attack, the perpetrator asked the victim about
Muslims, Islam, but also about Russians.5
Another attack with a possible Islamophobic motivation was reported in the news:
on 22 May 2019, a man from Pakistan was verbally and physically attacked in Tallinn.
The police started an investigation under §262 of the Estonian Penal Code (Breach of
Public Order). It is not possible to claim that the motivation was specifically related
to anti-Muslim hatred, as the victim appeared to be targeted because of his migrant
background. The perpetrator yelled at the victim “Go home, this is Estonia”.6
1. Islam Eestis (Islam in Estonia), http://www.islam.pri.ee/index.php?id=66, (Access date: 18 February 2020)
2. Ege Lepa, “Eesti islamikogukonna dünaamika pärast taasiseseisvumist”, PhD Thesis, (Tartu University, Tartu:
2019), p. 195.
3. Ibid, p. 11.
4. Ibid, pp. 194-195.
5. Ministry of Justice, 3 February 2020, https://www.just.ee/en, (Access date: 18 February 2020).
6. “Politsei alustas pakistanlase rünnaku uurimist avaliku korra rikkumise paragrahvi alusel”, Delfi, 13 January 2020,
https://www.delfi.ee/news/paevauudised/krimi/politsei-alustas-pakistanlase-runnaku-uurimist-avaliku-korra-rikku-
mise-paragrahvi-alusel?id=86303537, (Access date: 3 February 2020).
islamophobiaeurope.com • @islamophobiaEIR 253EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2019
According to the Estonian Refugee Council, there have been several cases of
verbal abuse against Muslims in Tallinn, for example, on public transport, especially
towards women and girls wearing a hijab.7 There have also been cases of verbal abuse
in Tartu, according to the Johannes Mihkelson Centre. Furthermore, at the end of
2019, a woman wearing a hijab was spat on in Tartu. These incidents were not re-
ported to the police.8
Employment
According to the Labour Inspectorate of Estonia9 and the Gender Equality and Equal
Treatment Commissioner,10 no discrimination cases against Muslims or persons per-
ceived as Muslims have been registered in the job market.
Education
Islamophobic content has not become part of curricula, textbooks, or other educa-
tion materials.
Politics
During the period under review, both the 2019 Estonian parliamentary election and
the European Parliament election were held in Estonia.
One of the key narratives of the far-right Conservative People’s Party of Estonia
(EKRE) in both election campaigns was aimed against refugees and migration, and
the discourse was Islamophobic in nature.”
Figure 1: The EKRE’s campaign video stated, “Muslim immigrants are given housing at the expense of the state”.11
Figure 1: The EKRE's campaign
stated, "Muslim immigrants are given housing at the expense of the state". 11
7. Estonian Refugee Council, 13 January 2020, https://www.pagulasabi.ee/, (Access date: 5 February 2020).
The EKRE’s parliamentary election programme stated the following: “We are hel
8. Interview with Johannes Mihkelson Centre, 5 February 2020.
rebuildof Estonia,
9. Labour Inspectorate the war-affected areas by sending back
23 January 2020, https://www.ti.ee/en/home/, refugees
(Access date: 5 Februarystaying
2020). in Estonia”, 12 an
10. Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner, 10 February 2020, https://eige.europa.eu/gen-
European Parliament programme stated that “Europe's rapidly growing
der-mainstreaming/structures/estonia/gender-equality-and-equal-treatment-commissioner-soolise-vordoiguslik- Muslim popula
kuse-ja-vordse-kohtlemise-volinik, (Access date: 5 February 2020).
11. “Platformput European
for the identity
Estonian Parliament and values
Elections for 2019”,at risk”. 13 People’s Party of Estonia, 5 January
Conservative
2019, https://www.ekre.ee/ekre-programm-riigikogu-valimisteks-2019/, (Access date: 10 February 2020).
One of EKRE’s election campaign videos for the parliamentary election that was broa
on TV and social media showed people coming in boats and destroying the city, w
254 setav.org
voiceover read, “Muslim immigrants are given housing at the expense of the state”. 14 (ISLAMOPHOBIA IN ESTONIA
The EKRE’s parliamentary election programme stated the following: “We are
helping to rebuild the war-affected areas by sending back refugees staying in Es-
tonia”,12 and their European Parliament programme stated that “Europe’s rapidly
growing Muslim population has put European identity and values at risk”.13
One of EKRE’s election campaign videos for the parliamentary election that
was broadcasted on TV and social media showed people coming in boats and de-
stroying the city, while the voiceover read, “Muslim immigrants are given housing at
the expense of the state”.14 (Fig. 1)
During the campaign period, party members also published various opinion
pieces in national newspapers, where they mentioned Muslims in a negative con-
text. For example, the party chair’s wife Helle-Moonika Helme stated the following:
“They are Muslims, they carry another culture that is dangerous to us. They have
already done their evil deeds.”15
Figure 2:Figure
EKRE’s Jaak
2: EKRE’s Madison
Jaak sharedhishis
Madison shared opinion
opinion on Facebook
on Facebook that the Notre-Dame
that the Notre-Dame de Paris
de Paris fire could fireancould have been an ac
have been
16
but couldaccident,
also have beenalso
but could thehave
work ofthe
been Muslims. 16
work of Muslims.
Far-right politicians also actively share hate speech and negativity about Islam
Far-right politicians also actively share hate speech and negativity about Islam o
online, especially on Facebook. For example, then just a candidate, and now a new
especially on Facebook.
member For Parliament,
of the European example, EKRE’s
then just
Jaaka Madison
candidate, andhisnow
shared a new member o
opinion
thatParliament,
European the Notre-Dame de ParisJaak
EKRE’s fire could have been
Madison an accident,
shared but could
his opinion also
that have
the Notre-Dame de
fire could have been an accident, but could also have been the work of Muslims. He also a
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
that many Muslims were happy about the incident. 17 (Fig. 2)
14. “For Estonia”, Conservative People’s Party of Estonia, Youtube, 28 January 2019, https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=v7R5gUQoY3c, (Access date: 7 February 2020).
Media 15.“MoonikaHelme:kuimeesteenibkorralikult,siisnaineeipeagikäimaorjatööl”,EestiPäevaleht,9March2019,https://
epl.delfi.ee/lp/moonika-helme-kui-mees-teenib-korralikult-siis-naine-ei-peagi-kaima-orjatool?id=85529945,
In 2019, different
(Access media
date: 7 February 2020). outlets published opinion pieces by members of the Conserv
16. Jaak Madison, Facebook, 16 April 2019, https://www.facebook.com/jaak.madison/posts/10213700239439843,
People’s Party
(Access date: 7of Estonia,
February 2020). using anti-immigration rhetoric and Islamophobic statements
example, in one opinion piece Jaak Madison promised to focus on “curbing the spre
terrorism and Islam”. 18 In• another
islamophobiaeurope.com article, Martin Helme spoke out against
@islamophobiaEIR 255 multicultura
using France and Sweden as threatening examples for the spread of Islam. 19 However, mEUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2019 been the work of Muslims. He also added that many Muslims were happy about the incident.17 (Fig. 2) Media In 2019, different media outlets published opinion pieces by members of the Con- servative People’s Party of Estonia, using anti-immigration rhetoric and Islamopho- bic statements. For example, in one opinion piece Jaak Madison promised to focus on “curbing the spread of terrorism and Islam”.18 In another article, Martin Helme spoke out against multiculturalism, using France and Sweden as threatening exam- ples for the spread of Islam.19 However, most of the media coverage on Islam or Muslims focused on incidents from other countries, usually in a neutral way, but sometimes using extreme examples of crimes committed by Muslims in a sensation- alist manner, for example, “DIE, DIE, DIE! Yelled a Refugee While Stabbing the Child of His Helper”.20 Justice System There have been no Islamophobic laws or regulations introduced in 2019. However, one problem that can be outlined is that the current Estonian legislation does not provide an effective possibility for prosecuting hate crime and hate speech against Muslims or other minority groups. Estonia has not transposed the Council Frame- work Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law. Estonian Penal Code does not include hate crime as a specific type of crime, nor bias motive as an aggravating circumstance. The Penal Code does include a provision for “incitement to hatred”; however, since the provision requires the existence of “danger to the life, health or property of a person”, it is difficult to apply in real situations. Internet There are several websites that regularly spread Islamophobic stereotypes, but there are no websites specifically dedicated to covering topics related to Islam. For example, there is the blog Rahvuslane (The Nationalist)21 that posts stories like “There’s No Place for Islamic Propaganda in Estonian Schools, Islam Is Not 17. Ibid. 18. “Jaak Madison: rahvuskonservatiivid kui uus tegus jõud Euroopas”, ERR, 21 May 2019, https://www.err. ee/943716/jaak-madison-rahvuskonservatiivid-kui-uus-tegus-joud-euroopas, (Access date: 17 February 2020). 19. “Rahandusminister Martin Helme Soome väljaandele: Eestis käib kultuurimarksistlik rünnak rahva vaimu vas- tu”, Lõunaeestlane, 11 May 2019, https://lounaeestlane.ee/rahandusminister-martin-helme-soome-valjaandele-ees- tis-kaib-kultuurimarksistlik-runnak-rahva-vaimu-vastu/, (Access date: 17 February 2020). 20. “SURE! SURE! SURE!’ karjus oma abistaja last pussitanud põgenik”, Õhtuleht, 18 June 2019, https://www. ohtuleht.ee/967397/sure-sure-sure-karjus-oma-abistaja-last-pussitanud-pogenik, (Access date: 3 February 2020). 21. Rahvuslane, http://rahvuslane.blogspot.com, (Access date: 2 February 2020). 256 setav.org
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN ESTONIA
Part of Europe!”22 Also, there is the EKRE news portal Uued uudised (The New
News),23 which has 17,000 followers on its Facebook page.24 Some of the 2019
headlines include “Martti Kalda, Expert on the Orient: ‘The Goal of Islam Is
to Destroy Europe and the West’”;25 “Recommendations of Finland’s Minister
of the Interior, Extremist Maria Ohisalo, Give Islamic Extremists a Chance to
Infiltrate Law Enforcement”26; and “Estonian Muslim: National Broadcasting
Portrays It as an Idyllic Fairy Tale”.27 The list goes on, and all of them feature
negative stereotypes.
In addition, Objektiiv (The Lens),28 a popular fundamentalist Christian web-
site, publishes stories such as “Muslim of the Year Finalist Called for Jihad”29and
“Muslims Rejoice at the Fire of Notre-Dame on Social Media”.30 Objektiiv also has a
significant following on Facebook;31 around 17,000 users read its posts.
Central Figures in the Islamophobia Network
Islamophobic stereotypes are mainly promoted by the Conservative People’s Par-
ty of Estonia in the context of their anti-immigration platform. The most ac-
tive members spreading hostile content against migrants and refugees, including
Muslims, are the party leader and current Minister of the Interior Mart Helme,
Minister of Finance Martin Helme, and MEP Jaak Madison. In addition, Varro
Vooglaid, the founder of Objektiiv, regularly shares Islamophobic content in the
context of immigration.
22. “Islamipropaganda tegemine Eesti koolides on lubamatu, islam ei kuulu Euroopasse!”, Rahvuslane, 10
April 2018, http://rahvuslane.blogspot.com/2018/04/islamipropaganda-tegemine-eesti.html, (Access date: 3
February 2020).
23. Uued uudised, https://uueduudised.ee, (Access date: 3 February 2020).
24. Uued uudised, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/uueduudised/, (Access date: 3 February 2020).
25. “Idamaade tundja Martti Kalda: islami idee on Euroopa ja lääs põhimõtteliselt hävitada”, Uued uudised, 25
January 2020, https://uueduudised.ee/uudis/maailm/idamaade-tundja-martti-kalda-islami-idee-on-euroopa-ja-laas-
pohimotteliselt-havitada/, (Access date: 2 February 2020).
26.“Soome äärmusliku siseministri Maria Ohisalo soovitused annaksid islamiäärmuslastele võimaluse korrakaitsesse
imbuda”, Uued uudised, 8 December 2019, https://uueduudised.ee/uudis/maailm/soome-aarmusliku-siseminis-
tri-maria-ohisalo-soovitused-annaksid-islamiaarmuslastele-voimaluse-korrakaitsesse-imbuda/, (Access date: 1 Feb-
ruary 2020).
27. “Milline on Eesti moslem – ERR kirjeldab seda idüllilises muinasloos”, Uued uudised, 12 April 2019, https://
uueduudised.ee/uudis/eesti/milline-on-eesti-moslem-err-kirjeldab-seda-idullilises-muinasloos/, (Access date 1 Feb-
ruary 2020).
28. Objektiiv, https://objektiiv.ee, (Access date: 1 February 2020).
29. “Aasta moslemi” finalist kutsus üles džihaadile”, Objektiiv, 30 September 2019, https://objektiiv.ee/aasta-mos-
lemi-finalist-kutsus-ules-dzihaadile/, (Access date: 1 February 2020).
30.“Moslemid rõõmustavad sotsiaalmeedias Jumalaema kiriku põlengu üle”, Objektiiv, 16 April 2020, https://ob-
jektiiv.ee/moslemid-roomustavad-sotsiaalmeedias-jumalaema-kiriku-polengu-ule/, (Access date: 1 February 2020).
31. Objektiiv, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/objektiiv, (Access date: 1 February 2020).
islamophobiaeurope.com • @islamophobiaEIR 257EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2019
Observed Civil Society and Political Initiatives to
Counter Islamophobia
There are no initiatives that specifically target combating anti-Muslim racism, but
there are projects and campaigns targeting equal treatment of minority groups. For
example, the Ministry of Social Affairs has launched a campaign entitled “Everyone
Is Different, But Equally Human” encouraging good will towards all minorities. It
aims to raise awareness of equal treatment and to highlight the contributions made
to Estonian society by members of its minorities.32
The Estonian Refugee Council, the Johannes Mihkelson Centre, and the Tartu
International House initiated the project ‘Let’s Meet!’, during which they organised
45 different events all around Estonia bringing together beneficiaries of international
protection, foreigners living in Estonia, and the local population. The project aimed
to challenge the stereotypes surrounding ‘otherness’ and give everyone the possibility
to discover new cultures and make personal connections.33
Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
The expressions of Islamophobia in Estonia are usually connected to fear of im-
migration. This means more awareness-raising activities among the general public
could be beneficial. As the Estonian Muslim community is small and most people
only hear about Islam in the media, where it is often discussed in a negative con-
text, more attention could be paid to introducing the historical Muslim commu-
nities in Estonia.
In addition, to ensure effective prosecution of incidents of hate speech and
hate crime against Muslims and other minority groups, the Estonian Penal Code
should be reviewed and necessary amendments should be adopted to bring Esto-
nian legislation in line with EU law, in particular the Council Framework Decision
2008/913/JHA.
Chronology
• 28.01.2019: The EKRE published an election campaign video that
showed people coming in boats and destroying the city, while the voi-
ceover read, “Muslim immigrants are given housing at the expense of
the state”.
32. “Kampaania „Kõik on erinevad, kuid sama palju inimesed”, Ministry of Social Affairs, 24 January 2020, https://
www.sm.ee/et/sama-palju-inimene, (Access date: 2 February 2020)
33. “Saame tuttavaks”, Estonian Refugee Council, October 2017 - March 2019, https://www.pagulasabi.ee/projek-
tid/saame-tuttavaks-kohaliku-tasandi-koostoouritused-rahvusvahelise-kaitse-valdkonnas, (Access date: 2 February
2020).
258 setav.orgISLAMOPHOBIA IN ESTONIA
• 08.04.2019: The EKRE published its programme for the European Parlia-
ment elections stating that “Europe’s rapidly growing Muslim population
has put European identity and values at risk”.
• 22.05.2019: A man from Pakistan was verbally and physically attacked
in Tallinn. The police started an investigation under §262 of the Estonian
Penal Code (Breach of Public Order).
islamophobiaeurope.com • @islamophobiaEIR 259You can also read
