WASHINGTON -- Despite church leaders' plea for no violence, hate crimes against Muslims or those thought to be of Middle Eastern descent rose in the United States in 2001, according to the FBI.
The number of cases rose from 28 in 2000 to 481 in 2001, according to the Episcopal News Service. The report did not indicate how many incidents occurred after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Nearly 10,000 allegations of hate crimes were reported during 2001, with Muslims trailing African Americans, homosexuals and Jews in the number of cases reported. Hate crimes can range from verbal abuse to assault or murder.
Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said comments by Christian evangelical leaders are partly to blame.
"Unfortunately, the population that is hostile to Islam in the United States is increasing, parroting the line of (Franklin) Graham, (Jerry) Falwell and (Pat) Robertson," Hooper said.
