Hate crimes against Muslims on rise in UK suburbs: Study

Turborama

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Sat Nov-27-10 02:28 PM
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Hate crimes against Muslims on rise in UK suburbs: Study

Edited on Sat Nov-27-10 02:30 PM by Turborama

Source: Kuwait Times

LONDON: Muslims and their mosques face a higher level of threats and intimidation in UK suburbs and market towns than in big cities, according to a report published yesterday. Case studies revealed that examples such as a Muslim woman who was punched and called a "terrorist" in front of her petrified daughter were not uncommon.

Such attacks often go unreported, and in this case the woman was too scared to inform the police. She also played down the incident to reduce her child's distress, and avoided explaining why she was singled out for wearing a burka and being a Muslim woman. The new study, "Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime: UK Case Studies," reveals this kind of unprovoked incident is a largely hidden experience that is insufficiently acknowledged and understood outside of the communities where they occur.

The report is part of a 10 year academic research project led by the University of Exeter's European Muslim Research Centre (EMRC). It captures a snapshot of these experiences which are often unrecognized by the media, politicians and wider British society.

The research also combines an academic approach to identifying world events and policy information that inform the way reactions and actions towards Muslims can be influenced. Findings show that since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, arson, criminal damage, violence and intimidation against mosques has increased dramatically and smaller or isolated Muslim communities in places like Colchester, Bishop Stortford and Boston have become especially vulnerable.

Read more: http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTE2MDczOTg3

This from the University of Exeter�s European Muslim Research Centre website:

Muslims face higher level of threats outside the big cities

=snip=

The new study Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime: UK Case Studies reveals this kind of unprovoked incident is a largely hidden experience that is insufficiently acknowledged and understood outside of the communities where they occur. The report published on 27 November is part of a ten year academic research project led by the University of Exeter�s European Muslim Research Centre (EMRC). It captures a snapshot of these experiences which are often unrecognised by the media, politicians and wider British society. The research also combines an academic approach to identifying world events and policy information that inform the way reactions and actions towards Muslims can be influenced.

Findings show that since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, arson, criminal damage, violence and intimidation against mosques has increased dramatically and smaller or isolated Muslim communities in places like Colchester, Bishop Stortford and Boston have become especially vulnerable.

Dr Jonathan Githens Mazer, co-Director of the EMRC said, �Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate crime are very real problems for British Muslims going about their everyday business. Through our research we have found that in smaller and more isolated mosques in many suburbs and market towns there is a feeling of being under siege. Some local councils who are made aware of the situation say to mosque officials, �we can see this is bad, why don�t you move the mosque?��

The report also analyses the local activity by the British National Party, English Defence League and sister organisations. Anti-migrant and random attacks that have impacted on every poor urban community where most Muslims live have also been studied.

More: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/news/title,112581,en.html