A Bad Month for Violence Against Religious Minorities

August is supposed to bring to mind sunshine, peaches and corn-on-the-cob. But the news this month has been especially filled with something far less enjoyable – namely, examples of violence against religious minorities. This is not a cheerful topic but it does matter and is worth a few minutes of our time. Let’s address this briefly below.

Mobs in Britain Targeting Muslims (and Blacks and Immigrants)

In Southport England on July 30, hundreds of people had gathered to attack a mosque. They had congregated after hearing (falsely) that the murder of three local children had been committed by a Muslim (the actual perpetrator was a British-born Christian teenager of Rwandan ancestry). They smashed windows, threw bricks and other objects at the mosque, and sent 27 police officers to the hospital while the mosque chair and a few others were trapped inside the mosque for hours fearing for their safety.

From there, the riots went viral, spreading throughout the country and continuing on for days, targeting Muslims and other minorities. On just one of these days, August 5, the BBC reported that petrol bombs were thrown in Belfast, police officers were attacked in Plymouth, and a pub was damaged in Birmingham. In total, over 600 people were arrested.

Statues of Hindu deities in festival in Bangladesh. Photo credit: Canva.com

Bangladeshi Hindus

In Bangladesh, massive public protests forced the ruling prime minister to flee the country on August 5th. The protesters were demonstrating against the 15 year autocratic rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, many in this Muslim-majority country, perceived that the Hindu minority were supporters of her and, as she fled, Hindus became subject to mob violence including killings, burned homes, and ransacked temples.

Hebrew script. Photo credit: Canva.com

Canadian Synagogues

The news in Canada was thankfully not nearly as bad but there was something unusual. Specifically, an email was sent to 125 Jewish organizations last week threatening violence and explosives. The recipients included many synagogues as well as other Jewish community organizations. This is after multiple sources (1, 2) reported that antisemitic incidents rose 100% in 2023, surging after the October 7 attack and the ensuing war on Gaza. In addition to the war’s devastation to the people of Gaza, its ripples continue to be felt in Canada with antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks.

The Special Scourge of Hate Crimes

A police officer I know and respect once shared with me the unique characteristic of hate crimes. I’m paraphrasing but he essentially said that when someone steals your bike or your car, you know they were after your property and it really only impacts you. But in a hate crime, the target is your person and it affects a whole community who knows that it could just as well be them. Hate crimes thus really erode the sense of safety and belonging we all seek. So, what can we do?

What To Do?

Act

• Some research suggests that when people perpetuate violence, they often believe that the true public supports them and that they are defending a silent majority, an “us.” It matters to show them that “we” the public do not support these actions. In Britain, there were counter-protests staged and, in some instances, people gathered to create protective rings around individual’s houses after their addresses had been highlighted online as potential targets. Others donated money or free labour to repair damage. This does many things – it increases the safety of those specific targeted individuals, it shows the rioters that many of their neighbours do not agree with them, and it shows those in the minority that they are not alone.

De-escalate

• Social media is an escalation machine. We often will type things we would not say to another person’s face. Responses online are often harsher and more likely to draw lines in the sand with clear “us” and them” binaries. Language more often becomes dehumanizing and demonizing of those we disagree with. That polarization is the slow fuel build-up that can eventually ignite. Look for opportunities to note subtleties in others’ views, find the best representatives of views you do not hold, and highlight points of agreement before you explain where you differ. Most critically, try to moderate the tone in every social media argument. Start by acknowleding something in the other’s view your respect whenever you can.

Connect

• It is so helpful to form bonds across boundaries of race or religion. The more we know one another and have spent time chatting, co-coaching the soccer team, or shoveling snow, the more we feel a kinship with those around us. It broadens the sense of “us” that keeps everyone safe. Minorities feel more integrated and those in the majority feel less uncertainty about their minority neighbours.

Educate

• We often fear the unknown. From an evolutionary perspective, there were likely many benefits to being vigilant (or even hyper-vigilant) and to assuming the worst. This tendency is less helpful today but can make us anxious about people and cultures we are less familiar with. The solution is straightforward – in this super diverse country, we need to do what we can to learn about one another. There are many ways to do this. Many religious communities have open houses you can attend. There are great books out there. And Encounter has free, informative, and easily-skimmed resources on our website as well.

Making our diverse communities peaceful and home for everyone is ongoing work but it’s a work that is both critical and rewarding. We all win from communities where we feel connected to one another and feel a sense of solidarity and safety.

Photo credit: Canva.com