The nature of the incidents ranged from attacks against mosques to pulling off headscarves. REUTERS/FILE
An inter-faith charity claimed on Saturday that there had been an upsurge in anti-Muslim incidents since the murder of a British soldier in Woolwich, a British Broadcasting Corporation report said.
Faith Matters, which runs a helpline, said they had received 162 calls since Wednesday’s attack, up from a daily average of six. A number of people have been charged after allegedly offensive comments were made on social media websites, said the same report.
Drummer Lee Rigby was killed near Woolwich Barracks on Wednesday. Shortly after his killing, 28-year-old Michael Adebolajo was filmed by a passer-by saying he had carried out the attack because British soldiers killed Muslims every day.
Adebolajo and a second suspect, Michael Adebowale, 22, were arrested at the scene and remain in hospital after they were shot by police. Both men were known to the security services, sources told the BBC.
‘Significant online activity’
Fiyaz Mughal, director of Faith Matters, said the nature of the incidents ranged from attacks against mosques, graffiti, the pulling off of Muslim women’s headscarves and more general name calling and abuse.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: “What’s really concerning is the spread of these incidents. They’re coming in from right across the country.
“Secondly, some of them are quite aggressive very focused, very aggressive attacks.
“And thirdly, there also seems to be significant online activity... suggesting co-ordination of incidents and attacks against institutions or places where Muslims congregate.”
Since the attack, a number of people have been charged by police after allegedly offensive messages were posted on social media websites.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2013.
COMMENTS (23)
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@abc: excellent post. You have hit the nail on the head.
@Sandi Stone: Really ? What's The refrence of this ,
Just read the Koran and it will give you the answer…. “There will be a time when every stone and tree will cry out, there is a …… behind it Kill him”. And many more enlightened suras.
Tell me in which surah it is?
US terror drones kill more civilians than terrorists: ICG report
Soo What We should Call you? and What you deserved to Be Called After The killing of Pakistani civilians, including women and children
After this All you Praise yourself & Blame Us OH WHAT A SHAME!
Why do Muslims want to live in a Christian society anyway? They want to change the west to the same Smithhole from where they came from. Just Look at the ME and see what carnage is going on there. We have no problems with Hinduism, Buddhist, Shinto, Judaism, Bahá'í Faithany other wholesome religion. Only Islam .....Why is that? Just read the Koran and it will give you the answer.... "There will be a time when every stone and tree will cry out, there is a ...... behind it Kill him”. And many more enlightened suras. Read and make your own interpretation out of it.........
@Np
@Rashid: "Do you see the hypocrisy and double standards of what you just stated?"
No sir, there is no hypocrisy and no double standard here. Its you who failed to see the fairness and tolerance in it. Let me explain in a simpler way. 1.When we are in minority we support liberal, secular system because that's what the majority wants. So we are with the majority when we are in minority ourselves. 2.When we are in majority we want our own laws/systems because that is what the majority want/support. So you see we are always with the majority. Is it not democratic?
@momina,IBD
@Subhash: "YOUR argument is not valid because there is constant negative coverage of muslims and their reiigion is on trial…………….these so called OPEN and FREE soieties even have their pick of constantly potraying muslims in negative shades…"
Ok, you blame the negative coverage. Let me reframe the question to, 'Why its only the muslims who get the negative coverage?' Think about it. And whether its negative or positive coverage, people believe in it only when it matches with the ground realities. And if they are so unhappy with so called OPEN and FREE societies why don't they migrate to really CLOSED and CONFINED societies. They surely know how to migrate having done it once.
"……are the hindus being persecuted anywhere in the world????????????NO………..is hinduism on TRIAL……..BIG.no…….." You are right. But you should ask yourself, why is it like that? Why they don't get negative coverae?
@Subhash: YOUR argument is not valid because there is constant negative coverage of muslims and their reiigion is on trial................these so called OPEN and FREE soieties even have their pick of constantly potraying muslims in negative shades.........are the hindus being persecuted anywhere in the world????????????NO...........is hinduism on TRIAL........BIG.no........so backlashes will happen as somewhere, some muslim will be fedup of all this NEGATIVITY and will take law into his/her own hand.
@Rashid: Do you see the hypocrisy and double standards of what you just stated? When you are in a m intriguing, you do not want to practice what the majority does and you demand secularism, yet you deny it to others when you are n majority.
How minorities are treated in Islamic countries? Does Saudi Arabia allow non Muslims to worship their Gods? Are minorities safe in Pakistan ? What moral right Pakistanis have to be treated well while still talking of two nation theory? Reform yourself first before you expect t be treated well by others.
This reporting is horrible. Living in the UK there have been no attacks on us. In the most part people go on with their daily lives living as they want. This report is only to fuel the hate of the west by Muslims not living here. The reason I moved here was To get away from the fanatics and social pressure to live by the book 100percent or be turned in by a neighbour. Personally most people here couldn't care if I'm a Muslim if I told them.. Just a shrug and a look of I don't care what you practise! But if I mentioned I was a Liverpool supporter to the wrong person! Lol Then there might be an attack on me! As a football supporter.
@Anonymus
Don't blame Muslims. We always support and demand liberal/secular society when we are in minority. We implement our laws only, repeat only when we are in majority. For that you can't blame the majority. That's democracy.
All because of Salafi brand of Islam. Their leaders were calling it a courageous deed. Do you think idiots from other faiths will find it to be ok? We must condemn these so called Muslim scholers that are brainwashing our people
its not islams folt for they did
It is surprising to see that none of the people who commented regarding Muslims being the victim everywhere did not speak about the like of "Anjum Choundhary" who openly insults other religion and ask for implementation of Shariah Law in Britain.......Could you please explain how will be the reaction of Muslims of Pakistan if a bunch of Christians would like to implement their law in Pakistan.....can you imagine that ?
Britain should be feeling sorry for giving these kind of craps citizenship which is not even given by their own "ummah" countries like Saudi Araba, UAE, etc..
Muslim people are not to blame, its the individual - its like blaming Christians for what Hitler did
I'm an atheist, and some of my closest friends are Muslim. People matching what these Terrorist do to Islam is completely wrong. Islam means peace, it stands for peace, it does not suppress women, individuals do, society does as a whole. all faults you could pick out with people that follow this religious is largely based of what the media dictates to you. Islam like all religions is based upon the worship of God and a higher power, it was created before Christianity - a faith that i grew up as, and follows the same morals, Catholics/Christians and Muslims - BOTH believe in Jesus, they both have a holy book, and they both pray.
Blaming Muslim people for doing this is like Blaming Christians for what Hitler did,
Calling Muslims Terrorist is basically like calling Atheists devil worshipers and witches
please, think about what is actually happening, the attacks that Muslim or Asian/African people are facing, this is so backwards, its all the racism coming back from when i was young, remember Islam has no colour
Article seems to imply that many of these "attacks" were nothing other than harsh language used on social media - if so then the West certainly has a different version of "attack" than Pakistan.
@Ahmed: Where are the leaders/muftis.moulvis.ayotollahs asking for a change in the Muslim mindset and not blame others for their shortcomings.
It shows the big heart of west towards Muslims.
@Ahmed:
"Had it been a cold murder by a MUSLIM then all these people would have spoken up!"
It was a cold blooded murder by a MUSLIM.
Why can't you just think 33 times, before you make a comment. 33 is a good number. Always think 33 times before you write a comment.
Where are the human rights people now? Where are the seculars? Where are the upholders of tolerance now? Any murder is wrong , done by anyone. Had it been a cold murder by a MUSLIM then all these people would have spoken up!
@Aschraful Makhlooq: But you need to ponder why only Muslims are becoming victims of hate crimes.
Some one is provoking communal divide and this gulf will only increase causing tension in Europe and th US.