Sadly, if there is one town which has become the focal point for the press and for child sexual exploitation – it is sadly the town of Rotherham. Many residents speak disparagingly about the way that their town has been viewed by people across the country, including extremist and far right groups overseas who regularly cite the town as an example of what they say has gone wrong with ‘multi-culturalism.’

Many of these online social commentators have never stepped foot in Rotherham to see a local population which is trying to get on and move past the vile commentary circulated by some, where Rotherham is quoted by far right groups as being the ‘grooming capital’ of the country. This narrative by far right sympathisers is used time and time again to promote bigotry against residents whose heritage is of a Pakistani Muslim background. Yet, in all of this, the town of Rotherham is still recovering from the wide scale abuse of young women that took place.

We understand the mistrust and frustration that Muslim communities feel locally in Rotherham. This has been highlighted through a statement on the British Muslim Youth’s web-site. Some of this feeling has come about due to the following reasons:

• Arrest warrants being issued after the recent Britain First demonstrations in Rotherham, where young British Asians of Pakistani heritage feel that they have been unfairly targeted for defending themselves from far right sympathisers who attacked them with bottles.
• Ongoing concerns about attacks on taxi drivers in Rotherham and where the perception has been that victims do not seem to get justice in cases which have involved some violent activity.
• A strong sense of distrust that has been rapidly building over community policing and the perceived lack of action on hate crime cases.
• Concerns that local British Asians of Pakistani heritage feel that they are made to feel a sense of ‘collective guilt’ over the grooming scandal when they tell us that they have stood up and actively demonstrated against child sexual exploitation.
• A sense of lack of strong and sustained engagement between South Yorkshire Police and the local British Asian community.

Given the focus by far right groups on the town and the breakdown in policing and community relations, we believe that immediate steps need to be taken by local organisations and by the police to bridge the divide. For our part, we are providing hate crime training to Rotherham residents this week and we will try and provide some re-assurance about the need to report in hate incidents and crimes that affect the British Asian community of Pakistani heritage.

Tell MAMA remains committed to the residents of Rotherham and we will work with local partners and civil society groups in ensuring that communities feel that their voices are heard on issues of anti-Muslim prejudice. We have also been active in recording incidents of anti-Muslim hatred and in supporting victims in the local area.

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The Tell MAMA project will hold a free event on October 15 to discuss how communities and police forces can respond to anti-Muslim hate crimes.

This discussion coincides with National Hate Crime Week, which runs between October 10 and 17.

So why do we need this awareness week? Many British Muslims consider anti-Muslim abuse too trivial to report to police. Since 2007, the reporting of hate crimes (across all strands) dropped by 11 per cent.

Hate crime victims also experience more complex psychological issues than victims of non-biased crimes. Secondary victimisation can increase isolation when a person perceives that the police or other professional bodies undermine the seriousness of hate crimes.

The event on October 15 seeks to challenge the chronic education gap about what defines and separates a hate crime from a hate incident.

In recent weeks, Islamophobic hate crimes have made headlines nationwide. Figures for the 12 months up to July found a 70.7 per cent increase. Met Police recorded 816 Islamophobic crimes, compared with 478 for the previous 12-month period.

Islamophobic hate crimes are still on the rise in London. Rolling data for the 12 months up to August saw a 63.9 per cent rise. That translates to 818 Islamophobic crimes, compared to 499 for previous 12-month period.

Islamophobic hate crimes (like other forms of hate) are here to stay. Nor are they decreasing in London. It also remains a national problem.

The independence from government and the police creates a unique space for the Tell MAMA project to assist those who experience anti-Muslim hate in a confidential manner and help buck this trend.

Through dialogue and education, we can help British Muslims learn about their rights, what services can assist, and how it remains important to report in hate.

To join the conversation during National Hate Crime Week, use the hashtags #NHCAW, #WeStandTogether, #NoPlaceFor Hate, #SafePlaceForAll, #No2H8.

Register for our free event on October 15 using this link.

The post National Conference on Anti-Muslim Prejudice on October 15th 2015 appeared first on TELL MAMA.