According to a report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, one in five (17%) Muslims surveyed reported religiousdiscrimination in daily lives, whether when looking for work or at work, in access to housing and when in contact with school authorities as parents or guardians.
Those who wear traditional religious clothing in public experience higher levels ofdiscrimination on the ground ofreligion compared to respondents who do not wear such clothing in public (12 % vs. 3 %). Men are particularly affected (men: 17 %; women: 9%).
The complexity of the religious questions comes from the fact that while Europe is committed to upholding religious freedom, it is equally committed to equality and other fundamental freedoms. While these rights are, at times, complementary – with protection against religiousdiscrimination enabling full enjoyment of religious freedom – in other respects, these rights sometimes contradict. Such difficulties arise, for instance, in the relationship between the protection of religious interests and the principle ofnon-discrimination on grounds ofgender, with some religious groups not committing togender equality
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