Research center finds anti-Muslim hate crimes jump 1 to 14 in Maryland

Rasa - In Maryland, the number of hate crimes against Muslims jumped from one in 2014 to 14 last year, according to new research from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

News ID: 424309

Date: 14 October 2016 - 23:29

RNA - In Maryland, the number of hate crimes against Muslims jumped from one in 2014 to 14 last year, according to new research from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

Muslims were targeted in the largest percentage increase of hate crimes reported in the state.

"The community has a big concern," said Rizwan Siddiqi, president of the United Maryland Muslim Council. "There are a couple reasons why we understand this is happening ... it's a little bit of profiling, a lack of education and lack of information to the general public."

Maryland hate crimes also increased against African Americans, Jews and gay men. From 2014 to 2015, the reported crimes against African Americans went up 67 to 90; Jews, 40 to 46; gay men, six to 16.

The statistics were gathered from law enforcement agencies by Brian Levin, director of the hate crime research center in San Bernardino, Calif.

"More densely populated and more diverse states seem to be seeing the increase," he said.

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