Page 130 - Islam Denounces Terrorism

128 Islam Denounces Terrorism

Islamophobia, the rise of the extreme right and
xenophobic movements fuel radicalism

Although the fear known as "Islamophobia" emerged across the
globe in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, its roots go back
to the Crusades, or even earlier. Islam has now spread across the world:
Muslims represent 6 percent of the population of Europe, more than 45
million. By 2050, Muslims are estimated to make up some 20 percent of
the population and one in five people in Europe will be a Muslim—one
of the main reasons for the rise in Islamophobia among Europeans in

recent years.

However, the real trigger behind the rise in Islamophobia is the
radical terrorist groups that have emerged in the name of Islam. These