LOS ANGELES, 4 May 2004 — Reports of hate crimes and harassment against Muslims in California tripled last year from the year before, the highest number ever recorded outside the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, according to a report released yesterday by a national American Muslim organization.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations reported 221 incidents in 2003 of anti-Muslim bias in California, ranging from the severe beating of a Yorba Linda youth to vandalism against a San Luis Obispo mosque. Nationally, the council reported 1,019 anti-Muslim incidents, representing a 69 percent increase.
The report attributed the increased incidents to several factors, including a “lingering atmosphere of fear” stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks, fallout from the Iraq war, anti-Islam rhetoric from some conservative religious leaders, increased reporting of incidents by communities to the council, and US anti-terrorism policies, which Muslims allege adversely affect them.
“Things are getting worse and worse,” said Mohamed Nimer, the council’s national research director. “This has become part of our normal life — coping with increased attacks and vulgarities toward our faith and our life.”
The council report cited cases of Muslims whose bank accounts were closed without any explanation.
One Delaware woman, a US-born citizen, reported that her credit card application was rejected after she heard the cashier mention the Patriot Act in her conversation with the bank processing her request. The woman’s name was not listed on the Treasury Department’s list of suspicious persons.
