Tell MAMA has recorded 200 cases between October 7 and 16, marking a five-fold increase over the same period last year (37 reports), as of 1 pm today.
As our previous bulletin made clear, “The nature of many offline cases sent to our service is often overtly racist – targeting Arab and Palestinian communities with dehumanising slurs, anti-Muslim slurs or in some cases targeting their homes, or when speaking Arabic in public, as well as targeting Asian and Muslim communities.”
The following cases came into Tell MAMA between October 7 and October 16:
81 offline cases – (8 assaults, 11 threatening behaviour, 5 vandalism, and 57 cases of abusive behaviour). Cases occurred in areas like London (49), Greater Manchester (13), Lancashire (5), South Yorkshire (3), West Yorkshire (4), Derbyshire (2) and Birmingham (5).
119 online cases – consistent with last week, a majority of which contained dehumanising anti-Muslim language and tropes, equating communities with terrorism and violence.
The numbers remain, like all Tell MAMA cases, subject to further revision and analysis.
Examples of the rhetoric online and offline include calling Muslims “terrorists”, ‘Nazis” “barbaric” and “bloodthirsty” – in some cases compared to Nazis, language that appeared on social media.
The death threat made towards a Muslim woman on a train is also under investigation by British Transport Police.
A Palestinian Muslim family faced harassment and abuse, including “Nazi” slurs when out in public.
On Saturday, October 14, numerous reports came to us about graffiti in the Raynes Park area in Merton that included the words “Ilsam (Islam) is Evil” on various bus stops, including those near schools attended by Muslim children.
Further notes:
We have safety advice in both English and Arabic – and urge Muslim communities to remain vigilant when out and about.
Our counselling service is there for anyone in need. If you would like to access the service or find out more about it, e-mail us at counselling@tellmamauk.org
In any emergency, dial 999.