The European Union is stepping up measures to protect Jews and Muslims from discrimination

European Union leaders have announced their intention to focus internal legal programs on protecting Jewish and Muslim communities from discrimination. According to Brussels Times, the initiative is designed to strengthen the fight against antisemitism and Islamophobia within the European Union.

The statement was timed to coincide with the International Day of Commemoration for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. In an official statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas emphasized that the problem of religious persecution is global in nature: according to statistics, about two-thirds of the world’s population lives in countries where the right to freedom of conscience is seriously violated.

In addition to domestic policies, European leaders called on governments around the world to ensure the protection of citizens who have decided to change their faith or renounce it. The diplomats strongly recommend decriminalizing apostasy and reviewing the application of blasphemy laws, which are often used to restrict human rights.

It should be noted that Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi Moshe Reuven Asman stated that Jews in Ukraine feel safer than in a number of Western countries. According to him, unlike in the United States and Europe, where Jews are often forced to hide their identity, in Ukraine members of the community can freely observe religious traditions and wear traditional clothing without fear of threats.