The Islamophobic Consensus

Abstract

Catalonia is home to the largest Muslim communities of the Iberian Peninsula: a roughly  per cent of its population (, out of ,,) follows the Islamic tradition. Despite the neofascist natalist rhetoric of far-right parties speaking about a 'great replacement' (Aduriz, ), the number of Muslim students is consistent with the total number of Muslims. There are ,, non-tertiary education students in Catalonia,  approximately , of them are Muslims (. per cent).  However, here the statistical consistencies end. The majority of Muslims work in precarious jobs or do not have jobs at all. Roughly  per cent of the migrant population is unemployed, compared to . per cent of general population in Catalonia.  They live in impoverished and deprived zones with less access to public resources and green areas. Traditionally migrant neighbourhoods such as la Barceloneta, el Raval, or Poblenou in Barcelona are among the most affected by the touristification and gentrification unleashed by foreign investment firms.  With scarce jobs, skyrocketing rents, and living costs, thousands of families are forced to live in slums and industrial areas with extremely poor living conditions, and are exposed to violent evictions and fatal accidents.  But the socioeconomic is just one of the areas where Muslim population face discrimination. Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya (Idescat), Prison Population, by Nationality and Geographical Origin (Report, ) <www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=&lang=es>.