MPAC Explores Relationship Between Hate Speech and Hate Crimes

(WASHINGTON D.C., June 13, 2002) -- MPAC is strongly concerned that a rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab speech in American civil society is leading to an increase in hate-crimes and anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents that are likely to grow unless the hate speech stops.

On the same day that Southern Baptist Christian President, Rev. Jerry Vines, continues to refuse to repudiate anti-Islamic remarks he made at the SBC convention on June 11 calling the Prophet Muhammed a "demon-possessed pedophile", a mosque in Northern California was burglarized and vandalized with various hate filled expletives spray painted on the walls.  Milpitas, CA police have reported that they will investigate the incident as a hate crime.

In addition, columnist for the Washington Times Paul Craig Roberts writes in an editorial today, "Despite the terrible events of September 11, the United States government continues to issue hundreds of thousands of visas to young Muslims ... the unasked question is why the Untied States is allowing any visas to be issued to Muslims"

And activists in Orlando, Florida report that area talk show host Shannon Burke has aroused fear and outrage in the Orlando Muslim community by making statements that include, "We should close all our borders to all Muslims", "Muslims are cruel" (his producer Colin Brady said this), "Islam hates education.  That's why literacy, science and mathematics are regarded by scholars in Islam to be a threat to Islam", "Islam hates democracy and hates the United States" and "The bottom line is that any new invention, any innovation, is seen by Islam as an offence to Allah."

MPAC Communications Director Sarah Eltantawi said of these recent trends, "there seems a disturbing 'upping of the ante' when it comes to socially-permissible generalizations to make against Muslims and Arabs.  Hate filled, stereotypical and thoughtless statements can erode the tradition of civilized discourse on this country like a cancer, setting the stage for further breakdowns of civilized behavior.  Normalizing terrible statements against Islam's most revered prophet and calling for a complete severing of ties with all Muslims are sentiments completely at odds with a nation that prides itself on freedom, tolerance, and an educated populace.  We must double our efforts to spread non-sensationalized, accurate information about the seven million Muslims that call this great nation home and the fifth of humanity that practice Islam"

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is a public service agency working for the civil rights of American Muslims, for the integration of Islam into American pluralism, and for a positive, constructive relationship between American Muslims and their representatives.