RISE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA IN GERMANY, FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND AFTER 9/11

11 September 2001 terror attacks have been a dramatic turning point in the western world, which escalated the rise of deep rooted problems such as racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia. Hostile rhetoric and attitudes in post-9/11 era provided a suitable environment for the sprouting seeds of hatred in European societies. This process is not only an important factor in feeding antiIslam sentiments in Europe, but also a threat for the inner peace and future of Europe. This article analyses the examples of this process in three different European countries. Germany and France are chosen in this article as the biggest and most important members of the European Union. Switzerland was picked as a special case in central Europe as one of the most developed countries in the world. It is used as an example to show the far-reaching influences of this trend in every corner of the continent, even in those places that are supposed to be the shining examples