OSCE Conference in Brussels discusses surge of racism in Europe

Delegates from more than 50 nations, religious leaders and over 130 non-governmental organizations have attended a conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Brussels, to discuss the problem of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in Europe. "I'm here to launch a cry of alarm. Anti-Semitism is back, the monster is among us again," Cobi Benatoff, president of the European Jewish Congress, told delegates. Representatives from Muslim countries lamented what they regard as new Islamophobia. The Turkish ambassador said there was a regrettable tendency to equate violence and terrorism with Islam. A human rights group said that hostility against Muslims has been on the rise in recent years.