Muslims in Islington have said that Islamophobic attacks in the borough are under-represented in crime statistics published by the Metropolitan Police, despite statistics for January showing an 80% increase in incidents when compared to last year.
Mohammed Kozbar, the Chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, told Islington Now that many Muslim women don’t feel safe in the borough.
He said: “Women have come to us in tears saying: ‘We can’t walk in the streets any more, we can’t go shopping, can’t take our children to school and we can’t use public transportation like we used to.’
“Because they are visible with the hijab on their head, they are easy targets, and unfortunately they are not getting the help they deserve. We aren’t getting the response we need from the authorities,” Mr Kozbar continued.
Anti-racism campaigner Maz Saleem at #standuptoracism rally in Islington: “Cameron is fuelling Islamophobia” pic.twitter.com/upRa8XD2SX
— Fred Searle (@fsearle91) February 29, 2016
Islington Now spoke to members of the congregation at the male only Masjid-e-Yusuf on Hornsey Road, who have reported increased hostility and community tensions in the last few months.
Aadil Udin, a 32-year-old shop worker, told Islington Now in December that his cousin was chased down Stroud Green Road late at night by two men.
Speaking this week, he said tensions had never been higher: “I’ve never felt this unsafe in Islington. Since December it has only got worse. Our women feel threatened in the street, and men worry about going out at night.
“I was followed home from the tube last Friday night. I just made sure I stayed in well-lit areas and stayed ahead of them.”
Udin told Islington Now that he and his friends did not report these incidents to police: “I don’t have any confidence in the police’s ability to deal with these incidents. If you’re murdered sure, but just trying to go about day to day, no – they’re not interested.
“I’ve spent years reporting incidents to the police. How many people have been arrested? How many have ever gone to jail? People say the police help keep the streets safe, I don’t feel safe.”
When asked if his confidence in the police has increased Udin said: “Not at all, they aren’t here for people like us.”
47 Islamophobic incidents were recorded in the borough in January. London-wide, 1068 reports of Islamophobia were recorded for the month, an increase of 60 per cent on last year.
In November last year, CCTV cameras recorded an attempt by an unknown man to set fire to Finsbury Park Mosque using a jerry can of petrol. The perpetrator fled on a moped and is still being hunted by police.
Commander Mak Chishty, the Metropolitan Police’s lead officer responsible for tackling hate crime, said: “We will not tolerate hate crime and take positive action to investigate all allegations, support victims and arrest offenders.
“Victims of hate crime must be assured that they will be taken seriously by the police. We have more than 900 specialist officers working in our Community Safety Units who are dedicated to investigating hate crime.
“We are always seeking ways to increase reporting and we work with a number of third party reporting sites, so that victims who feel unable to approach the police directly can report crime to non-police organisations and other individuals.
“Victims of hate crime can in now report this online on the Met’s website.
“Nobody should suffer in silence, so please report hate crime to us as soon as possible so we can act.”
Top picture: Google Maps
@OliverMilne