{"id":284332,"date":"2016-12-13T17:28:53","date_gmt":"2016-12-13T16:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/stain-on-our-nation-attorney-general-lynch-condemns-disturbing-rise-of-anti-muslim-hate-crimes\/"},"modified":"2016-12-13T17:28:53","modified_gmt":"2016-12-13T16:28:53","slug":"stain-on-our-nation-attorney-general-lynch-condemns-disturbing-rise-of-anti-muslim-hate-crimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/stain-on-our-nation-attorney-general-lynch-condemns-disturbing-rise-of-anti-muslim-hate-crimes\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Stain on our nation\u2019: Attorney General Lynch condemns \u2018disturbing\u2019 rise of anti-Muslim hate crimes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said “much more work remains to be done” to combat the rise of anti-Muslim hate crime in the US.<\/p>\n

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Lynch, who is the first African-American woman to hold the position of US attorney general, was speaking at a news conference with interfaith leaders at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center in Sterling, Virginia on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cHate crimes target more than just the individual at that time \u2013 they target the fabric of our communities, they are also a stain on our nation\u2019s very soul,\u201d<\/em> Lynch said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Referring to FBI figures which showed a rise of anti-Muslim hate crimes between 2014 and 2015, Lynch said the \u201cdisturbing trend\u201d<\/em> was a \u201csobering indication of how much more work remains to be done.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Hate crimes against Muslims in US increased 67% last year \u2013 FBI<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the highest total of anti-Muslim incidents since 2001,\u201d<\/em> she continued, referencing the 9\/11 attacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of us have seen the recent flurry of news reports about hate crimes and harassment,\u201d<\/em> she said. \u201cWe have seen the stories where hijabs have been yanked off women\u2019s heads – literally off women\u2019s heads.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Hate crimes against minorities increased dramatically in the 10 days following Trump\u2019s winning of the US elections, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center<\/a> which said, \u201cMuslim women wearing hijabs have been particularly vulnerable to threats and assault,\u201d<\/em> in its analysis. \u00a0<\/p>\n

In her speech, Lynch urged Americans to report hate crimes because \u201cwhen one of us falls, we all have to step up without regard for our own safety. When one of us is threatened, we all have to speak out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Combating hate crimes is not just about enforcing the law. It\u2019s about staying true to our highest ideals and most cherished principles. https:\/\/t.co\/61WNLTn2jn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 AG Loretta Lynch (@LorettaLynch) November 18, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Faith leaders at the event also spoke about religious freedom, with Imam Mohamed Magid of the Dulles Islamic center outlining how protecting those wishing to freely practice their faith is \u201can American issue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cProtecting religious freedom is not a Democratic issue or Republican issue,\u201d<\/em> Magid told the audience. \u201cIt is not a right-wing or a left-wing issue. It is an American issue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Senior pastor of Northwood Church in Texas, Reverend Bob Roberts, backed Magid\u2019s comments, adding that: \u201cIt\u2019s time for all of us Americans to stand up in this time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The attorney general highlighted several measures being taken by the Department of Justice to tackle hate crimes, including partnering with local law enforcement agencies and using classroom religious tolerance initiatives to educate young people on the issue of acceptance.<\/p>\n