Report of Incidents Related to Racism - May to October 2001

NCCRI Report - Incidents relating to racism reported to the NCCRI
May to October 2001

In May 2001 the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) established a procedure for reporting racist incidents in Ireland . The purpose of this first report is:

• To provide an overview of racist incidents reported to the NCCRI between May and October 2001.
• To draw out the key issues arising from the incidents logged.
• To outline how the NCCRI has responded to the key issues identified in this report.

The majority of the incidents that are included in this report have been forwarded by non-government organisations working closely with the NCCRI, including key organisations working with Travellers, refugees and asylum seekers and migrants. Other incidents are reported directly to the NCCRI. There are a number of procedures put in place by the NCCRI to check the veracity of the reports.

The data that is generated by this reporting system is primarily qualitative and indicative of key issues that need to be addressed. This report does not seek to provide a comprehensive list of every racist incident in Ireland, indeed the evidence from other countries tends to show that with all racist incidents reporting systems, there is likely to be significant under-reporting of incidents.

Among the key issues that have emerged from this report, include:

• Incidents arising out of September 11th
• Assaults and harassment
• Racism on the Internet

Organisations and individuals reporting incidents have also been encouraged to report the incident to the relevant authority responsible for investigating and addressing the complaint, for example, Gardai (racist crime), the Equality Authority (racism in the workplace, provision of goods and services etc), and local authorities (graffiti, harassment on local authority housing estates etc).

In a small number of instances those involved in or reporting the incident only want the incident to be logged by the NCCRI, with no further action taken. These requests have been respected.

Summary of Main Conclusions

• There were 41 racist incidents reported to the NCCRI between May and October 2001.
• Over half (56%) of the incidents are reported as occurring in the greater Dublin area
• Nearly one quarter (24%) of incidents occurred in urban areas outside of Dublin, including Cork, Ennis and Limerick
• 10% of incidents occurred in predominantly rural areas, such as rural areas of Cork and Leitrim

The incident reports highlight that:

- 15 different nationalities have been identified as experiencing racism in the first 6 months of the scheme.

- Racism is being experienced by men, women and children in Ireland

- Racism is being experienced regardless of someone’s legal status, that refugees and asylum seekers, Irish and EU citizens, including Travellers and non EU citizens are experiencing racism in Ireland.

• There was an upsurge in the reporting of racist incidents following September 11th. The report shows that almost one fifth (20%) of all incidents recorded between May and October 2001, are directly related to September 11th
• Following September 11th there have been incidents reported of physical assaults and verbal abuse against the Islamic community and also those perceived to be of middle-eastern or Asian origin, including visitors to Ireland, migrant workers and refugees and asylum seekers. While it is important not to exaggerate the extent of these incidents, the reporting procedure has highlighted that these are taking place and some have involved serious assaults.
• A clearer picture of who and in what circumstances people are experiencing racist assaults is now beginning to emerge. Because of a number of recent high profile incidents there may have been a tendency to presume that racist assaults are for the most part experienced by single men in once-off incidents in inner city areas. This report shows that women, children and teenagers have also been assaulted and/or harassed and/or verbally abused, that some of these incidents have occurred and reoccurred over a period of time.
• The incidents reported show there is a need for a more systematic and consistent approach by the Gardai in regard to racist incidents. Some of those reporting incidents have commended the response of the Gardai. However in a small number of reports complainants contended that the response from the police has been less supportive. Some Gardai were reported as being dismissive or indifferent to people making complaints or being reluctant to consider the possibility of the incident as being racist.
• The emergence of the Internet as an ongoing source of incitement to hatred is a matter of continuing concern. A number of the websites reported to the NCCRI in July 2001 were closed down following prompt action by the Gardai, only to reopen with a slightly different name. Internet providers are continuing to provide easy ways to find such sites through their search engines. One incident reported publicity for racist websites being deliberately posted in the close vicinity of a refugee centre in Dublin.
• Anti Semitism remains an issue in Ireland. One man was reported handing out anti Semitic leaflets outside Dublin Castle which was causing offence to the many people visiting the Castle including tourists.

Analysis of the key issues arising from reported incidents.

The following is a summary of the key issues arsing from the incidents reported to the NCCRI

1. Responding to incidents related to September 11th

Some 20% of all incidents reported over the past six months relate to the aftermath of September 11th. Some of the incidents which have been directed at the Islamic community in Ireland have been well reported by the media. The leadership role of An Taoiseach and other government ministers who have condemned such attacks has been strongly welcomed by representatives of the Islamic community.

However the reports that have been submitted to the NCCRI show that the full picture of the consequences of September 11th is now only beginning to emerge. In addition to racist incidents being reported by the Islamic community there has also been a number of verbal and physical assaults directed at people perceived be of Middle Eastern or Asian origin, including asylum seekers and towards the relatively small Sikh community in Ireland and towards visitors to Ireland of perceived Asian origin.

While it is important to note that many of these incidents appear to be isolated and uncoordinated all of them also give rise to particular concern, particularly as some of the incidents have involved serious assaults, abuse and destruction of property.

Incidents experienced by the Islamic Community

It is estimated by the NCCRI that there are 15,000 Muslim people in Ireland, many of whom have been living in Ireland for many years and are Irish citizens. They comprise about 0.02% of the population in the Republic of Ireland. Around 10% of the Muslim community in Ireland is asylum seekers are refugees, mostly from countries such as Bosnia, Kosovo, Algeria and Somalia.

Reported Incidents

To date three types of incidents have been reported to us.

1. The report of a small number of abusive phone calls being made to members of the Islamic community in Dublin. However most calls to the Foundation and the Islamic Cultural Centre have been of a supportive nature. There have also been some reports of an increase in verbal insults directed at women in Islamic dress.
2. The attack on a Mosque in Belfast. Bricks were thrown at the Mosque in Wellington Park, Belfast on 14th September 2001. No one was hurt in the incident.
3. Concern about the speculation and sensationalized nature of some of the stories in the Irish and international media about alleged existence and links between Irish based Islamic militants and events related to September 11th.

Incidents Reported by other communities in Ireland related to September 11th

The following are examples of incidents reported by other communities in Ireland related to September 11th.

1. A young woman of Japanese ethnic origin and who is a French national and a visitor to Ireland was walking down a street in Dublin in broad daylight and was assaulted by a man on a motorbike. The man stopped his motorbike (he had a child as a pillion passenger), he slapped the young woman across the face and blamed her for the attacks on America. The impact on the woman was profound. She stayed in her house for four days after the attack. She has since returned to France.
2. In Tralee a male Yemeni national who is an asylum seeker in Ireland was hospitalized following an attack outside a supermarket as he was making a phone call. His assailants allegedly blamed him for being responsible for the September 11th attacks on the United States. The Gardai are currently investigating the case.
3. A teenager who is a member of the Sikh community in Ireland was assaulted outside the RDS in Dublin 4 area with a thrown bottle and with verbal abuse and blamed for September 11th.
4. A doctor, a member of the Sikh community in Ireland, has reported a significant increase in verbal abuse towards him in the wake of September 11th.
5. An Algerian asylum seeker who arrived in Ireland just after the September 11th attack requested and was granted relocation to a larger town as a consequence of his perceived fears living in a small rural town in County Cork.
6. An asylum seeker had his motorbike destroyed by an arson attack directly after the September 11th attack. He believes that the attack was a direct result of the September 11th attack and was connected to a number of youths who shouted verbal abuse shortly before the damage to his property.

Response of the NCCRI

The NCCRI has responded to these incidents in a number of ways:

• Drawn up a report of incidents that has been submitted to the European Monitoring Centre on Racism (EUMC) as part of a European wide initiative.
• Contacted the reporting agencies to offer support and to investigate what further action is being taken, including reporting to the Gardai, Equality Authority or local authority.
• Offered support to and participated in events at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Dublin.
• Met with representatives from the Sikh Community in Ireland.
• Written to the Chairperson of the ‘Know Racism’ campaign to ensure that Islamaphobia and related racism are included in the recently launched national anti-racism awareness programme.

Assaults and Harassment

The most common perception of racist assaults is that they occur in inner city areas, they are once-off incidents and they mainly happen to men. The racist incidents reported to the NCCRI in the past six months reveal a broader picture. They show that:

• Incidents can involve sustained harassment over a period of time.
• Incidents can involve women and children as well as men.
• They can happen in both private and local authority housing areas.
• They can happen in town/city centres, suburban and predominantly rural areas.
• Incidents can happen at places of work as well as in a public place.

These reports show that people in vulnerable circumstances such as women on their own and women with children can be targeted for verbal abuse and in some extreme cases, physical assaults.

Some of the incidents reported to the NCCRI reflect this fuller picture:

1. A young woman of Chinese ethnic origin working in a fast food outlet in Dublin 22 was insulted and humiliated by a customer with a number of racist comments related to her ethnic origin. Her supervisor’s only response was to sympathise with the customer and to repeat one of the racist comments used. (Action: Supervisor reported to the head office of the fast food outlet).
2. Five teenage women assaulted a black woman outside a train station in Howth. The same woman, who lives in a private rented apartment block in Dublin 6 has also experienced sustained harassment from a small number of her neighbours for over a year. This harassment has included verbal abuse and cold-shouldering. The landlord has failed to respond to these issues despite several complaints from the complainant. (Action: Assault reported to the Gardai)
3. A Congolese woman who lives in Dublin 22 has refugee status and works as a general operative, has received sustained harassment by some neighbours over a three-week period. Every weekend a group of teenagers throw stones and bottles at her house. They have broken the windows of her car. (Action: The incidents have been reported to Gardai but the harassment has continued.)
4. A woman with young children (Dublin 7 area) who is Nigerian and an asylum seeker has had her windows broken by three men shouting racist abuse. Some other neighbours assisted the woman when the incident occurred. (Action: Reported to Gardai).
5. A man of Chinese ethnic origin, an Irish citizen, and his Irish wife and two young children had been singled out for racist harassment in a private housing estate in Dublin 9 over a number of months by one particular neighbour. They kept a detailed list of incidents and have supporting documentation from a family doctor on the consequences of the harassment. The family eventually moved out of Dublin and they are experiencing no problems in the area where they are now living. (Action: The family have made a formal complaint to the Garda Complaints Board and Equality Authority).
6. A male teenager from Nigeria who is an asylum seeker and who is without his parents (unaccompanied minor) in Ireland was assaulted in Ennis. As a direct consequence of the assault the teenager spent four days in hospital.
7. A Nigerian woman asylum seeker went to help a mother and child to cross the street outside the Jervis shopping centre in Dublin. The child (aged about 5) said, ‘don’t ever touch me you fucking nigger’. The mother kept walking and said nothing.
8. A barman, who is black and is a British citizen, contends that over a five-month period his supervisor made several racist comments including referring to ‘baboonland’ and humiliated him in front of customers and other staff. (Action: The person was advised to take a complaint under the Employment Equality Act to the Equality Authority).
9. A Cameroon family with one 4-month-old child who are asylum seekers living in Drogheda, County Louth were evicted from their house. They returned to find their possessions in black plastic bags outside their house. Their landlord claimed he evicted them because he was putting the house on the market. However an auctioneers sign subsequently appeared in the garden which was placed without the knowledge or consent of the auctioneer. (Action: The family reported the threatening behaviour to the Gardai and are currently being advised by a solicitor as to the next action).

Response by the NCCRI

Racist assaults, harassment and verbal abuse are primarily a matter of concern for the Gardai. The reports show that the majority of those reporting the incidents to the NCCRI also reported the incidents to the Gardai, which is to be welcomed. However there are a small number who did not want to involve the Gardai in particular some asylum seekers. Reasons given for this reluctance were experience of police authorities in their home country or more general concern for their application for refugee status.

In terms of follow up, there is evidence of inconsistencies in the response to the Gardai to the individual incidents reported. In some instances those reporting incidents contended that Gardai appeared dismissive or unconcerned about the incident. In one incident a complaint was made to the Garda Complaints Board.

In other cases the Gardai were extremely helpful and developed a sustained and comprehensive response. In one instance for example, the role of a Juvenile Liaison Officer who worked with the offenders and victim was particularly praised. The role of some Garda Community Relations Officers has also been praised.

The NCCRI will continue to work with the Racial and Intercultural Unit and the Human Rights Unit on issues such as training materials, the categorisation of incidents and pro-active strategies with minority ethnic groups. The incidents also raise issues in relation to the Public Order Act (1994), which will be further considered by the NCCRI.

Racism on the Internet

In July and August 2001, the NCCRI received reports of racist websites emerging for the first time with a particular focus on Ireland. Three such websites have been identified by the NCCRI with offensive and racist content. The following are a number of examples of reported sites:

• The Irish Fascist Party.
• The Irish National Front.
• NSRUS - National Socialists Are Us.

Response by the NCCRI

Following reports of racist websites with a particular focus on Ireland on the Internet the NCCRI,

• Drew up an interim report of the websites, which was forwarded to the Gardai and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (DJELR) (annex one).
• Contacted the Gardai, who contacted the Internet portals acting as servers for the sites.
• Met with officials in DJELR responsible for Internet safety.
• Contacted the Internet Advisory Board.
• Responded to media requests for information.
• Wrote to the Internet portals highlighting particular sites and requesting their deletion.

Other issues highlighted

The role of Local Politicians

In one report from Ennis in County Clare concern was expressed about generalised and emotive statements and comments being made by a small number of councillors in relation to both Travellers and asylum seekers in the Ennis area. One such incident highlighted was the comments of one councillor speculating at a UDC meeting on the possibility of vigilante activity against the Traveller community in Ennis.

Groups working with Travellers are concerned that such comments have the potential to inflame an already difficult situation for Travellers. Ennis has no official halting site, despite having a resident Traveller population for many years. Because of the absence of a site, Travellers are forced to find accommodation that is clearly unsuitable, such as the grounds of a local school or grounds of a hospital.

It was pointed out in those making the reports, that other councillors in both Ennis UDC and in the County Council and national politicians, have been critical of such comments and the politicians who have been prepared to use such comments. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, John O Donoghue TD was reported in the Clare Champion as speaking out against comments that were likely to create problems form minority groups in the town.

Response of the NCCRI

The NCCRI contacted the Gardai in Ennis in relation to the comments by local politicians and has also contacted the Chairperson of the UDC.

Media

The media continues to play an active and important role in challenging racism and highlighting cultural diversity in Ireland. However it is of concern that there continues to be some articles appearing in the print media that are emotive, inaccurate or careless in substance.

It is not intended to single out particular newspapers, but to give two examples:

One broadsheet Sunday newspaper recently reported ‘Half of new HIV cases are asylum seekers’

In addition to the application of an alarmist headline, the article contained serious factual errors, most notably equating ‘non nationals’ with asylum seekers (when in reality asylum seekers currently comprise about 10% of non nationals), and the overall impression that there are many asylum seekers who are carriers of HIV. The paper subsequently published two letters criticising the article in its edition of October 28th. One HIV clinic has indicated that many of the people in the ‘non national’ category are former Irish citizens returning from abroad.

One daily tabloid newspaper recently reported: ‘New TB lab set to thwart epidemic’. Sub headed: ‘Influx of refugees increases threat of deadly disease’.

The article is about the establishment of a new national TB laboratory. There is no further reference to asylum seekers in the article other than the sub heading, except an apparently contradictory statement that: ‘Immigrants and asylum seekers only make up a small percentage of the people diagnosed with TB in this country’.

Medical authorities contacted by the NCCRI also confirmed the low incidence of TB among asylum seekers.

Summary of Recommendations:

The NCCRI suggests a number of recommendations arising from this report, including:

• The need to ensure that the forthcoming national action plan that will be drawn up by the Department of Justice, Equality and law Reform (arising from commitments given at the recent World Conference Against Racism) takes into account the range and type of racist incidents that are being logged by the NCCRI.
• The need for the recently launched anti racism public awareness programme to take into account incidents of Islamaphobia and related racism following September 11th.
• The need for the Gardai to ensure that there is greater consistency in the way that racist incidents are addressed in local stations, through on-going training and other strategies.
• The urgency of introducing the recording of racist incidents through the Garda PULSE system
• The need to ensure that current legislation in regard to public order offences, which can cover assaults and verbal abuse, are sufficient to address racist crime.
• The consideration of bringing in extra tariffs for ‘crimes of hate’ following conviction under public order offences.
• The importance of the current review of the Prohibition of the Incitement to Hatred Act resulting in amendments to the current legislation, including the inclusion of racism on the internet as a specified offence.
• The role of Internet providers in addressing racism on the Internet and the development of sanctions against such providers who fail to deal with the problem.
• The need for greater proofing of media reports by media editors to ensure that the content of particular articles and reports do not contribute to labelling minority ethnic groups. This recommendation does not seek to infringe on the media’s right to publish what is in the public interest.
• The need to continue to challenge the small number of local politicians who are intent in making generalised, emotive and derogatory comments about minority ethnic groups.