The Muslim community is experiencing frequent abuse in the United Kingdom with perpetrators being as young as 10 years of age, according to a new study by Teesside University.
The finding is based on the data collected over a period of 10 months by the Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) project.
Researchers found that about 734 self-reported cases of anti-Islamic abuse between May 2013 and February 2014. The figure is equivalent to more than two a day on an average.
The study also found that around two fifths of the cases registered by Tell MAMA had a link to far-right groups, over half (54 percent) of the victims were women and approximately less than one in every six victims filed a complaint with the police.
Out of 734 self-reported cases, 599 were connected to incidents of online abuse and threats.
While the rest of them were carried out "offline" like violence and distribution of anti-Muslim literature, threats and assaults. Around three fifths (60 percent) of these "offline" attacks are alleged to have been executed by individuals aged between 10-30 years.
"Muslims remain among the most likely minority group in Britain to be targeted for a hate crime. 'Trigger' events like the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby clearly magnify the possibility of far-right groups and others victimising Muslims simply for who they are and what they believe," Study author Dr Matthew Feldman, co-director of the Centre for Fascist, Anti-Fascist and Post-Fascist Studies, said in a statement.
The study observed a spike in reported incidents following the aftermath of soldier Fusilier Rigby's murder in Woolwich, south-east London May 22, 2013.
The finding is published by the Centre for Fascist, Anti-Fascist and Post-Fascist Studies at the University.
