E/CN.4/2002/24 page 12 4. European Union 20. The Special Rapporteur drew a wealth of information from the comprehensive “Reports on anti-Islamic reactions within the European Union after the recent acts of terror against the USA”, issued by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia in Vienna on 10 October 2001. The incidents reported below vary from verbal to physical attacks and damage to property: (a) Germany Verbal attacks 21. The president of the Palestinian Community in Germany (Palästinensische Gemeinde Deutschland) reported that numerous Palestinians had been abused by other people on the street: The Islamic Religious Community Hessen (Islamische Religionsgemeinschaft Hessen), according to its chairman, was still receiving daily hate calls and mail, especially against women wearing scarves; A Moroccan-born woman, who had lived in Germany for 25 years reported that her 10 year-old daughter was called a “terrorist” by a classmate; another woman in Wiesbaden was called a “murderer”; A German-born student of Turkish nationality reported that his brother had been verbally attacked at his workplace. Physical attacks 22. According to reports in the media (and also by several human rights/anti-discrimination non-governmental organizations) there has been one attempt on Muslim institutions. Early on Sunday morning, 16 September, a bottle of spirits with a burning wick was discovered and put out by a driver in Munich-Pasing. This happened just in front of a grocery shop belonging to the Pasing mosque. After this attack the police set up further security precautions for Muslim/Islamic institutions. (b) Belgium 23. In the direct aftermath of the attack in the United States, there were no major attacks on the Muslim/Islamic community. This can be explained by the shock effect of the attacks. However since 17 September the tone has become harsher against the Muslim community. The verbal attacks were registered mostly in the Brussels area, less in other cities like Antwerp or regions such as Limburg. In schools, Muslim youngsters became the target of different forms of verbal attacks. The incidence of attacks was especially high in Brussels. Teachers and fellow students were responsible for these attacks. These attacks included: Muslims being scolded or insulted in the streets; removal of the veil of Muslim females by a third person; a false bomb alarm; sheer aggression towards Muslims, and racist graffiti targeting Muslims.