"Anti-Semitism and Islamo-phobia in Europe have increased, are still increasing, and must be defeated". This is the comment of the secretary general of the Council of Europe (CoE), Terry Davis, about a survey published yesterday by the Pew Research Centre, showing that about one half of the population in some European countries have a negative opinion of Muslims and Jews. Two aspects of the results are considered "extremely important" by Davis: ” “"Firstly, this increase in intolerance is felt all over Europe. As to hatred for the assumedly different people, there is no division between the East and the West". The second point "is perhaps more surprising: it is always the same people who hate both Jews and Muslims. Other, well-meaning people are instead obsessed by religious conflicts. But the real conflict is the one between the fanatics and the rest of the world. Most prejudices are rooted in mere stupidity. Extremists from all parties are ready to exploit such sentiments for their ideological propaganda and scaremongering campaigns". According to Davis, a positive result is the one about education as the most effective system to revert this trend. "A line that is consistent with the choices of the CoE, which for years has placed emphasis on education in its youth campaigns against discrimination".” “
