STATS CAN: HATE CRIMES IN CANADA RISE SHARPLY AGAINST MUSLIMS
Jun 13, 2017
By Bob Komsic
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An increase in incidents targeting Muslims in Canada was the reason there was a 5% increase in hate crimes in 2015.
(David Beatty / CBC)
Just released data from Statistics Canada shows the number of police-reported hate crimes against Muslims soared 60% that year compared with the previous year.
There were 159 anti-Muslim incidents reported to police in 2015, up from just under 100 the year before
National Council of Canadian Muslims vice-chair Khalid Elgazzar called 2015 a ”difficult year” for Muslim Canadians, citing two terrorist attacks in France and says former prime minister Stephen Harper made a woman’s right to wear a veil at citizenship ceremonies a ”central issue” of the election campaign that year.
Public Safety MInister Ralph Goodale finds the increase in incidents ”deeply tourblesome,” adding it flags the need for vigilance.