The biggest increases were seen in Ontario and Quebec where police-reported hate crimes increased by 411 and 162 incidents, respectively. In Ontario, hate crimes specifically targeting Muslims increased by 207% and in Quebec by 185%.
“This tells us that Islamophobia in Canada is getting more intense and more pervasive. And these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg - approximately two-thirds of hate crimes are never even reported to police for a variety of reasons including fear of retaliation, shame, and fear of not being believed by police,” says Gardee.
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“When analyzing this data, it’s equally important to consider what the data does not show. The numbers don’t tell the story of victims who are targeted because of multiple aspects of their identity. For instance, hate crimes committed against an Arab Muslim woman or a Black Jewish man are not fully captured by the data. Additionally, the data does not speak to the issue of perception of identity. In some cases, Arabs, Sikhs and others are targeted because they are perceived to be Muslim but the data isn’t able to account for this nuance. Therefore, there is an ongoing need for improvement to the data collection process on hate crimes in Canada,” says NCCM Communications Coordinator Leila Nasr.
“The new data shows clear increases in hate crimes targeting almost every minority community in Canada; no community is immune. With this in mind, if we truly hope to see a decrease in hate crimes, it is essential that we come together to address all forms of hate and racism wherever and however they emerge. To accomplish this, we must stand together with other minority communities and develop joint strategies to address the systemic, root causes of hate crimes well before they happen,” adds Nasr.
The NCCM is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit advocacy organization that is a leading voice for Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.
CONTACT:
Ihsaan Gardee | Executive Director
Leila Nasr | Communications Coordinator