Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet, Brå) (2021) Islamofobic hate crime (Islamofobiska hatbrott), report 2021:3, 2021

Country

Sweden

Title

Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet, Brå) (2021) Islamofobic hate crime (Islamofobiska hatbrott), report 2021:3, 2021

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Year

2021

Type of publication

Report

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

Public authority

Institution

Sweden, Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention|Brottsförebyggande rådet, Brå

Main Thematic Focus

Hate crime

Target Population

Muslims

Key findings

The study finds that Islamophobic hate crimes take many forms and are not restricted to any particular type of place, time or person. Among the police reports examined in the study, threats and molestation represent the largest crime category, followed by agitation against a population group, defamation, violent offences and graffiti. The study concludes that Islamophobic hate crime, other forms of abusive behaviour, and negative attitudes and prejudice against Muslims can affect both Muslims’ daily lives and their general life conditions. The Council therefore underscores the importance of taking various forms of preventive action to not only counter the occurrence of Islamophobic hate crime, but also reduce the occurrence of negative, stereotypical perceptions and conceptions of Islam and of Muslims in general.

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

The study mainly employs a qualitative approach. The study has two primary data sources (see sample details for more details).

Sample details and representativeness

The first data source consists of 500 cases that have been reported to the police. These data include police reports and investigations from the years 2016 and 2018, which have been identified in Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention’s hate crime statistics as featuring Islamophobic content. The second data source consists of more than 50 interviews conducted with private individuals; representatives of Muslim congregations; associations and organisations; researchers and key informants working in the justice system. Almost four-fifths of those interviewees had themselves experienced exposure to Islamophobic hate crime.

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.