UAE- Connected world divided hearts: paper
Date
11/25/2015 3:34:28 AM
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI 25th November 2015 (WAM) -- A UAE newspaper has said that the world is well connected but hearts seem to be divided with intolerance shooting up in many countries.
"The latest distressing news comes from the United Kingdom where anti-Muslim attacks are rising especially since the terrorist atrocities in Paris" said Gulf Today in an editorial on Wednesday.
The daily quoted a report in The Independent citing the 'Tell Mama' helpline which records incidents of verbal and physical attacks on Muslims and mosques in the UK and which states that Muslims living in Britain have suffered more than 100 racial attacks since the Paris terror attack.
The report highlighted a spike in Islamophobic hate crimes of more than 300 percent to 115 in the week following the November 13th attacks in France. Incidentally most victims of the UK hate crimes were girls and women aged from 14 to 45 in traditional Islamic dress. The perpetrators were mainly white males aged from 15 to 35.
"What is adding to the worry is the fact that a large number of the reported attacks were in public places including on buses and trains.
"In all 816 Islamophobic incidents were recorded in Greater London between July 2014 and July 2015 compared to 478 in the previous period.
"Many of the victims have mentioned that they would be fearful of going out in the future and that the experiences have affected their confidence.
"Nevertheless there are also instances that reflect a shining example of the spirit of tolerance. Almost all passengers in a train compartment came to the rescue of a victim of hatred and forced a bully to get off the train on Saturday between Newcastle and Whitley Bay.
"Ruhi Rahman 23 has thanked the public on Facebook for standing up to the tormentor who threatened her and her sister on the packed train. The stranger approached the sisters and used hateful language. Before Rahman could even react to his comments the women beside her jumped to her support.
"Within minutes most passengers pulled up the bully who was eventually forced to get off at the next station. The incident ended with the carriage occupants clapping as the man left the train. Diversity has become a reality and tolerance is the only path that can lead to peace and progress for all people.
"United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon rightly called on the world recently to recognise the mounting threat posed by those who strive to divide and pledge to forge a path defined by dialogue and mutual understanding" concluded the Sharjah-based daily.
WAM/Esraa/Moran
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