COPENHAGEN – A Danish photographer managed to capture the toxic, anti-Muslim atmosphere in the west in one picture, capturing a photo showing how isolated and distrusted Muslims live as far-right political groups continue their hate campaigns across Europe.

The photo was captured at a public meeting earlier this year about proposals to create a refugee center in Kalundborg, Denmark (about 70 miles west of Copenhagen), Quartz reported on Sunday, November 13.

“Personally, I felt the atmosphere was very hostile,” photographer Olafur Gestsson told Quartz though email.

“More and more people stood up and spoke—or even yelled—about their children’s security and the fear of violence and rape.

“As I was struggling to picture this, I suddenly saw this woman standing next to the audience benches.”

The woman, who was wearing a hijab, stood at the edge of the bleachers, perfectly illustrating the “in-group” vs. “out-group” mentality that characterized the discussion, Gestsson said.

The photograph was eventually given an award of excellence in the “General News” category this month in the international College Photographer of the Year competition.

“She might as well be Danish, and some of the people on the left might be in favor of the asylum center. But I think the symbolism is striking. For me, this sad image symbolizes Denmark today,” says Gestsson, a student at the Danish School of Journalism.

“Growing racism, xenophobia, exclusion and fear. Walls are being built where we should be tearing them down.”

Fleeing war-zones and poverty, more than a million refugees arrived in Europe last year.

An anti-refugee sentiment has been especially high in European countries, especially in Denmark, which absorbed more than 30,000 asylum-seekers in the past two years.

The new comers were sharply criticized by the right-wing Danish People’s Party, which has been making gains in parliament.