Recently, I met Mohammed*. We chatted about his hopes of becoming a doctor and building a happy family life. His story seems quite 'normal'.
However, Mohammed, a Syrian in his thirties, has another story. One I have come across all too often in my work on hate crime and discrimination in Europe.
Recently, a far-right mob stabbed Mohammed on his way home to an asylum centre in Sofia, Bulgaria. He spent three days in hospital and afterwards, he and his friends were too scared to go out after dark.
Mohammed ended his difficult account telling me, "I escaped Syria to seek protection in Europe. I found myself in Bulgaria by chance…I wanted to go to Germany… but I am scared now…do these types of attacks happen all over in Europe? I never imagined that..."
This struck me. Isn’t the European Union a place where human rights are protected? Aren't they inherent in its founding principles?
When European justice, consumers and gender equality commissioner Věra Jourová, outlined her priorities to the Parliament Magazine last month, she described her commendable vision of an EU where "discrimination has no place", where "fundamental rights are more than just words".
"The recent increase in support for movements promoting intolerance in Europe is fuelling discrimination and violence"
Mohammed’s experience, however, does not match this vision. Mohammed was a victim of hate crime. Put simply, discrimination in its most violent form. Hate crimes are criminal offences targeting people because of their real or perceived association with a group defined by a protected characteristic (including ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity).
The recent increase in support for movements promoting intolerance in Europe is fuelling discrimination and violence. In 2014 for example, the German government reported over 150 attacks against asylum centres - three times more than in 2013.
Discrimination in Europe isn’t relegated to attacks against asylum centres, 'out of sight'. Discrimination also happens closer to home, in schools and access to housing and health care.
Anna, a transgender woman attending evening classes in Greece, was bullied and discriminated against by authorities and students alike. Her ordeal didn’t end there.
Gaps in national and EU anti-discrimination law mean religious minorities, people with disabilities or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals have few legal options to seek redress beyond discrimination in the workplace. This was Anna’s case.
However, there is hope. After seven years of stalemate in council, work to adopt the anti-discrimination directive is progressing. If adopted, it will fill and bridge gaps in and between national and EU legislation, extending national protection beyond employment and racial discrimination.
Commissioner Jourová has committed to fight against intolerance - essential given the climate in Europe. However, this commitment must translate into concrete steps to counteract discriminatory violence and strengthen the framework decision to combat racism and xenophobia.
"Only through action, will the 'values enshrined in the treaties and the European charter of fundamental rights' be more than words"
Last year, the commission identified flaws in member states' investigation and prosecution practices against discriminatory violence. Efforts by the commission to adopt guidelines and ensure enforcement actions (including infringement proceedings) against member states failing in this respect would be a first step.
Additionally, the EU collectively should ensure all minorities are equally protected against hate crimes, beyond the scope of the framework decision, by ensuring new standards to combat discriminatory violence on all grounds, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
Only through such action, will the 'values enshrined in the treaties and the European charter of fundamental rights' be more than words. Maybe then Mohammed and everyone living in Europe can truly live in dignity, in the place they once believed in.
*This name has been changed to protect the individual’s identity