WASHINGTON (RNS) Hate crime incidents targeting people based on their religion were at their highest frequency last year since 2001, according to a new report.
The report, compiled by the Anti-Defamation League from FBI data, found 1,519 religious hate crimes in 2008, accounting for about 20 percent of all bias crimes. It was an increase from 2007, when 1,400 crimes of religious bias were reported.
The number of crimes targeting Jews or Jewish institutions also increased in 2008. There were 1,013 hate crimes against Jews last year, accounting for about two-thirds of all religious bias crimes. It was the largest number of crimes against Jews since 2001.
Overall, hate crimes rose slightly in 2008, with participating agencies reporting 7,783 bias crimes. Racial bias accounted for about half of all those reported, with attacks aimed at ethnicity and sexual orientation accounting for much of the balance.
Attacks against Muslims dropped slightly last year, to 105 reports.
The numbers spiked in 2001, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. That year, 597 attacks against Muslims were reported, bringing the number of overall bias crimes up past 9,000 incidents.
ADL officials said an increase in agencies participating in the survey could account for part of the increase last year. But they said the spike remains a concern nonetheless.
By Matthew E. Berger
Copyright 2009 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted November 23, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Of all the religious hate crimes I’m willing to go out on a limb and predict next to none were committed by atheists toward the religious.
posted November 23, 2009 at 9:20 pm
nnmns, I suspect you are correct. Pagan’s aren’t known for hate crimes either. Many times they were targets.
posted November 23, 2009 at 10:18 pm
This article said the balance of crimes of hate were with sexual orientation. GLBT have had a rise in hate crimes in recent months. Just passing the Hate Crime bill seems to have gotten the hate crowd busy. Wait for DADT, and DOMA disappearing in the near future for the next rise. If the moon is full it will be worse.
posted November 23, 2009 at 10:56 pm
“ADL officials said an increase in agencies participating in the survey could account for part of the increase last year.”
I put very little credibility in polls, people with agendas ignore the fine print.
posted November 24, 2009 at 12:06 am
This certainly seems to be in step with the reports I have seen on the news — including today. ANYONE who believes it is acceptable to target someone because of their religion has no faith, no measurable intellect, and no excuse. They need to get their own heart and mind straight. Religious hate will poison all humanity again and again. We get it into our heads and hearts that we are better off because we are NOT all alike, do not believe all alike, and each of us can discover God waiting for us in many differnt ways and places. No religious group is free from this spit and vinegar, and it is up to the members of each group to identify, isolate, and neutralize this sort of thinking and acting.
Now go from this to the next piece about the Moslem Comic Book and see how things can be done in a positive way. There is a lot to learn but at least someone is showing evidence of catching on.
posted November 24, 2009 at 12:09 am
OK, I messed up. The second to last sentence was intended to couch all of it in the negative, as in We Should Not get it into our hearts and minds …
I guess this one gets me a little excited. Let me sum it up here…
Hate Crimes are committed by mindless spiritless, clueless Morons.
posted November 24, 2009 at 12:45 pm
“Hate Crimes are committed by mindless spiritless, clueless Morons.” jestrfyl
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You hit the nail on the head, jestrfyl.
cknuck, you would probably believe a poll that said the Bible was infallable and that everyone in the USA answered it was. Right?
posted November 24, 2009 at 1:12 pm
pagan you are just being silly
posted November 24, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I wonder how long it will take for someone to accuse those who prosecute religion-based hate crimes of fascism. Because that’s what happens when it’s other groups being targeted.