National

Anti-Muslim attacks last year reached 9/11 era level

By David Goldstein

dgoldstein@mcclatchydc.com

November 22, 2016 01:03 PM

Muslims and others prepare to say the Friday prayers outside the White House last year, following the murder of three young North Carolina Muslims. The number of anti-Muslim attacks last year reached the level of the 9/11 era, according to an analysis of the latest FBI hate crime data.
Muslims and others prepare to say the Friday prayers outside the White House last year, following the murder of three young North Carolina Muslims. The number of anti-Muslim attacks last year reached the level of the 9/11 era, according to an analysis of the latest FBI hate crime data. Jacquelyn Martin AP
Muslims and others prepare to say the Friday prayers outside the White House last year, following the murder of three young North Carolina Muslims. The number of anti-Muslim attacks last year reached the level of the 9/11 era, according to an analysis of the latest FBI hate crime data. Jacquelyn Martin AP
WASHINGTON

Attacks on Muslims in the U.S. last year nearly mirrored the level of what they were following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to a new analysis of the latest FBI data.

The Pew Research Center found that the 91 reports of aggravated or simple assault triggered by anti-Muslim bias were just two below the 93 such reports in 2001. Anti-Islamic incidents exploded following the 9/11 attacks – a more than 1,600 percent increase over 2000.

The FBI reported last week that hate crimes against Muslims had increased by 67 percent in 2015, part of a 7 percent increase overall in hate crimes.

Nearly half of all respondents to the Pew survey said that at least “some” Muslims in the U.S. are anti-American; 11 percent believe “most” or “almost all” feel that way.

Pew also found that nearly 60 percent of Americans said there was a “lot” of discrimination against Muslims, and three-quarters said it was on the rise.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil liberties group, reported that more than 30 episodes involving anti-Muslim bias took place within the five days following the presidential election won by Republican Donald Trump.

David Goldstein: 202-383-6105, @GoldsteinDavidJ

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