Safest European Country For Arab Muslim

Portugal!

I apologise to all for speaking generally: this is just my opinion. I live in the (conservative) central region of portugal. I have also spent 9 mths travelling from syria to morroco through muslim countries and have lived and worked in egypt, france, germany and england (and australia).

There are so few foreigners (except for english) that the Portuguese (this generation I mean - not historically!) have had relatively very little experience of them. The Portuguese are also very polite people and I have never heard anything rascist from them : well... "foreigners" are just grouped together in one big mass, or otherwise referred to as "english". There was a small amount of conflict in Lisbon between africans and Roma but otherwise no other "multicultural tension". There is hardly any discussion about muslims in portugal, good or bad.

For instance: portugal is accepting some prisoners from guantanamo, and there is no "controversy" about this. No one in the media, or on the street says this is wrong and will bring terrorism... there is no "terrorism threat" in Portugal.

However, if you are looking for a community, or even a local mosque, you might have difficulty - there are so few. Maybe in Lisbon or Porto. If you want to go to the mosque on friday, (with time off work) I would say this would be difficult (as I would say the recognition of religious rights or "respect" would be zero) BUT I would think if you wanted to take a short break for prayer then this would be considered "strange" but would be tolerated. Just like me and my blonde hair and "sporty" clothes; I am strange but tolerated. And in appearance, you would most likely blend in far more than I (and anglo-saxon/northern europeans) do. Very few people could identify you as muslim or arab based just on your appearance. I don't think you'd even be hassled at the airport! (Not like in england/france/germany...!)

Halal food here? Ha ha ha. Maybe in Lisbon. Maybe not.

So if you are prepared to adapt a little (as we all should in respect to our new chosen country) I think you could be very happy here, in this calm and gentle country. There is unemployment here as everywhere, but you sound motivated (you must be if you are prepared to leave your home) and 3 foreign languages will really help as it's quite unusual - plus you'll find portuguese easy to learn.

Good luck and please bring your foreign foods with you! Open a restaurant!