The hate crime rate against Muslims and blacks is becoming outrageous. Many muslims around the world can not live a normal life conveniently like other religions. They face humiliations of different levels. It could be against their dressing, their approach or even their beliefs. These humiliations have to stop.
Recently, a report revealed that hate crimes against Muslims have increased by 60 percent, according to the latest figures released by Statistics Canada. It was further analysed that there were 159 or more incidents in 2015, a significant jump from 99 the previous year, the agency said on its website.
It was confirmed that the numbers have been steadily increasing and are up 253 percent since 2012-2017, although overall instances of police-recorded hate crimes were down 3.8 percent in 2015 to 1,362 from 1,424 in 2012.
In addition, Khalid Elgazzar, board vice chairman of the National Council of Canadian Muslims and an Ottawa-based lawyer, termed 2015 as a “difficult year.” Two terrorist attacks in France fed anti-Muslim flames in Canada, while former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2015 made an election issue out of the right of a Muslim woman to wear a veil at citizenship ceremonies.
“The Canadian Muslim community bore the brunt of sinister political rhetoric surrounding the federal election which painted Muslims as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers as well as being anti-women,” Elgazzar said at a press conference in Ottawa.
Even at such, the number of hate crimes was probably higher. This is to show that the hatred is still on the increase and needs to be curbed.
“The number of hate crimes in this release likely undercuts the true extent of hate crime in Canada, as not all crimes are reported to police,” Statistics Canada said.
In response to the unreported hate crimes, Eglazzar said the incidents are under reported because some Muslims do not believe police will take action and are afraid of being further victimized. He further explained that Muslims were not the only target, or even the largest target. The blacks also have a higher rate of hate crime against them being blacks.
In confirmation, Statistics Canada figures show the largest number of hate crimes were against blacks, with 224 incidents in 2015. Jews were next with 178 incidents reported and sexual orientation hate crimes stood at 141. But the Muslims hate crime was the major one on the increase in 2015. However, the number of violent incidents included in hate crimes are; assault, threat and criminal harassment. This made up to 38 percent, an increase of 15 percent compared to the previous year.
Eglazzar has urged Muslims in Canada and around the world to stand up for justice. He also said that the blacks are not exempted too. Racial and religious tolerance must prevail so that the world can be at peace.
