You don't have to look at the European Parliament for long before the rise of extremism becomes painfully obvious with several MEPs representing views that many would consider as worng as they are offensive. The hardening of extremist views can be seen in the rise of far right groups in recent European elections. From Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party in in the Netherlands to Golden Dawn in Greece, the Front National in France, UKIP in the United Kingdom, and the Northern League Movement in Italy. These far right parties achieved between 10% and 25% of the vote, a sharp increase from previous elections. That anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, particularly on the internet, is increasing will surprise nobody. A survey by the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and France's Collective Against Islamophobia (CCIF) found that more and more European Jews and Muslims were facing racist abuse. Dr Sajjad Karim MEP, the first British Muslim MEP to be elected, met with representatives from the European Jewish Congress and the European Union of Jewish Students in Brussels to discuss initiatives for intercultural dialogue across Europe. Karim said, ""The rising level of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Europe is extremely worrying. The tasks and challenges we face today to tackle this problem is huge. It requires action at an EU level." He continued, "Meeting with the European Jewish Congress and President of the European Union of Jewish Students, Ms. Jane Braden-Golay, has been extremely useful. We discussed possible collaborative initiatives between Muslim and Jewish youths." Karim says that the far-right have been targeting disillusioned youth, often using social media to recruit. This was one of the main topics discussed. Karim said, "Just as extremism is a threat to all in Europe, fighting extremism is the responsibility of all in Europe. The EU can lead the way in providing education and training to challenge youth disillusionment and encourage engagement in our democratic process." The meeting resolved to work at a grassroots level and pledged to encourage interfaith dialogue and anti-extremism initiatives. Karim, who represents the North West of the UK, where groups like the British National Party used unemployed youths to feed in their movement as did the English Defence League. There has been good news for those opposed to the extreme right in Karim's constituency and Nick Griffin, the former MEP was ousted as leader of the BNP, which has sunk to a handful of members. It is also at a poignant moment in Brussels as the Jewish museum in the city reopened after a radical, believed to have fought with Islamist groups in Syria, murdered four visitors.
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