The U.S Department of Justice has announced that a 65-year-old man named Robert Doggart from Tennessee has been jailed for 235 months for hiring a man to burn a mosque in Islamberg, New York. The announcement was made by the U.S Attorney General and the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
How Robert planned to commit his crimes
The FBI back in 2015 through a confidential source learned that Rober recruited people online so that they can take part in burning a mosque which is located in a large Muslim populated area in New York.
He also planned to have a school, and a cafeteria in Islamberg burned as well. According to court evidence presented by the FBI, Robert met someone in Nashville and discussed the details of the planned arson attack by showing the person a map of the area and gave him information of the type of guns that should be used for the attacks. Robert planned to bring down the mosque with explosives and Petrol Bombs. The FBI also intercepted his calls and presented the recording in court where he was heard discussing killing people; except children.
The U.S attorney general after the hearing said that the Justice Department does not tolerate people that infringe on other's rights of worship.
Islamophobia
Anti-Muslim hate crimes rose by 67 percent in the U.S in the year 2015. According to statistics from the FBI, hate crimes against Muslims rose from 154 cases in 2014 to 257 cases in the year 2015. According to the report, hate crimes were much higher after 9/11 attacks. On that year, there were 481 hate crimes against Muslims that were recorded.
Hate crimes against Muslims have also been on the rise after Donald Trump became president.
In Europe, Islamophobia attacks have increased because of increased ISIL attacks. A majority of incidences has been witnessed in Norway, Poland, France, Sweeden, Denmark, and Span. Attacks against Muslims include blaming Muslims for terrorism, verbal abuse, spitting on Muslims, forcibly removing hijabs worn by women as well as calling children Osama.
Islamophobia has been on the rise due to terrorist attacks against Christians and people of other religions such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The media has also been blamed for consistently showing incidences of terrorism in the Middle East. Some citizens have also shown support for governments and leaders that are against Muslim infiltration into communities. Islamophobia in the U.S has also been on the rise since the election of Donald Trump as president.
