The number of assaults against Muslims in the United States rose significantly between 2015 and 2016, easily surpassing the modern peak reached in 2001, the year of the September 11 terrorist attacks, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of new hate crimes statistics from the FBI. In 2016, there were 127 reported victims of aggravated or simple assault, compared with 91 the year before and 93 in 2001.
But assaults are not the only form of hate crime carried out against Muslims and other religious groups. The most common is intimidation, which is defined as reasonable fear of bodily harm. Anti-Muslim intimidation also increased in 2016, with 144 reported victims, compared with 120 the previous year. These numbers, however, are still dwarfed by the 296 victims of anti-Muslim intimidation in 2001.
Certain types of crimes that damage or destroy property, including vandalism, also have risen, from 70 cases against Muslims in 2015 to 92 last year.
(PRC FactTank) Assaults against Muslims in U.S. surpass 2001 level https://t.co/GLtNHAW1JI #religion #violence #usa pic.twitter.com/KPjO17PEBQ
— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) November 17, 2017
No assaults or acts of vandalism are justifiable. However, in a nation of 350 million people, incidents of this kind numbering in the two- and low-three digits are extremely small numbers.