LONDON: A report outlining the results of a pilot project into hate crime has found that Muslims in the UK regularly feel that government policies target Muslims and exemplify hateful speech. The report, published last Thursday 21 July, also found that Muslims still see the media as a deeply problematic factor, often citing it as a direct contributor and cause of hate crime. The report is the first of two outlining the results of a test survey undertaken last year featuring both quantitative and qualitative questions. The second report, which looks at the results from the pilot project in France will be published later this year. The project aims to provide statistics on the experience of hate crime based on the experiences of a sample of the minority population under study. The reports will run every year in different country with the aim of repetition in key countries every two years. IHRC is working with a number of partner organizations to undertake this project. A significant portion of the study is devoted to conceptualizing and analyzing the causes of hate crimes. This takes into account many considerations, including: • Defining what is meant by the term ‘hate crime' • Categorization of different types of prejudice • Backgrounds of perpetrators and victims of hate crimes and factors which increase hatred • Impacts of hate crimes on individuals, the community and the broader threat to society • Hate crime legislation, its functionality and the challenges it faces • The specific case of Muslims in Britain and the hate crimes they face The study's adopted methodology is outlined and illustrates the sample group under study in light of the wider demographic scheme of Muslims in Britain. Hate crimes faced by British Muslims are considered in detail, with focus given to explicit and implicit forms of racial and religious discrimination. The study was conducted so as to consider the effect of demographic values on such hate crimes. Also, the survey group was given the opportunity to freely express their views regarding the causes of hate crime and what can be done to combat the problem. This provides a platform for hate crimes victims to voice their perceptions of the problem, which remain otherwise muted. Among the study's findings, 74.5% of respondents reported to have heard hostile remarks being made about Islam, 66.9% have witnessed negative stereotyping of Islam in the media, and 54.1% have experienced being expected to fit into stereotypes. Additionally, a significant minority of 13.9% reported having been subjected to violent physical assault. The most frequently experienced by Muslims are witnessing negative stereotyping of Islam in the media (66.9%), being stared at by a stranger (44.4%) and witnessing political policies affecting Muslims negatively (37.8%). Among the effects of demographic values, the study found that female respondents were more likely than males to have experienced being ignored in public places; male respondents were more likely than females to have experienced being avoided or being talked down to; and the elderly were more likely than all other age groups to have experienced being treated in a superficial manner. The study concludes by putting forth recommendations for reducing the problems faced by Muslims as a result of discrimination. These include recommendations and suggestions both to Muslims and non-Muslims, with a focus on increased political participation of Muslims, the need to challenge negative media stereotypes of Muslims, enhancing awareness and knowledge among non-Muslims and wider society of Islam, Muslims and Muslim practices, and ensuring that Muslim communities are better equipped to tackle social problems among their youth. IHRC
