CEPOL eLesson offers valuable insights to support victims of anti-Muslim hatred

Anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia relate to a fear, prejudice or hostility towards Muslims. This hatred motivates a wide range of hate crimes against Muslims, from online hate speech, the vandalising of property to violent physical attacks. It is also widely expressed in various forms of prejudice, harassment and verbal abuse. Muslims are an integral part of society in the EU and represent 5% of Europe’s population (about 44 million people). Targeting them affects not only the individual victims of these crimes, but also the entire Muslim community.

The CEPOL eLesson on anti-Muslim hatred aims to improve the understanding of crimes motivated by anti-Muslim hatred and the response by law enforcement officers involved in tackling and recording hate crime and online hate speech, who are also dealing with victims of such crimes. Building on the CEPOL online module on Hate crime , which sets out many of the general issues which apply to crimes motivated by Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred, this eLesson consists of four main chapters focusing on the below topics:

Chapter 1: Anti-Muslim hatred in context: Anti-Muslim hatred is a complex issue with many aspects. This chapter introduces several of these aspects to help law enforcement officers to better understand anti-Muslim hatred and how to deal with it.

Chapter 2: Recognising anti-Muslim hate crime: This topic covers various issues surrounding the identifying and recording of anti-Muslim hate crimes, including the under-reporting of these crimes. In also has sections on online anti-Muslim hate crime and intersectionality.

Chapter 3: Supporting victims of anti-Muslim hate crime: Anti-Muslim hate crimes have an enormous impact on both the targeted individuals and Muslim communities. This topic summarises the main EU and international legislation and approaches to protect and support the victims.

Chapter 4: Working towards best practices: This topic covers some of the key best practices adopted by law enforcement officers in dealing with anti-Muslim hate crimes, as well as the prominent challenges they face.

Enrol via CEPOL's online learning platform LEEd.

Watch this video to find out more about this eLesson.

About eLessons

CEPOL eLessons are 60 minutes digital training and learning resources designed to address emerging and current training needs of law enforcement officials.

They are compact and easy-to-follow, covering current topics presented engagingly with a focus on practical applicability. Users learn individually, at their own pace, and in an explorative way. Trainers can embed eLessons in their formal training – be it as a requirement in national curricula or as a pre-course activity for a CEPOL training activity. Students will obtain certificates and badges upon successful completion of the corresponding online tests. The job-aids embedded in eLessons ensure that the learners will more easily transfer the knowledge and skills learned into their every-day practice.

All LEEd users can enrol to eLessons free of charge, without nomination by a CEPOL National Unit/CEPOL National Contact Point.