Anti-Muslim bullying on rise after Canada attacks

By Richard Valdmanis | Reuters Canada
October 30, 2014

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Reports of anti-Muslim harassment in Canada have risen, Muslim organizations say, after attacks last week in which two soldiers were killed by people authorities say were inspired by the militant group Islamic State.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims said it has seen a tenfold increase in reports of harassment, including racial slurs on public buses, notes left on car windshields and bullying at schools.

“There are some very positive signs that we’ve noticed in the form of calls of support and examples of people resisting bigotry,” said Amy Awad, the group’s human rights coordinator. “But there has been a large increase in complaints, too.”

She said a normal volume of reports of anti-Muslim incidents nationwide is about five a week. “That has gone up about tenfold, with a real surge in the past few days,” she said.

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