PARIS
Attacks on Muslims in France have increased by 70 percent between Jan. 7 and Feb. 7 compared with the same period in 2014, an anti-racism watchdog said Wednesday.
According to the Collective Against Islamophobia in France's 2015 annual report, the figures show a dramatic increase in assaults on the Muslim community since the recent Charlie Hebdo attacks that brought the entire country to a standstill for several days.
The report noted that the assaults on Muslims included verbal and physical aggressions that resulted in the death of at least one person. The watchdog recorded 153 Islamophobic attacks between Jan. 7 and Feb. 7, 2015.
It denounced "a collective hysteria that has engulfed France since early January."
"These figures highlight the growth of Islamophobia and its installation in French society. Yet, they do not fully reflect the trivialization of Islamophobic ideologies and acts in public space," Elsa Ray, the watchdog’s spokesperson, said.
The report said that 764 Islamophobic acts were carried out in 2014, out of which 22 were physical assaults, 586 discriminative acts and 25 attacks against Muslim institutions, particularly mosques.
Women continued to be the main victims of Islamophobia, 81.5 percent, and most of them faced physical attacks; in one case, a woman had to go through an abortion. Most of the attacks take place either in institutions or public areas.
"This shows that we are facing a structural phenomenon. Islamophobia is growing and is rooted within the institutions," Ray said.
The spokesperson also said that only 22 of the 2014 cases were reported to authorities. She explained that victims chose to stay silent rather than face a long judicial process that required "time and money."
Around 33 Muslim places of worship were attacked in 2014.
According to the watchdog’s Charef Lila, authorities have not provided adequate security to mosques. "Only couple of police officers show up in front of some mosques on Friday prayers."
Lila added that many mosques officials urged French authorities for protection, but "the procedure is too long, that's why many don't apply in the first place."
According to the French Interior ministry, 154 people were arrested, 90 questioned and 75 imprisoned since the recent attacks in France. The watchdog said that among those interrogated by French authorities were Ahmed, 8, Ayman, 9, and Ylies, 6. The three children were reportedly charged with "apology for terrorism."
The spokesperson alleged that 20 other children faced similar charges, but their parents feared going public about the accusations because of "fear for their kids’ future and education." She berated France's Ministry of Education for adopting a "very disappointing and ineffective position."
"France is now facing a turning point in its history; the state should take responsibility to transform this moment of distress to a step towards progress," the spokesperson added.
The deadly attack on the French satirical magazine on Jan. 7, which was followed by a series of hostage crises on Jan. 9, had left 17 people dead.
