The European Parliament on Thursday expressed its concern over the rise in fascist, racist and xenophobic ideologies across the bloc and demanded a ban on neo-Nazi groups.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2018) The European Parliament on Thursday expressed its concern over the rise in fascist, racist and xenophobic ideologies across the bloc and demanded a ban on neo-Nazi groups.
"Parliament is concerned by the increasing normalization of fascism, racism and xenophobia and calls on EU member states to ban neo-fascist and neo-Nazi groups. In a resolution passed with 355 votes to 90 and 39 abstentions, MEPs denounce that the lack of serious action against these groups has enabled the current xenophobic surge in Europe," the European Parliament said in a statement.
The parliament called on the EU member states to "clearly condemn and sanction" hate crime, hate speech and scapegoating by politicians and public figures.
"Measures are also necessary to counteract the spread of racism, fascism and xenophobia through the internet, in cooperation with social media companies," the EU body noted.
The European lawmakers also insist on stopping racism in sports and at stadiums during sports events.
"The resolution demands that member states and national sports federations, in particular football clubs, counteract the scourge of racism, fascism and xenophobia in stadiums and in sports culture by condemning and punishing those responsible and by promoting positive educational activities targeting young fans, in cooperation with schools and civil society organizations," the statement said.
The parliament also highlighted the need to set up "exit programs" to help people to withdraw from violent neo-fascist and neo-Nazi groups.
"MEPs stress the importance of education, to increase history awareness among the youth and call for a clear rejection of the fascist crimes of the past. They underline that the truth about the Holocaust must not be trivialized," the statement said.
The EU parliament cited the 2011 deadly attacks in Norway staged by Anders Breivik, 2016 murder of UK lawmaker Jo Cox as well as a number of incidents in Italy, Poland, Greece, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Latvia and Nordic states as examples of the growing right-wing violence in the European Union.
