There is no doubt that Europe is a delight for travelers from all around the world, but do you know that racism is also pretty common there? In this article we will give you the most racist cities in Europe.
Europe is famous for its diverse culture and rich history. The countries in the continent are extremely popular for high living standards. People from with in Europe and different parts of the world, migrate to different countries in the continent in pursuit of a better future. While most of the European countries are extremely welcoming, some of them still haven’t embraced the presence of foreign immigrants. There are certain cities in this parts of the world that aren’t particularly tolerant towards the people migrating from other countries. If you believe that racism in America is the worst, you should visit some of these places in Europe.
Mentioned below are the 8 most racist cities in all of Europe including Athens, Turin and Graz as the top 3. Let’s take look in depth as to why exactly immigrants have to face such kind of behavior in these parts of the world.
8. Brussels
Brussels is a city in Belgium with a population of 177,300 people. The city does not seem to have a very good reputation and is considered as one of the most racist cities in Europe due to several reports on tourists getting unjust treatment. The residents have generally been accused of mocking people from different countries in Europe. English speakers in particular become a victim of racial behavior in the city.
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7. Madrid
Number 7 on our list of most racist cities in Europe is Madrid. Despite being one of the most visited cities in the world Madrid still remains famous for its racism. The city, in general, is pretty new to the concept of immigration and the people actually aren’t used to seeing people with a different skin color, which is why foreigners, especially those from Africa, become a victim of racism. Besides, the country has had a long history of being a homogenous society. According to a survey, 42% of the locals strongly or somewhat agreed that they were not happy with the immigrants living in their city.
6. Dortmund
Germany has had a very bad history especially with Jews. Although the entire country is considered one of the most racists in all of Europe, Dortmund in particular has a bad reputation with foreign immigrants especially Jews. With a population of over 572,000, the city continues to struggle to eradicate racism in their ranks. A large number of locals agree that they were not happy with the increase in the number of immigrants in their city.
5. Bologna
Italy, like many European countries, is considered as one of the hottest spots for tourists; however, some of the cities in the country have a stigma of being racist. Bologna is one of these cities as various protests and rallies by locals against immigrants and war refugees have taken place here. The reports suggests that 40% of the locals do not seem happy with the immigrants, which has resulted in racial incidents in the city. 5% of the locals however, refused to give any answer. The city therefore stands at number 7 in the list of most racist cities in Europe.
4. Barcelona
Barcelona, just like Madrid, is extremely popular for tourism. Not just amongst European residents but also people from different parts of the world. A city so welcoming and open to tourist is different when it comes to immigrants. Spain has been one of the most xenophobic nations in Europe and with the increase in the number of immigrants, the locals have begun to show concerns. According to the survey, about 40% of the people said that they did not like the presence of foreigners in their city, whereas 5% of the locals refused to make any comment.
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3. Graz
Austria has not been very popular when it comes to foreign immigration, which is why the foreign residents in the country are still finding it difficult to adjust with the locals. Graz in particular is considered as one of the most racist cities in the country, as well as the entire continent of Europe. Residents that do not speak or understand the local language often become a victim of racial comments. According the survey, about 40% locals voted against foreign residents, while 8% of the locals refused to give their opinion about the issue.
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2. Turin
Unlike famous cities in Italy, Turin isn’t particularly famous and exposed to foreign culture. The immigrants living in the city therefore, come across racial behavior quite often. The percentage of xenophobic people is pretty high as almost 50% of the locals said that they were unhappy with the immigrants living in their city. 5% of the locals kept their opinion reserved.
1. Athens
Number one on the list of most racist cities in Europe is Athens. The city has over 664,000 residents with a large number of foreign residents. The city has been infamous for immigrants since there has been a racial crisis in the country. According to the survey, 56% of the locals agreed that they did not like immigrants in their city while 4% refused to give their opinion about the issue.
