A/HRC/32/50 workers.50 Certain governments have initiated policies that encourage companies to dismiss foreign workers and reduce the quotas of such workers by more than 50 per cent in places.51 55. In this region, migrant workers face significant discrimination by governments and citizenry, often in the form of violence against asylum seekers, economic exclusion, and cultural and religious suppression. 52 It has been documented that, in some places, national sentiment and belonging has emerged through the labelling of others as “inauthentic”.53 56. Ethnocentric attitudes have also sometimes been expressed in religious spheres. For example, Islamophobia has been seen in government interference in religious matters by pointing out what is “extreme”, “radical” or unacceptable.54 (d) Middle East and North Africa 57. Xenophobia in the Middle East and North Africa region has been linked to rapid economic transformation and diversification,55 which relies on immigration. Migrants have been perceived as a threat to those who are struggling to benefit from these transformations.56 Migrants have also been portrayed by dominant ethnic groups as a cultural threat to national identity. 57 This is especially the case in the Middle East, where several countries heavily rely on migrant workers to sustain their economies, and sometimes outnumber the local population. 58. Although there are considerable differences by country, there are numerous reports of host populations across the region displaying high levels of hostility to recent migrant populations, as well as prejudice and intolerance towards groups of “outsiders” including long-standing immigrants and religious or ethnic minorities. 58 In some countries, outsiders are regarded by nationals as being “low-status” or “second-class” citizens.59 There may be opposition to migrants’ access to equal social rights to those enjoyed by nationals.60 At 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 16 ILO, “Equality at work: the continuing challenge” (2011), p. 35. Ibid., p. 36. Yoav H. Duman, “Infiltrators go home! Explaining xenophobic mobilization against asylum seekers in Israel”, pp. 1-24. Peidong Yang, “ ‘Authenticity’ and ‘foreign talent’ in Singapore: the relative and negative logic of national identity”, Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, vol. 29, No. 2 (2014), pp. 408-437. Scott Poynting and Victoria Mason, “The new integrationism, the state and Islamophobia: retreat from multiculturalism in Australia”, International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, vol. 36, No. 4 (2008), pp. 230-246. Ronald Inglehart, Mansoor Moaddel and Mark Tessler, “Xenophobia and in-group solidarity in Iraq: a natural experiment on the impact of insecurity”, Perspectives on Politics, issue 3 (2006), pp. 495505; and Noah Lewin-Epstein and A. Levanon, “National identity and xenophobia in an ethnically divided society”, International Journal on Multicultural Societies, vol. 7, No. 2 (2005), pp. 90-118. Daphna Canetti-Nisim and Ami Pedahzur. “Contributory factors to ‘political xenophobia’ in a multicultural society: the case of Israel”, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 27, No. 3 (2003), pp. 307-333; and Ami Pedahzur and Yael Yishai, “Hatred by hated people: xenophobia in Israel”, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, vol. 22, No. 2 (1999), pp. 101-117. Noah Lewin-Epstein and A. Levanon, “National identity and xenophobia in an ethnically divided society”, pp. 90-118. Giuseppe Calandruccio, “A review of recent research on human trafficking in the Middle East”, International Migration, vol. 43, issue 1-2 (2005), pp. 267-299; and Ronald Inglehart, Mansoor Moaddel and Mark Tessler, “Xenophobia and in-group solidarity in Iraq: a natural experiment on the impact of insecurity”, pp. 495-505. Sammy Smooha, Index of Arab-Jewish Relations in Israel 2003-2009 (Haifa, The Jewish-Arab Center, University of Haifa, 2010). Ami Pedahzur and Yael Yishai, “Hatred by hated people: xenophobia in Israel”, pp. 101-117.