The Joe Biden administration has warned schools and colleges in the United States that the nation is witnessing an "alarming rise" in antisemitism and Islamophobia. The authorities have urged educational institutions to take immediate action against the rising threats and harassment.

In a letter on Tuesday (Nov 7), the US Education Department said that in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, there was a "renewed urgency" to fight discrimination against students.

"Antisemitism, Islamophobia and all other forms of hatred go against everything we stand for as a nation," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement.

However, hate crimes, unfortunately, are nothing new in the United States.&nbsp;

In the wake of history-changing events like the 9/11 terror attack, the Covid pandemic and now the Israel-Hamas war, the 'land of opportunity' as it was once called becomes the hot bed for Xenophobia — the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange.

<h2>Aftermath of Israel-Hamas war</h2>

In the wake of the ongoing war in the Middle East, the US has seen an "alarming rise" in cases of antisemitism and Islamophobia, as per the Biden administration.

In a recent statement released on the 25th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act, President Joe Biden said: "Here at home, we are facing a rising tide of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination that are fuelling violence and hate across our country."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hate-crime-nyu-students-seen-tearing-down-posters-of-young-israeli-children-kidnapped-by-hamas-watch-648203">NYU students seen tearing down posters of young Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas. Watch!</a>

However, the US President said that "in the wake of Hamas' brutal terrorist assault against Israel," they are "working with community partners to identify, prevent, and disrupt any threats that could harm the Jewish, Muslim, Arab American, Palestinian American, or any other communities."

After Hamas militants launched their attack on October 7, incidents of hate crimes started cropping up very rapidly.

One case that left the world shocked involved a six-year-old child, who became the victim of a senseless hate crime borne out of fear.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mom-im-fine-family-reveal-6-year-old-hate-crime-victims-heartbreaking-last-words-647816">'Mom, I'm fine': 6-year-old Muslim boy's heartbreaking last words before dying in hate crime</a>

Soon after the war started, Wadea al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American Muslim boy, was stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife in his home in Illinois, US.&nbsp;

The motive of the crime? Hatred.

The assailant, Wadea's landlord, 71-year-old Joseph M Czuba reportedly entered the little boy's family home yelling: "You Muslims must die!".

In the attack, the child's 32-year-old mother also suffered several stabbing wounds and had to be hospitalised.

Similarly, there have been reports of several disturbing spillovers and prejudices against Muslims and Jews. This includes reports of university students beating up their classmates, tearing down posters of Israeli children taken hostage, and more.

Are these once in a blue moon kinds of incidents?

Unfortunately, no. Modern history has already been witness to two such major episodes, where a particular race or religion saw widespread hatred: the Covid pandemic and the 9/11 attacks.

<h2>Asian community becomes the target</h2>

In 2020, the world came face to face with a dangerous common enemy: the coronavirus.&nbsp;

An invisible ailment that targeted our bodies from the inside forced the global population to quarantine themselves from the world.&nbsp;

Millions lost their lives as humanity everywhere grappled with the rapidly strengthening foe, whose origins remain unclear even now.

Origin theories point the finger at China and postulate that the virus which was first recorded in the nation's Wuhan is either a laboratory leak — accidental or intentional, or that it is a zoonotic disease that jumped species in Wuhan's wet markets.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rise-in-hate-crime-against-asian-americans-amid-pandemic-us-senators-296718">Rise in hate crime against Asian-Americans amid pandemic: US senators</a>

During the almost two years when the pandemic was at its peak, in the US, as per the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), crimes against the Asian American community saw a significant rise.

Between 2019 and 2020, there was a 77 per cent increase in hate crimes against Asian people living in the US.

Furthermore, during the period from March 2020 to June 2021, more than 9,000 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported, as per advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate Center. This included verbal harassment, including being called things like the "Chinese Coronavirus".&nbsp;

As per a Health Affairs report, these numbers are not a just reflection of the incidents as hate crimes frequently go unreported. A 2021 poll by Axios/Ipsos, called the 'Hard Truth Civil Rights &amp; Social Justice poll' found that 82 per cent of Asian Americans agreed that as a group they've faced discrimination because of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 57 per cent said they often or sometimes feel unsafe in public.

<h2>Muslims, Arabs and Islamophobia</h2>

After the horrific 9/11 attack in the US, there was a hate crime backlash that targeted&nbsp;people of Arab and Muslim origins. Even Sikhs, South Asians and those perceived to belong to be Arab or Muslim also faced the adverse response.

These incidents were marked by ferocity and included murder, physical assaults, arson, vandalism of places of worship and other property damage, death threats and public harassment.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-antisemitic-islamophobic-incidents-surge-with-war-advocates-say-651470">US antisemitic, Islamophobic incidents surge with war, advocates say</a>

As per the Human Rights Watch, most of these violent incidents occurred in the first months after September 11. FBI data shows a seventeen-fold increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes.&nbsp;

What does this data tell us? Does the United States — the dream destination&nbsp;of many from developing nations — able to fully grasp the concept of tolerance?

The Joe Biden administration has warned schools and colleges in the United States that the nation is witnessing an "alarming rise" in antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The Joe Biden administration has warned schools and colleges in the United States that the nation is witnessing an "alarming rise" in antisemitism and Islamophobia. The authorities have urged educational institutions to take immediate action against the rising threats and harassment. In a letter on Tuesday (Nov 7), the US Education Department said that in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, there was a "renewed urgency" to fight discrimination against students. "Antisemitism, Islamophobia and all other forms of hatred go against everything we stand for as a nation," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement. However, hate crimes, unfortunately, are nothing new in the United States. In the wake of history-changing events like the 9/11 terror attack, the Covid pandemic and now the Israel-Hamas war, the 'land of opportunity' as it was once called becomes the hot bed for Xenophobia — the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange. Aftermath of Israel-Hamas war In the wake of the ongoing war in the Middle East, the US has seen an "alarming rise" in cases of antisemitism and Islamophobia, as per the Biden administration. In a recent statement released on the 25th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act, President Joe Biden said: "Here at home, we are facing a rising tide of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination that are fuelling violence and hate across our country." Also read | NYU students seen tearing down posters of young Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas. Watch! However, the US President said that "in the wake of Hamas' brutal terrorist assault against Israel," they are "working with community partners to identify, prevent, and disrupt any threats that could harm the Jewish, Muslim, Arab American, Palestinian American, or any other communities." After Hamas militants launched their attack on October 7, incidents of hate crimes started cropping up very rapidly. One case that left the world shocked involved a six-year-old child, who became the victim of a senseless hate crime borne out of fear. Also read | 'Mom, I'm fine': 6-year-old Muslim boy's heartbreaking last words before dying in hate crime Soon after the war started, Wadea al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American Muslim boy, was stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife in his home in Illinois, US. The motive of the crime? Hatred. The assailant, Wadea's landlord, 71-year-old Joseph M Czuba reportedly entered the little boy's family home yelling: "You Muslims must die!". In the attack, the child's 32-year-old mother also suffered several stabbing wounds and had to be hospitalised. Similarly, there have been reports of several disturbing spillovers and prejudices against Muslims and Jews. This includes reports of university students beating up their classmates, tearing down posters of Israeli children taken hostage, and more. Are these once in a blue moon kinds of incidents? Unfortunately, no. Modern history has already been witness to two such major episodes, where a particular race or religion saw widespread hatred: the Covid pandemic and the 9/11 attacks. Asian community becomes the target In 2020, the world came face to face with a dangerous common enemy: the coronavirus. An invisible ailment that targeted our bodies from the inside forced the global population to quarantine themselves from the world. Millions lost their lives as humanity everywhere grappled with the rapidly strengthening foe, whose origins remain unclear even now. Origin theories point the finger at China and postulate that the virus which was first recorded in the nation's Wuhan is either a laboratory leak — accidental or intentional, or that it is a zoonotic disease that jumped species in Wuhan's wet markets. Also read | Rise in hate crime against Asian-Americans amid pandemic: US senators During the almost two years when the pandemic was at its peak, in the US, as per the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), crimes against the Asian American community saw a significant rise. Between 2019 and 2020, there was a 77 per cent increase in hate crimes against Asian people living in the US. Furthermore, during the period from March 2020 to June 2021, more than 9,000 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported, as per advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate Center. This included verbal harassment, including being called things like the "Chinese Coronavirus". As per a Health Affairs report, these numbers are not a just reflection of the incidents as hate crimes frequently go unreported. A 2021 poll by Axios/Ipsos, called the 'Hard Truth Civil Rights & Social Justice poll' found that 82 per cent of Asian Americans agreed that as a group they've faced discrimination because of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 57 per cent said they often or sometimes feel unsafe in public. Muslims, Arabs and Islamophobia After the horrific 9/11 attack in the US, there was a hate crime backlash that targeted people of Arab and Muslim origins. Even Sikhs, South Asians and those perceived to belong to be Arab or Muslim also faced the adverse response. These incidents were marked by ferocity and included murder, physical assaults, arson, vandalism of places of worship and other property damage, death threats and public harassment. Also read | US antisemitic, Islamophobic incidents surge with war, advocates say As per the Human Rights Watch, most of these violent incidents occurred in the first months after September 11. FBI data shows a seventeen-fold increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes. What does this data tell us? Does the United States — the dream destination of many from developing nations — able to fully grasp the concept of tolerance?

Explained | Islamophobia, antisemitism, Xenophobia: The many faces of hate in the US

India has issued an advisory to its nationals living or studying in Canada. India's foreign ministry has cautioned against a sharp rise in hate crime and anti-India activities.

WION Dispatch | India witnesses sharp rise in anti-India activities in Canada

The man accused of killing African Americans last month in a shooting spree at a Buffalo, New York supermarket, has been charged with federal hate crimes, the US Justice Department announced on Wednesday (June 15). Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old shot dead 10 African Americans on May 14. According to a criminal complaint, Gendron faces 26 counts of hate crimes and firearms offences. Notably, federal hate crime charges mean life in prison or even the death penalty.&nbsp;

The charges state that Gendron was motivated by racist hate when he shot at people. with a semi-automatic assault weapon. The charges said: "Gendron's motive for the mass shooting was to prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks."&nbsp;

The charges were announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who visited Buffalo and met with family members of those killed. He said, "Hate-fuelled acts of violence terrorize not only the individuals who are all attacked but entire communities. We fully recognize the threat that hatred and violent extremism pose to the safety of the American people and American democracy."&nbsp;

He added, "No one in this country should have to live in fear that they will go to work or shop at a grocery store and will be attacked by someone who hates them because of the colour of their skin."&nbsp;

The recent Buffalo incident and mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas shocked the nation. An increase in gun violence and mass killings have sparked renewed calls for reform of the nation's gun laws.&nbsp;

In the aftermath, a bipartisan group of senators recently announced measures targeted to control the recent increase in gun violence in the country. They have chalked out a framework for new legislation.&nbsp;

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The man accused of killing African Americans last month in a shooting spree at a Buffalo, New York supermarket, has been charged with federal hate crimes, the US Justice Department announced on Wednesday (June 15).

The man accused of killing African Americans last month in a shooting spree at a Buffalo, New York supermarket, has been charged with federal hate crimes, the US Justice Department announced on Wednesday (June 15). Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old shot dead 10 African Americans on May 14. According to a criminal complaint, Gendron faces 26 counts of hate crimes and firearms offences. Notably, federal hate crime charges mean life in prison or even the death penalty. The charges state that Gendron was motivated by racist hate when he shot at people. with a semi-automatic assault weapon. The charges said: "Gendron's motive for the mass shooting was to prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks." The charges were announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who visited Buffalo and met with family members of those killed. He said, "Hate-fuelled acts of violence terrorize not only the individuals who are all attacked but entire communities. We fully recognize the threat that hatred and violent extremism pose to the safety of the American people and American democracy." He added, "No one in this country should have to live in fear that they will go to work or shop at a grocery store and will be attacked by someone who hates them because of the colour of their skin." The recent Buffalo incident and mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas shocked the nation. An increase in gun violence and mass killings have sparked renewed calls for reform of the nation's gun laws. In the aftermath, a bipartisan group of senators recently announced measures targeted to control the recent increase in gun violence in the country. They have chalked out a framework for new legislation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Buffalo mass shooting: Shooter charged with federal hate crimes, faces possible death penalty

According to a newly republished data by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hate crimes against Asian-origin people rose by 76% in 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In August, the FBI issued hate crime data but due to an error in reporting Ohio's statistics, the data was incomplete. The agency has now corrected the technical issue in Ohio's reporting system.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2020, 279 hate crime incidents against Asian-origin people were reported as compared to 158 reported incidents in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-revokes-top-chinese-telecom-firms-licence-over-national-security-concerns-424403" hreflang="en">US revokes top Chinese telecom firm's licence over 'national security' concerns</a>

According to FBI data released on Monday, over 60% of hate crimes in the United States were carried out on the basis of an individual's race.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jay Greenberg, deputy assistant director, FBI's criminal division, told ABC News' Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, "Every hate crime is an attack on the community."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The FBI official said most hate crimes are directed at African Americans, but acknowledged there was a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes due to Covid.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-man-sues-dating-website-after-not-finding-enough-single-ladies-in-his-age-range-424409" hreflang="en">US man sues dating website after not finding 'enough single ladies' in his age range</a> &nbsp;

In total, there were around 8,052 single-bias incidents, crimes motivated by one type of bias, involving 11,126 victims. Comparatively, there were around 7,103 single-bias incidents involving 8,552 victims in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The agency said 20% hate crimes targeted a person's sexual orientation while 13% hate crimes that occurred in 2020 were due to religious bias.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

According to a newly republished data by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hate crimes against Asian-origin people rose by 76% in 2020. In August, the FBI issued hate crime data but due to an error in reporting Ohio's statistics, the data was incomplete.

According to a newly republished data by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hate crimes against Asian-origin people rose by 76% in 2020. In August, the FBI issued hate crime data but due to an error in reporting Ohio's statistics, the data was incomplete. The agency has now corrected the technical issue in Ohio's reporting system. In 2020, 279 hate crime incidents against Asian-origin people were reported as compared to 158 reported incidents in 2019. Also Read: US revokes top Chinese telecom firm's licence over 'national security' concerns According to FBI data released on Monday, over 60% of hate crimes in the United States were carried out on the basis of an individual's race. Jay Greenberg, deputy assistant director, FBI's criminal division, told ABC News' Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, "Every hate crime is an attack on the community." The FBI official said most hate crimes are directed at African Americans, but acknowledged there was a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes due to Covid. Also Read: US man sues dating website after not finding 'enough single ladies' in his age range In total, there were around 8,052 single-bias incidents, crimes motivated by one type of bias, involving 11,126 victims. Comparatively, there were around 7,103 single-bias incidents involving 8,552 victims in 2019. The agency said 20% hate crimes targeted a person's sexual orientation while 13% hate crimes that occurred in 2020 were due to religious bias. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid pandemic in 2020, hate crimes against Asians rose 76% in US, says FBI

United States President Joe Biden called on the Americans to show unity as the country prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

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On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks, President Biden honors the lives of those we lost and highlights how even at our most vulnerable – unity is our greatest strength.<a href="https://t.co/TdVhw9TVpb">pic.twitter.com/TdVhw9TVpb</a>
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Speaking in a six-minute recording at the White House that was shared on the official Twitter handle on Friday, Biden said, “To me, that’s the central lesson of September 11. It’s that at our most vulnerable, in the push and pull of all that makes us human, in the battle for the soul of America, unity is our greatest strength.”

The President’s appeal for unity comes at a time when the US is facing rising instances of hate crimes. According to a report by the FBI, hate crimes against African and Asian Americans surged in the past one year.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-was-very-far-away-how-afghans-remember-911-412095">&nbsp;'America was very far away': How Afghans remember 9/11</a>

Moreover, hate crimes against Arab Americans, Muslims and others perceived as Arab or Muslim had also surged post the 9/11 attacks. And while they have subsided in recent years, the numbers have never returned to levels seen before the attacks, the FBI data shows. More recently, the United States has also seen a rise in anti-Semitic discrimination.

“Unity doesn't mean we have to believe the same thing, but we must have a fundamental respect and faith in each other and in this nation," Biden said in the video.

Also watch

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On Saturday, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will visit New York City—where two airliners destroyed the World Trade Center and killed around 2,700 people—the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia—where a third airliner crashed—and Shanksville, Pennsylvania—where passengers forced down a fourth aircraft believed to have been headed to the U.S. Capitol or White House.

Joe Biden will then be joined at Ground Zero in New York by former president Barack Obama, whom he served for two terms as vice-president.

Small memorial ceremonies will be held across the US, and millions are expected to tune in to coverage that will blanket the TV networks throughout the day.

There will be six moments of silence during the ceremony, marking the moment each tower was struck and the time each fell, as well as the moment when the Pentagon was attacked, and the time that Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers stopped it from reaching its likely intended target of the US Capitol.

As three of the four most recent US presidents attend official ceremonies, Donald Trump will also reportedly visit the 9/11 memorial on Saturday afternoon, once the ceremony has finished and after Biden has left the city.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President Joe Biden called on the Americans to show unity as the country prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

United States President Joe Biden called on the Americans to show unity as the country prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks, President Biden honors the lives of those we lost and highlights how even at our most vulnerable – unity is our greatest strength.pic.twitter.com/TdVhw9TVpb — The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 10, 2021 × Speaking in a six-minute recording at the White House that was shared on the official Twitter handle on Friday, Biden said, “To me, that’s the central lesson of September 11. It’s that at our most vulnerable, in the push and pull of all that makes us human, in the battle for the soul of America, unity is our greatest strength.” The President’s appeal for unity comes at a time when the US is facing rising instances of hate crimes. According to a report by the FBI, hate crimes against African and Asian Americans surged in the past one year. Also read | 'America was very far away': How Afghans remember 9/11 Moreover, hate crimes against Arab Americans, Muslims and others perceived as Arab or Muslim had also surged post the 9/11 attacks. And while they have subsided in recent years, the numbers have never returned to levels seen before the attacks, the FBI data shows. More recently, the United States has also seen a rise in anti-Semitic discrimination. “Unity doesn't mean we have to believe the same thing, but we must have a fundamental respect and faith in each other and in this nation," Biden said in the video. Also watch On Saturday, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will visit New York City—where two airliners destroyed the World Trade Center and killed around 2,700 people—the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia—where a third airliner crashed—and Shanksville, Pennsylvania—where passengers forced down a fourth aircraft believed to have been headed to the U.S. Capitol or White House. Joe Biden will then be joined at Ground Zero in New York by former president Barack Obama, whom he served for two terms as vice-president. Small memorial ceremonies will be held across the US, and millions are expected to tune in to coverage that will blanket the TV networks throughout the day. There will be six moments of silence during the ceremony, marking the moment each tower was struck and the time each fell, as well as the moment when the Pentagon was attacked, and the time that Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers stopped it from reaching its likely intended target of the US Capitol. As three of the four most recent US presidents attend official ceremonies, Donald Trump will also reportedly visit the 9/11 memorial on Saturday afternoon, once the ceremony has finished and after Biden has left the city. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden calls for unity on the eve of 9/11 attacks

In the last couple of months, South Africa's LGBT+ community has been robbed by a series of brutal hate crimes against its members all across the country. The community is now taking the help of social media to appeal to the government to address the issue.

Rising hate crimes against South Africa's LGBT+ community

US President Joe Biden has signed legislation to address the sudden increase in hate crime against Asian-Americans in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed hope that such crimes would now be more accurately counted and reported so that they can be ended.

It will provide resources to create specialised hate crimes units that will also help states create hotlines for hate crimes at state and local levels that will be accessible for people with limited English proficiency. And it provides resources for training for state and local law enforcement to identify, investigate, and report these heinous crimes, Biden said after signing the legislation which has become law after his assent.

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed the Senate-approved version of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with an overwhelming bipartisan vote.

This bill was introduced by Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Grace Meng in the House and incorporated the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act.

This legislation will address the current rise in anti-Asian hate and improve the reporting of hate crimes. Biden also urged people to change their mind and heart.

But of all the good that the law can do, we have to change our hearts. We have to change the hearts of the American people. I mean this from the bottom of my heart -- hate can be given no safe harbour in America. I mean it: no safe harbour. It can't be dismissed like, Well, that's just what happens. My sister, Valerie, and I talk about it all the time. You've got to speak up. Speak up and speak out, he said.

Senator Hirono said after a year in which the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community experienced a horrifying rise in hate crimes and incidents driven by racist and inflammatory language during the pandemic, the bipartisan piece of legislation sends a clear and unmistakable message of solidarity to the community at this crucial moment and will help federal, state, and local governments confront anti-Asian hate across our country.

This bill will require the Department of Justice to expedite the review of COVID-19-related hate crimes, ensure online hate crimes and hate incident reporting are language accessible, expand public awareness campaigns designed to increase awareness and outreach to victims, disaggregate victims' protected characteristics, and expand restorative justice practices and alternative sentencing, said Christine Chen, executive director of APIAVote.

These initiatives will help combat the historic undercounting of hate crimes by the Asian American community and improve the overall infrastructure needed for hate crime reporting, data collection, and justice, she said.

US President Joe Biden has signed legislation to address the sudden increase in hate crime against Asian-Americans in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed hope that such crimes would now be more accurately counted and reported so that they can be ended.

US President Joe Biden has signed legislation to address the sudden increase in hate crime against Asian-Americans in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed hope that such crimes would now be more accurately counted and reported so that they can be ended. It will provide resources to create specialised hate crimes units that will also help states create hotlines for hate crimes at state and local levels that will be accessible for people with limited English proficiency. And it provides resources for training for state and local law enforcement to identify, investigate, and report these heinous crimes, Biden said after signing the legislation which has become law after his assent. Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed the Senate-approved version of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. This bill was introduced by Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Grace Meng in the House and incorporated the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act. This legislation will address the current rise in anti-Asian hate and improve the reporting of hate crimes. Biden also urged people to change their mind and heart. But of all the good that the law can do, we have to change our hearts. We have to change the hearts of the American people. I mean this from the bottom of my heart -- hate can be given no safe harbour in America. I mean it: no safe harbour. It can't be dismissed like, Well, that's just what happens. My sister, Valerie, and I talk about it all the time. You've got to speak up. Speak up and speak out, he said. Senator Hirono said after a year in which the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community experienced a horrifying rise in hate crimes and incidents driven by racist and inflammatory language during the pandemic, the bipartisan piece of legislation sends a clear and unmistakable message of solidarity to the community at this crucial moment and will help federal, state, and local governments confront anti-Asian hate across our country. This bill will require the Department of Justice to expedite the review of COVID-19-related hate crimes, ensure online hate crimes and hate incident reporting are language accessible, expand public awareness campaigns designed to increase awareness and outreach to victims, disaggregate victims' protected characteristics, and expand restorative justice practices and alternative sentencing, said Christine Chen, executive director of APIAVote. These initiatives will help combat the historic undercounting of hate crimes by the Asian American community and improve the overall infrastructure needed for hate crime reporting, data collection, and justice, she said.

Joe Biden signs bill to address hate crimes against Asian-Americans

Congress approved legislation on Tuesday intended to curtail a striking rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sending President Joe Biden a bipartisan denunciation of the spate of brutal attacks that have proliferated during coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

The bill, which the House passed on a 364-62 vote, will expedite the review of hate crimes at the Justice Department and make grants available to help local law enforcement agencies improve their investigation, identification and reporting of incidents driven by bias, which often go underreported. It previously passed the Senate 94-1 in April after lawmakers reached a compromise. Biden has said he will sign it.&nbsp;

"Asian Americans have been screaming out for help, and the House and Senate and President Biden have clearly heard our pleas," said Rep Grace Meng, D-NY, who helped lead efforts to pass the bill in the House.&nbsp;

To many Asian Americans, the pandemic has invigorated deep-seated biases that in some cases date back to the Chinese Exclusion Act of more than a century ago. President Donald Trump repeatedly referred to the virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China, as the 'China Virus' or the 'Kung Flu’. And as cases of the illness began to rise in the US, so too did the attacks, with thousands of violent incidents reported in the past year.&nbsp;

Rep Judy Chu, D-Calif, said it's painful for many to "open up the newspaper every day and see that yet another Asian American has been assaulted, attacked and even killed."&nbsp;

In February, an 84-year-old man died after he was pushed to the ground near his home in San Francisco. A young family was injured in a Texas grocery store attack last year. And in Georgia, six Asian women were killed in March during a series of shootings targeting workers at massage parlours. Prosecutors are seeking hate crimes charges. The women, who were killed, are mentioned in the text of the bill.&nbsp;

Congress approved legislation on Tuesday intended to curtail a striking rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sending President Joe Biden a bipartisan denunciation of the spate of brutal attacks that have proliferated during coronavirus pandemic.

Congress approved legislation on Tuesday intended to curtail a striking rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sending President Joe Biden a bipartisan denunciation of the spate of brutal attacks that have proliferated during coronavirus pandemic. The bill, which the House passed on a 364-62 vote, will expedite the review of hate crimes at the Justice Department and make grants available to help local law enforcement agencies improve their investigation, identification and reporting of incidents driven by bias, which often go underreported. It previously passed the Senate 94-1 in April after lawmakers reached a compromise. Biden has said he will sign it. "Asian Americans have been screaming out for help, and the House and Senate and President Biden have clearly heard our pleas," said Rep Grace Meng, D-NY, who helped lead efforts to pass the bill in the House. To many Asian Americans, the pandemic has invigorated deep-seated biases that in some cases date back to the Chinese Exclusion Act of more than a century ago. President Donald Trump repeatedly referred to the virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China, as the 'China Virus' or the 'Kung Flu’. And as cases of the illness began to rise in the US, so too did the attacks, with thousands of violent incidents reported in the past year. Rep Judy Chu, D-Calif, said it's painful for many to "open up the newspaper every day and see that yet another Asian American has been assaulted, attacked and even killed." In February, an 84-year-old man died after he was pushed to the ground near his home in San Francisco. A young family was injured in a Texas grocery store attack last year. And in Georgia, six Asian women were killed in March during a series of shootings targeting workers at massage parlours. Prosecutors are seeking hate crimes charges. The women, who were killed, are mentioned in the text of the bill.

Congress OKs bill to fight hate crimes against Asian Americans 

Under pressure over continuing attacks against Asians in the US, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Tuesday that the Justice Department will undertake a month-long internal review in relation to targeted hate crimes.

The agency will assess how they can track and prosecute people involved in hate crimes based on race and gender, among many factors. Garland took charge in March, and in a memo to staff members, said that hate crimes have a “toxic effect” on society, according to a report in&nbsp;the Washington Post.

He also referred to the increasing frequency of attacks against Asian Americans in the country in the aftermath of coronavirus pandemic. To help curb such crimes, the agency will improve data collection of hate crimes.

A recent shooting in Atlanta targeting Asian Americans left six women dead at three spas, and has brought to fore the debate about treatment of minorities in the US. Last year, the US was rocked by nationwide protests in the aftermath of a white police officer causing the death of George Floyd, a Black man.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/thousands-protest-violence-against-asian-americans-in-us-373843" hreflang="en">Thousands protest violence against Asian Americans in US</a>

The department is mandated to track hate crimes across the US every year, but the FBI’s count may be inconsistent due to botched reporting from over 18,000 agencies.

Pressure is mounting on the Biden administration from the Asian American community. Many have paraded the streets asking for protection from racially motivated attacks, especially given the peculiar nature of these coronavirus-related crimes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/asian-americans-and-blacks-experienced-increased-online-harassment-in-2020-survey-372852" hreflang="en">Asian Americans and Blacks experienced increased online harassment in 2020: Survey</a>

Over the last few weeks, multiple attacks against Asian Americans have been recorded in cities across the country.

The White House recently announced the reinstatement of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)’s initiative, effectively allocating $50 million in new grants to help victims of sexual abuse through the Department of Health and Human Services.

Under pressure over continuing attacks against Asians in the US, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Tuesday that the Justice Department will undertake a month-long internal review in relation to targeted hate crimes.

Under pressure over continuing attacks against Asians in the US, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Tuesday that the Justice Department will undertake a month-long internal review in relation to targeted hate crimes. The agency will assess how they can track and prosecute people involved in hate crimes based on race and gender, among many factors. Garland took charge in March, and in a memo to staff members, said that hate crimes have a “toxic effect” on society, according to a report in the Washington Post. He also referred to the increasing frequency of attacks against Asian Americans in the country in the aftermath of coronavirus pandemic. To help curb such crimes, the agency will improve data collection of hate crimes. A recent shooting in Atlanta targeting Asian Americans left six women dead at three spas, and has brought to fore the debate about treatment of minorities in the US. Last year, the US was rocked by nationwide protests in the aftermath of a white police officer causing the death of George Floyd, a Black man. Also read: Thousands protest violence against Asian Americans in US The department is mandated to track hate crimes across the US every year, but the FBI’s count may be inconsistent due to botched reporting from over 18,000 agencies. Pressure is mounting on the Biden administration from the Asian American community. Many have paraded the streets asking for protection from racially motivated attacks, especially given the peculiar nature of these coronavirus-related crimes. Also read: Asian Americans and Blacks experienced increased online harassment in 2020: Survey Over the last few weeks, multiple attacks against Asian Americans have been recorded in cities across the country. The White House recently announced the reinstatement of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)’s initiative, effectively allocating $50 million in new grants to help victims of sexual abuse through the Department of Health and Human Services.

US Attorney General Garland launches internal review to track racial hate crimes

Fifteen US Democratic Senators have urged Facebook to fully address anti-Muslim bigotry on its platform, which has enabled offline violence against Muslims in the United States and around the world.

"Facebook is a groundbreaking company that has revolutionised the way we communicate. Unfortunately, the connectivity that can bring people together in many positive ways also has been used to dehumanise and stoke violence against Muslims, Black people, Latinos, immigrants, the Jewish community, Sikhs, Christians, women, and other communities here and across the world," the Senators wrote.

Reports indicate that the platform has also been used to support the internment of the Uyghurs in China and other human rights violations against this population, that Facebook and WhatsApp have been used to incite violence against Muslims, and that Facebook has been used to promote hate and violence in other areas around the world, the Senators wrote in the letter to Zuckerberg.

Advocacy groups similarly detailed the extent and persistence of anti-Muslim hate content on Facebook&nbsp;in multiple reports last year, concerns that have been amplified by recent allegations that some high-ranking employees at Facebook&nbsp;have enabled hate speech against Muslims and others by applying the platform's content moderation policies in a selective manner, wrote the Senators. 
 
In June 2019, Facebook responded to concerns about these practices by creating a "call to arms" policy that prohibits event pages that call for individuals to bring weapons to a location.

However, the senators note that Facebook has not taken adequate steps to enforce this policy, which should have barred an event page in Kenosha, Wisconsin earlier this year, as well as a 2019 event page used to plan an armed protest at the largest Muslim community convention in the country.

Meanwhile, Hate crimes in the US rose to the highest level in more than a decade as federal officials also recorded the highest number of hate-motivated killings since the FBI began collecting that data in the early 1990s, according to an FBI report released Monday.

There were 51 hate crime murders in 2019, which includes 22 people who were killed in a shooting that targeted Mexicans at a Walmart in the border city of El Paso, Texas, the report said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Fifteen US Democratic Senators have urged Facebook to fully address anti-Muslim bigotry on its platform, which has enabled offline violence against Muslims in the United States and around the world.

Fifteen US Democratic Senators have urged Facebook to fully address anti-Muslim bigotry on its platform, which has enabled offline violence against Muslims in the United States and around the world. "Facebook is a groundbreaking company that has revolutionised the way we communicate. Unfortunately, the connectivity that can bring people together in many positive ways also has been used to dehumanise and stoke violence against Muslims, Black people, Latinos, immigrants, the Jewish community, Sikhs, Christians, women, and other communities here and across the world," the Senators wrote. Reports indicate that the platform has also been used to support the internment of the Uyghurs in China and other human rights violations against this population, that Facebook and WhatsApp have been used to incite violence against Muslims, and that Facebook has been used to promote hate and violence in other areas around the world, the Senators wrote in the letter to Zuckerberg. Advocacy groups similarly detailed the extent and persistence of anti-Muslim hate content on Facebook in multiple reports last year, concerns that have been amplified by recent allegations that some high-ranking employees at Facebook have enabled hate speech against Muslims and others by applying the platform's content moderation policies in a selective manner, wrote the Senators. In June 2019, Facebook responded to concerns about these practices by creating a "call to arms" policy that prohibits event pages that call for individuals to bring weapons to a location. However, the senators note that Facebook has not taken adequate steps to enforce this policy, which should have barred an event page in Kenosha, Wisconsin earlier this year, as well as a 2019 event page used to plan an armed protest at the largest Muslim community convention in the country. Meanwhile, Hate crimes in the US rose to the highest level in more than a decade as federal officials also recorded the highest number of hate-motivated killings since the FBI began collecting that data in the early 1990s, according to an FBI report released Monday. There were 51 hate crime murders in 2019, which includes 22 people who were killed in a shooting that targeted Mexicans at a Walmart in the border city of El Paso, Texas, the report said. (With inputs from agencies)

'Take action to combat anti-Muslim bigotry': Democratic senators tell Facebook

Hate crimes in the United States rose to their highest level in more than a decade last year, while more murders motivated by hate were recorded than ever before, the FBI said Monday.

The sharp rise in homicides driven by hatred — there were 51 last year, according to the FBI — was attributed in large part to the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, in August 2019. In that shooting, the authorities say a 21-year old gunman motivated by hatred toward Latinos stormed a Walmart and killed 23 people and injured many more.

The death toll in the El Paso attack more than doubled that of 2018’s deadliest hate-motivated crime, the mass shooting targeting Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Overall, the FBI collected data on 7,314 criminal incidents motivated by bias toward race or ethnicity or gender identity in 2019. It was the third straight year the metric surpassed 7,100 incidents, and it was the highest number since the FBI reported 7,783 incidents in 2008.

Experts say the FBI data likely undercounts the number of hate crimes in the U.S., both because many victims fail to report incidents and local agencies are not required to report hate crime data to the FBI.

For example, last year only 2,172 agencies reported hate crime data to the FBI, out of a total of more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies around the country, according to the FBI’s report. (Notable omissions from the data in recent years have included the death of a protester in 2017 during a rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia.)

“It’s important to note that, because of the nature of hate crime reporting, the FBI’s annual report vastly understates the real level of hate crimes in the country,” the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, said Monday.

The SPLC noted that the rise in hate crimes in recent years has come as the number of white supremacy groups has surged. According to data collected by the center, the number of white nationalist groups grew 55% between 2017 and 2019.

The upswing in hate crimes last year underscored the upward trend in bias-motivated crimes during the Trump era, and the harsh rhetoric against Latino immigrants was seen as motivating the gunman in the El Paso shooting.

“Politics plays a role,” said Brian Levin, a professor at California State University, San Bernardino and the director of the university’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.

“The president’s rhetoric has been identified in a series of actual attacks,” Levin added, “but moreover the day-by-day ticks of FBI hate crimes shows there are increases after sustained and fervent remarks by the president that enter into an online feedback loop that also ends up in other discourses, both at the water cooler and on television.”

The overall increase was fueled by a rise in attacks, in particular, against Hispanics and Jews. The FBI reported 953 anti-Semitic hate crimes last year, a 14% increase from the previous year and the most since 2008, according to a report by CSUSB that analyzed the latest FBI report and was published Monday.

Hate crimes directed at Latinos rose almost 9%, to 527 incidents last year from 485 incidents in 2018. At the same time, hate crimes against Black people fell to the lowest portion of all hate crimes since such data started to be collected by the FBI, although Black people were still far overrepresented in the statistics, according to Levin’s report. Last year, hate crimes targeting Black people fell slightly, by less than 1%.

“Blacks are still the No. 1 target, at twice the level they represent in the American population,” the report said.

In examining preliminary data from 2020, Levin found overall declines in hate crimes, which he explained as a result of social distancing measures and business closures from the coronavirus pandemic, except in three cities: Los Angeles, Houston and San Antonio. And he has also found increases in bias crimes this year against two groups in particular, transgender people and Asian Americans; the latter, he said, was most likely affected by anti-Asian animus provoked by false claims about the pandemic.

Hate crimes in the United States rose to their highest level in more than a decade last year, while more murders motivated by hate were recorded than ever before, the FBI said Monday.

Hate crimes in the United States rose to their highest level in more than a decade last year, while more murders motivated by hate were recorded than ever before, the FBI said Monday. The sharp rise in homicides driven by hatred — there were 51 last year, according to the FBI — was attributed in large part to the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, in August 2019. In that shooting, the authorities say a 21-year old gunman motivated by hatred toward Latinos stormed a Walmart and killed 23 people and injured many more. The death toll in the El Paso attack more than doubled that of 2018’s deadliest hate-motivated crime, the mass shooting targeting Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Overall, the FBI collected data on 7,314 criminal incidents motivated by bias toward race or ethnicity or gender identity in 2019. It was the third straight year the metric surpassed 7,100 incidents, and it was the highest number since the FBI reported 7,783 incidents in 2008. Experts say the FBI data likely undercounts the number of hate crimes in the U.S., both because many victims fail to report incidents and local agencies are not required to report hate crime data to the FBI. For example, last year only 2,172 agencies reported hate crime data to the FBI, out of a total of more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies around the country, according to the FBI’s report. (Notable omissions from the data in recent years have included the death of a protester in 2017 during a rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia.) “It’s important to note that, because of the nature of hate crime reporting, the FBI’s annual report vastly understates the real level of hate crimes in the country,” the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, said Monday. The SPLC noted that the rise in hate crimes in recent years has come as the number of white supremacy groups has surged. According to data collected by the center, the number of white nationalist groups grew 55% between 2017 and 2019. The upswing in hate crimes last year underscored the upward trend in bias-motivated crimes during the Trump era, and the harsh rhetoric against Latino immigrants was seen as motivating the gunman in the El Paso shooting. “Politics plays a role,” said Brian Levin, a professor at California State University, San Bernardino and the director of the university’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. “The president’s rhetoric has been identified in a series of actual attacks,” Levin added, “but moreover the day-by-day ticks of FBI hate crimes shows there are increases after sustained and fervent remarks by the president that enter into an online feedback loop that also ends up in other discourses, both at the water cooler and on television.” The overall increase was fueled by a rise in attacks, in particular, against Hispanics and Jews. The FBI reported 953 anti-Semitic hate crimes last year, a 14% increase from the previous year and the most since 2008, according to a report by CSUSB that analyzed the latest FBI report and was published Monday. Hate crimes directed at Latinos rose almost 9%, to 527 incidents last year from 485 incidents in 2018. At the same time, hate crimes against Black people fell to the lowest portion of all hate crimes since such data started to be collected by the FBI, although Black people were still far overrepresented in the statistics, according to Levin’s report. Last year, hate crimes targeting Black people fell slightly, by less than 1%. “Blacks are still the No. 1 target, at twice the level they represent in the American population,” the report said. In examining preliminary data from 2020, Levin found overall declines in hate crimes, which he explained as a result of social distancing measures and business closures from the coronavirus pandemic, except in three cities: Los Angeles, Houston and San Antonio. And he has also found increases in bias crimes this year against two groups in particular, transgender people and Asian Americans; the latter, he said, was most likely affected by anti-Asian animus provoked by false claims about the pandemic.

Hate crimes in US rose to highest level in more than a decade in 2019

People traffickers holding hundreds of Rohingya refugees at sea are demanding payments from their families before they will release them from boats off the shores of Southeast Asia, relatives and rights groups say.

Several hundred Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar fleeing persecution at home and refugee camps in Bangladesh, have been stranded for months after countries sealed their borders to block the spread of the coronavirus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/south-asia/first-rohingya-refugee-dies-from-coronavirus-in-bangladesh-official-302571" hreflang="en">First Rohingya refugee dies from coronavirus in Bangladesh: Official</a>

Three people who said their relatives were at sea told Reuters that traffickers had demanded money to release them from boats that have been off Southeast Asia since February, trying to find a place to land.

"Before, the deal was that if they were able to reach the Malaysian shore then they will take the money, but they're asking for it now," said Mohammed Ayas, who said his 16-year-old brother left a refugee camp in Bangladesh in February.&nbsp;

Since then, the family has heard nothing from him, Ayas said.

Musha, whose two sisters are also at sea after leaving camps in Bangladesh in February, said brokers acting for the traffickers asked the family to pay 12,000 ringitt ($2,800) by a mobile banking service for their transfer to Malaysia.&nbsp;

He said the family paid the sum but did not know the fate of the two teenaged girls.

For years, Rohingya have boarded boats between November and April, when the seas are calm, to get to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. But coronavirus lockdowns have left boats stranded at sea.

Dozens of people died aboard a boat that had to return to Bangladesh in April after running out of food and water, survivors told Reuters. [nL4N2CH0VK]

Authorities in Malaysia detained 269 Rohingya who came ashore from a damaged boat last week. Human Rights Watch said about 70% of them were too weak to walk.

"OFFSHORE CAMP"

At least one vessel remains at sea, according to rights groups, with as many as 300 people on board, some of whom are believed to be sick. Its location is not known.

"This boat has been turned into an offshore traffickers' camp," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a group focusing on the Rohingya crisis. She described the people at sea as hostages and said the latest demands were for 5,000 Malaysian ringgit ($1,170) per passenger to get to Malaysia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/south-asia/15000-rohingya-under-coronavirus-quarantine-as-cases-hit-29-301020" hreflang="en">15,000 Rohingya under coronavirus quarantine as cases hit 29</a>

An official with the Thai marine police said the vessel was not in Thai waters but had sought provisions from fishing boats. A second Thai police official, who also asked not to be named, said three boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya were close to Koh Adang, a Thai island, but on the Malaysian side of the border.

Malaysian officials, including the country's maritime enforcement agency, did not respond to requests for comment. The agency said it turned away a boat carrying about 300 Rohingya last week, media reported.

More than 730,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmar's Rakhine state in 2017 following a military crackdown the United Nations has said was carried out with "genocidal intent". Myanmar denies genocide, saying it was responding to attacks on security posts by Rohingya militants.&nbsp;

Nearly a million Rohingya now live in camps in southeast Bangladesh.&nbsp;

During a crackdown on trafficking networks that led to a similar crisis in 2015, gangs cast passengers adrift with meagre food and water. Many died at sea.

People traffickers holding hundreds of Rohingya refugees at sea are demanding payments from their families before they will release them from boats off the shores of Southeast Asia, relatives and rights groups say.

People traffickers holding hundreds of Rohingya refugees at sea are demanding payments from their families before they will release them from boats off the shores of Southeast Asia, relatives and rights groups say. Several hundred Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar fleeing persecution at home and refugee camps in Bangladesh, have been stranded for months after countries sealed their borders to block the spread of the coronavirus. Also read: First Rohingya refugee dies from coronavirus in Bangladesh: Official Three people who said their relatives were at sea told Reuters that traffickers had demanded money to release them from boats that have been off Southeast Asia since February, trying to find a place to land. "Before, the deal was that if they were able to reach the Malaysian shore then they will take the money, but they're asking for it now," said Mohammed Ayas, who said his 16-year-old brother left a refugee camp in Bangladesh in February. Since then, the family has heard nothing from him, Ayas said. Musha, whose two sisters are also at sea after leaving camps in Bangladesh in February, said brokers acting for the traffickers asked the family to pay 12,000 ringitt ($2,800) by a mobile banking service for their transfer to Malaysia. He said the family paid the sum but did not know the fate of the two teenaged girls. For years, Rohingya have boarded boats between November and April, when the seas are calm, to get to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. But coronavirus lockdowns have left boats stranded at sea. Dozens of people died aboard a boat that had to return to Bangladesh in April after running out of food and water, survivors told Reuters. [nL4N2CH0VK] Authorities in Malaysia detained 269 Rohingya who came ashore from a damaged boat last week. Human Rights Watch said about 70% of them were too weak to walk. "OFFSHORE CAMP" At least one vessel remains at sea, according to rights groups, with as many as 300 people on board, some of whom are believed to be sick. Its location is not known. "This boat has been turned into an offshore traffickers' camp," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a group focusing on the Rohingya crisis. She described the people at sea as hostages and said the latest demands were for 5,000 Malaysian ringgit ($1,170) per passenger to get to Malaysia. Also read: 15,000 Rohingya under coronavirus quarantine as cases hit 29 An official with the Thai marine police said the vessel was not in Thai waters but had sought provisions from fishing boats. A second Thai police official, who also asked not to be named, said three boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya were close to Koh Adang, a Thai island, but on the Malaysian side of the border. Malaysian officials, including the country's maritime enforcement agency, did not respond to requests for comment. The agency said it turned away a boat carrying about 300 Rohingya last week, media reported. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmar's Rakhine state in 2017 following a military crackdown the United Nations has said was carried out with "genocidal intent". Myanmar denies genocide, saying it was responding to attacks on security posts by Rohingya militants. Nearly a million Rohingya now live in camps in southeast Bangladesh. During a crackdown on trafficking networks that led to a similar crisis in 2015, gangs cast passengers adrift with meagre food and water. Many died at sea.

Traffickers demand payments for Rohingya stranded at sea

Nearly 100 Rohingya appeared in a Myanmar court Wednesday after being arrested for trying to flee persecution, their lawyer said, as leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/incomplete-and-misleading-suu-kyi-at-un-court-while-referring-to-accusations-of-rohingya-genocide-267647">Aung San Suu Kyi</a> addressed the UN's top court to deny allegations of a genocidal campaign against the ethnic minority.

One-by-one, the weary detainees stepped down from a police van at the courthouse in the western Myanmar city of Pathein.

Their crime was to leave their home townships without permission from authorities.

Rohingya in Rakhine state live under tight restrictions with little access to healthcare, education or livelihoods in conditions Amnesty International brands as "apartheid".

For years Rohingya have taken to boats, trains and buses in attempts to get out, risking everything in the process.

The 95 people, including 25 children, each paid several hundred dollars for a chance at a better life, lawyer Thazin Myat Myat Win told AFP.

"Some even sold their labour in advance" to pay the broker fees, she added.

Instead, they likely face two years in prison for violating the immigration act.

'Apartheid' conditions&nbsp;

They were arrested November 29 after travelling by boat from Rakhine to a southern beach where buses were waiting to take them to the commercial capital Yangon.

Their court appearance came as former rights icon Suu Kyi denied <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-suu-kyi-told-to-stop-the-genocide-in-united-nations-court-over-rohingya-crisis-267445">"genocidal intent"</a> in her defence of Myanmar's military operation against the Rohingya at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

On Tuesday the Nobel Peace Prize laureate sat through gruesome testimony of the violence suffered by Rohingya in the bloody military crackdown in 2017 that forced some 740,000 to flee to Bangladesh.

The Gambia, on behalf of dozens of Muslim countries, accuses Buddhist-majority Myanmar of genocide.

The West African state is calling for provisional measures to halt the ongoing persecution suffered by Rohingya in Rakhine.

Some 600,000 remain confined in Myanmar camps and villages, unable to leave without permission.

Many have tried to escape over the years to Thailand or Malaysia, often paying extortionate fees to human traffickers for places on overcrowded, decrepit boats.

'We are helpless'

The next hearing for the detained <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-suu-kyi-arrives-at-un-court-for-genocide-hearings-267407">Rohingya in Pathein</a> will be December 20.

They are the third group in recent months to be caught, arrested and put on trial in their attempt to flee Rakhine.

To the outrage of rights groups, the children and teenagers have so far been sent to a detention centre while one five-year-old child was imprisoned with his mother and the rest of the group.

All 52 people were sentenced to two years behind bars.

"Myanmar authorities should urgently&nbsp;free Rohingya jailed for exercising their right to freedom of movement," said John Quinley from Fortify Rights.

He cited the arrests as an example of continued efforts by the government to destroy the Rohingya.

"The International Court of Justice should issue provisional measures to stop the ongoing persecution and violence."

The Rohingya garner little sympathy within Myanmar, where many people buy the official line that the minority are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though many trace their roots back generations.

"We are helpless. We've been here eight years and have no jobs," one Rohingya man from Thetkalpyin camp told AFP by phone.

"We hope she (Suu Kyi) will do her best to reveal the truth and solve our problems."

Nearly 100 Rohingya appeared in a Myanmar court Wednesday after being arrested for trying to flee persecution, their lawyer said, as leader Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the UN's top court to deny allegations of a genocidal campaign against the ethnic minority.

Nearly 100 Rohingya appeared in a Myanmar court Wednesday after being arrested for trying to flee persecution, their lawyer said, as leader Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the UN's top court to deny allegations of a genocidal campaign against the ethnic minority. One-by-one, the weary detainees stepped down from a police van at the courthouse in the western Myanmar city of Pathein. Their crime was to leave their home townships without permission from authorities. Rohingya in Rakhine state live under tight restrictions with little access to healthcare, education or livelihoods in conditions Amnesty International brands as "apartheid". For years Rohingya have taken to boats, trains and buses in attempts to get out, risking everything in the process. The 95 people, including 25 children, each paid several hundred dollars for a chance at a better life, lawyer Thazin Myat Myat Win told AFP. "Some even sold their labour in advance" to pay the broker fees, she added. Instead, they likely face two years in prison for violating the immigration act. 'Apartheid' conditions They were arrested November 29 after travelling by boat from Rakhine to a southern beach where buses were waiting to take them to the commercial capital Yangon. Their court appearance came as former rights icon Suu Kyi denied "genocidal intent" in her defence of Myanmar's military operation against the Rohingya at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). On Tuesday the Nobel Peace Prize laureate sat through gruesome testimony of the violence suffered by Rohingya in the bloody military crackdown in 2017 that forced some 740,000 to flee to Bangladesh. The Gambia, on behalf of dozens of Muslim countries, accuses Buddhist-majority Myanmar of genocide. The West African state is calling for provisional measures to halt the ongoing persecution suffered by Rohingya in Rakhine. Some 600,000 remain confined in Myanmar camps and villages, unable to leave without permission. Many have tried to escape over the years to Thailand or Malaysia, often paying extortionate fees to human traffickers for places on overcrowded, decrepit boats. 'We are helpless' The next hearing for the detained Rohingya in Pathein will be December 20. They are the third group in recent months to be caught, arrested and put on trial in their attempt to flee Rakhine. To the outrage of rights groups, the children and teenagers have so far been sent to a detention centre while one five-year-old child was imprisoned with his mother and the rest of the group. All 52 people were sentenced to two years behind bars. "Myanmar authorities should urgently free Rohingya jailed for exercising their right to freedom of movement," said John Quinley from Fortify Rights. He cited the arrests as an example of continued efforts by the government to destroy the Rohingya. "The International Court of Justice should issue provisional measures to stop the ongoing persecution and violence." The Rohingya garner little sympathy within Myanmar, where many people buy the official line that the minority are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though many trace their roots back generations. "We are helpless. We've been here eight years and have no jobs," one Rohingya man from Thetkalpyin camp told AFP by phone. "We hope she (Suu Kyi) will do her best to reveal the truth and solve our problems."

95 Rohingya in Myanmar face jail as UN hears 'genocide' case

He's known as Barbecue, an ex-policeman suspected in the massacre of dozens of men, women and children in the Haitian capital. But he is a hero in his neighbourhood, and followed by crowds of adoring residents who consider him their protector.

Haiti massacre suspect a hero in his neighbourhood

Hate crimes surged 17 per cent in the United States in Donald Trump's first year as president, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a new report Tuesday.

The FBI said that 7,175 hate crimes were reported during 2017, compared to 6,121 in 2016.

Hate crimes of all types -- based on race, religion, gender and sexual orientation -- were higher.

African-Americans were the leading target of crimes based on race, and Jews were the most-targeted group by religion, according to the FBI.

The total number of hate crimes was the highest since 2008.

The FBI did not explain the increase, which came amid a perceived general rise in social and political tensions across the country marked by the election of the divisive Trump.

But it did note that more law enforcement jurisdictions were reporting hate crimes than previous years.&nbsp;

The report came after the country was shocked in recent weeks by two mass shootings, including one in which 11 Jewish worshippers were killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue by an anti-Semitic gunman, and a series of pipe bombs sent to foes of Donald Trump by a Florida supporter of the president. None of the bombs exploded.

"This report is a call to action -- and we will heed that call," said Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker in a statement.

"The Department of Justice's top priority is to reduce violent crime in America, and hate crimes are violent crimes.... I am particularly troubled by the increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes," he said.

Hate crimes surged 17 per cent in the United States in Donald Trump's first year as president, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a new report Tuesday. The FBI said that 7,175 hate crimes were reported during 2017, compared to 6,121 in 2016.

Hate crimes surged 17 per cent in the United States in Donald Trump's first year as president, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a new report Tuesday. The FBI said that 7,175 hate crimes were reported during 2017, compared to 6,121 in 2016. Hate crimes of all types -- based on race, religion, gender and sexual orientation -- were higher. African-Americans were the leading target of crimes based on race, and Jews were the most-targeted group by religion, according to the FBI. The total number of hate crimes was the highest since 2008. The FBI did not explain the increase, which came amid a perceived general rise in social and political tensions across the country marked by the election of the divisive Trump. But it did note that more law enforcement jurisdictions were reporting hate crimes than previous years. The report came after the country was shocked in recent weeks by two mass shootings, including one in which 11 Jewish worshippers were killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue by an anti-Semitic gunman, and a series of pipe bombs sent to foes of Donald Trump by a Florida supporter of the president. None of the bombs exploded. "This report is a call to action -- and we will heed that call," said Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker in a statement. "The Department of Justice's top priority is to reduce violent crime in America, and hate crimes are violent crimes.... I am particularly troubled by the increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes," he said.

US hate crimes surged in Trump's first year: FBI

Police in Sri Lanka have arrested a key figure from an extremist Buddhist organisation blamed for a series of hate crimes against Muslims that has drawn international censure.

The 32-year-old man from the radical Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Force, is the first suspect to be arrested in connection with arson attacks against Muslims that have stoked religious tensions.

Police spokesman Priyantha Jayakody said investigations were continuing into 16 &quot;major incidents&quot; of arson since April that hit Muslim homes, businesses, mosques and a cemetery.

&quot;We are taking a tough stand against such crimes,&quot; he told reporters.

Police were criticised for failing to bring the radical Buddhist group to heel by capturing its fugitive ringleader Galagodaatte Gnanasara, as the minority Muslim community endured attacks with stones and petrol bombs.

Jayakody said the detained suspect is a close associate of Gnanasara, an extremist monk who has gone underground since late May when police ordered he turn himself in for questioning. Four specialist teams were hunting the BBS mastermind, he added.

The militant Buddhist outfit says its leader is in hiding out of fear for his life. It has also denied orchestrating the latest violence against Muslims, who make up 10 per cent of Sri Lanka&#39;s mainly Buddhist population.

The BBS was accused of instigating religious riots in mid-2014 that left four people dead but escaped prosecution under the then-strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse.

Rajapakse&#39;s brother Gotabhaya, a former defence secretary, was said to be close to the hardline Buddhist group.

The latest failure to arrest Gnanasara and stop a renewed outbreak of religious violence has seen the European Union and foreign envoys urge Sri Lanka to take action.

The European Union delegation chief in Colombo, Tung-Lai Margue, has said it was crucial there was &quot;no impunity for hate crimes&quot; and that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.

(AFP)

Police said investigations were continuing into 16 'major incidents' of arson since April that hit Muslim homes, businesses, mosques and a cemetery

Police in Sri Lanka have arrested a key figure from an extremist Buddhist organisation blamed for a series of hate crimes against Muslims that has drawn international censure. The 32-year-old man from the radical Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Force, is the first suspect to be arrested in connection with arson attacks against Muslims that have stoked religious tensions. Police spokesman Priyantha Jayakody said investigations were continuing into 16 "major incidents" of arson since April that hit Muslim homes, businesses, mosques and a cemetery. "We are taking a tough stand against such crimes," he told reporters. Police were criticised for failing to bring the radical Buddhist group to heel by capturing its fugitive ringleader Galagodaatte Gnanasara, as the minority Muslim community endured attacks with stones and petrol bombs. Jayakody said the detained suspect is a close associate of Gnanasara, an extremist monk who has gone underground since late May when police ordered he turn himself in for questioning. Four specialist teams were hunting the BBS mastermind, he added. The militant Buddhist outfit says its leader is in hiding out of fear for his life. It has also denied orchestrating the latest violence against Muslims, who make up 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's mainly Buddhist population. The BBS was accused of instigating religious riots in mid-2014 that left four people dead but escaped prosecution under the then-strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse. Rajapakse's brother Gotabhaya, a former defence secretary, was said to be close to the hardline Buddhist group. The latest failure to arrest Gnanasara and stop a renewed outbreak of religious violence has seen the European Union and foreign envoys urge Sri Lanka to take action. The European Union delegation chief in Colombo, Tung-Lai Margue, has said it was crucial there was "no impunity for hate crimes" and that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice. (AFP)

Sri Lanka makes first arrest over hate crimes against Muslims

A civil rights group has called for more police protection of mosques after several in California received letters that praised President-elect Donald Trump and threatened Muslim genocide.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said the same handwritten, photocopied letter was sent last week to the Islamic Center of Long Beach, the Islamic Center of Claremont and the Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.

The letter was addressed to &quot;the children of Satan&quot; and it was signed by &quot;American for A Better Way.&quot; The LA area mosques received it Wednesday and the San Jose mosque on Thursday.

&quot;There&#39;s a new sheriff in town -- President Donald Trump. He&#39;s going to cleanse America and make it shine again. And, he&#39;s going to start with you Muslims,&quot; the letter states, according to CAIR. &quot;And, he&#39;s going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the jews (sic).&quot;

Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR-LA, said people at the LA County mosques were disheartened by the hateful letters and added that the &quot;irresponsible, hateful rhetoric&quot; of the Trump campaign has fueled &quot;a level of vulgarity, vile hatred and anger among many self-proclaimed Trump supporters.&quot;

&quot;I&#39;m not saying (Trump) created racist people,&quot; he said. &quot;He normalised it. While he might say he&#39;s not responsible, and I respect that, I remind President-elect Trump that he has a responsibility to act as a president for all Americans.&quot;

San Jose Police Department spokesman Sgt Enrique Garcia said police have opened an investigation and are treating it as a &quot;hate-motivated incident.&quot;&nbsp;

(PTI) 
&nbsp;

Signed by 'American for a better way' the three mosques received threatening Muslim genocide and praising President-elect Trump

A civil rights group has called for more police protection of mosques after several in California received letters that praised President-elect Donald Trump and threatened Muslim genocide. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said the same handwritten, photocopied letter was sent last week to the Islamic Center of Long Beach, the Islamic Center of Claremont and the Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday. The letter was addressed to "the children of Satan" and it was signed by "American for A Better Way." The LA area mosques received it Wednesday and the San Jose mosque on Thursday. "There's a new sheriff in town -- President Donald Trump. He's going to cleanse America and make it shine again. And, he's going to start with you Muslims," the letter states, according to CAIR. "And, he's going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the jews (sic)." Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR-LA, said people at the LA County mosques were disheartened by the hateful letters and added that the "irresponsible, hateful rhetoric" of the Trump campaign has fueled "a level of vulgarity, vile hatred and anger among many self-proclaimed Trump supporters." "I'm not saying (Trump) created racist people," he said. "He normalised it. While he might say he's not responsible, and I respect that, I remind President-elect Trump that he has a responsibility to act as a president for all Americans." San Jose Police Department spokesman Sgt Enrique Garcia said police have opened an investigation and are treating it as a "hate-motivated incident." (PTI)

California mosques receive threat letters, demand police protection

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