Stereotyping of Young Male Muslims - Research Paper Example

Introduction Stereotyping can be defined as distorted or incomplete information used to recognize people of different groups based on various characteristics. Sex, age, race, sexual orientation, physical ability and religion are the various categories used as different forms for stereotyping. Sex and race are the most controversial and prevalent categories based on which people experience issues related to stereotyping. Stereotyping increased rapidly in UK after the London transit bombing, which occurred in the year 2005. After media and law enforcing agents recognized that the bombings in London were conducted by a group of Islamic extremists, several developments took place in the United Kingdom. Media played the major role to increase stereotyping in UK. The median focused on the radicalization of Islamic youths residing in UK by linking them to inadequate integration processes. The police departments were given direct orders to overcome the impacts from the incidents and punish the anti-social activists swiftly. Most of the Muslim male youths were harassed in UK after the incidents and the civil society of UK turned against the entire Muslim community. The number of reported incidents against the Muslim community and their worship places increased immediately after the bombing incidents of London. This research paper focuses on the impact of London bombings on racial profiling. Background London Bombings, 7 July 2005 On the 7th of July, a series of suicide bomb attacks were conducted in Central London. The attacks were majorly conducted to create massacre among the civilians using the public transport system. According to reports, it has been observed that four British Islamist men had detonated four bombs. Among the four bombs, three of them were detonated in the underground trains across the city. The fourth bomb was detonated on a double-decker bus. Almost one hour after the underground train attacks the fourth bomb was detonated on the number 30 bus (Goldstein 21). The attack occurred in Tavistock square, resulting in multiple injuries and death of innocent civilians. The incident occurred on a Tuesday, leaving 52 civilians dead and more than 700 injured. This incident has been regarded as the worst attacks, since 1988, i.e. the Lockerbie bombing. History of UK bombings Before the London bombing incident, several other attacks took place in UK resulting in loss of many lives and properties. One of the most disastrous attacks occurred on 30 October, 1883. Two bombs exploded in the London underground railways in Paddington and Westminster Bridge station. In the year 1884, three bombing incidents occurred in London, in the month of February, May and December. The year 1884 was one of the most terrible periods in the history of London because it recorded multiple deaths of civilians and several injuries. Following the year 1884 and 1885, major bombing attacks took place in the year 1939, during the development of the Second World War Finally, the brutal bombing incident of London occurred in the year 2005, reporting huge losses in the country (Bakalian 92). Following the London bombing of 2005, several incidents impacted the life of the local residents in the country. The British Muslims became the major victims of the racial profiling. The police and law enforcement agencies regarded the Muslims as guilty and they were harassed by the people in entire UK (Barrett 71). The British Muslims were charged by the police against any criminal activities that occurred in the region. Stereotyping became a very common practice after the London bombings and the Islam followers suffered drastically. Racial Profiling Racial Profiling is the process of deciding an individual’s character or engagement in any illegal activity based on their religion, race, ethnicity or national origin. It is basically a form of discrimination by which an individual is suspected for a crime by taking the above characteristics as the primary reason. It is a common scenario in all major countries affected by terrorism. The people belonging from Arabs, South Asia and the Muslims from other places are targeted and treated as the primary suspects for any ill happenings taking place. Various ways of targeting the people are Stopping and checking of vehicles driven by them at each and every junction. Increase in the security checking for them in stations, shopping malls, airport, etc. Continuous vigilance around their living places by the law keepers. Ill treatment by native people. These activities started as a result of continuous terrorist attacks on major countries like USA, UK which was carried out mainly by Middle East Country people or Muslims. This led to engagement in enforcement by the law keepers on the grounds of religion or ethnicity. Just after the World Trade Centre attack in US in 2001 and London serial blasts in 2005, Racial Profiling has been chosen above the behavioral profiling (Forst 29). This ideology was brought in mind considering the facts of security, reasonability and cost effectiveness. Statistically it is found that certain ethnicities are more likely to commit certain type of crimes. Racial profile can be deemed reasonable when it is determined that a certain group of people are more likely to have same ideology. For example in Middle East and South East Asia Islamic ideology is more prevalent. People from those countries are typically thought to be sympathetic to Islamic ideologies. Profiling can be cost efficient when a specific criminal is being searched by the law enforcement. Knowing what type of person fits the profile of the criminal they are looking can save resources. Though it is considered to be a vital measure to catch the culprits, but it often creates negative impact in the society. Victims of racial profiling often undergoes through distress and anxiety. This process is totally unethical. Although racial profiling narrows down a suspect pool but it also target a particular group which consists people who are totally innocent. Racial tension arouses where racial profiling is most prevalent by law enforcements. Individuals become hostile and refuse to co-operate with the situation. No statistical proof is there that someone who has just committed a crime can be identified by racial profiling. It is a civil liberties violation to detain someone on just mere assumptions (Harris 57). People that have been racially profiled unjustly find it hard to believe that the law will treat everyone impartially. Our justice system is dependent on the idea that every individual has some specific rights. Without concrete evidence a person should not be persecuted for their ethnic or religious background. Racial profiling has both its merits and its faults. However its faults are greater than its merits. The merits of Racial Profiling are only limited to cost control and narrowing down suspect pool. However, it has been observed that several suspects of crime activities became victims under racial profiling measurement strategies. Many other methods can be implied other than racial profiling. Using race-neutral methods like behavior it is far more beneficial to our security. Therefore Racial Profiling should not be given any place in the society because it leads to unwanted circumstances in the society. Muslim terrorists’ profile According to historians, authors and experts, it has been evident that Muslim community has been regarded as a blood-thirsty tribe by the other religious followers in the world. Modern theorists, such as Daniel Pipes has stated that Jihadist terrorist belonging from the Muslim community emerge with a purpose of bringing violence in the society and they invoke the holy Qur’an and Allah while denouncing their motives. The Islamic extremists majorly emerge due to political influences in the world. Most of the Muslim militants have been inspired, trained and provoked to destroy life and property of other people by their religious preachers and political leaders collectively. The Western countries have regarded Muslims as terrorists because of the fact that majority of people belonging from the community have been found to be involved in the anti-social activities that occurred in the past, such as the bombing attacks conducted in the year 2005 (Arena 62). After a joint interview program conducted by the MI5 of Britain in the year 2008, it has been revealed that several prisoners have been convicted by the police and the jurisdiction system because they were profiled to be ‘would-be’ terrorists in UK. Some of the Muslim terrorists accused for crimes did not have any direct relation to the criminal offences. The 9/11 incident of United States had similar actions towards the minority groups in the country. It has been observed that most of the Muslim populations are viewed in suspicion because of their religious differences and practices. The terrorist activities get fund-raised in the world due to the discriminations that the people face in the society. Multiculturalism in UK has been an issue for discussion for many years. It has been observed that multiculturalism has generated several discrepancies among the people of United Kingdom. Most of the people of UK have unwilling motives towards the acceptance of Muslim populations in their society. The Western culture has derived from the Christianity religion, due top which there has been great evidences that prove that social acceptance of Muslims in Britain and other western countries were all-time low. After the London bombings occurred, the Muslim population residing in London and other parts of UK lived in great fear. Most of the male populations did not turn up to their work places in fear. The Muslim youths were in great danger because they had to experience severe resistance from the other group of youths in the country. The Muslim culture generally disregards the female from working or mixing-up freely with other people. Therefore, the females were safe in their house. However, the Muslim males were looked with suspicion by the people of other groups as well as the police forces. According to statistical reports, it has been recorded that about 77 percent of the British population were satisfied with immediate reaction strategies incorporated by the police (Davis 71). The Muslims were thoroughly checked in Airports, Shopping-malls, Railway Stations, and Restaurants etc. The prestige of the entire community degraded after the London attacks. Government and police departments changed their traditional ways of investigations after almost 2 years but the impact of the London bombings were terrible because it not only resulted in the mass murders and injuries but also provoked social-disturbances and riots in London as well as the other parts of United Kingdom. Solutions The police departments have incorporated essential initiatives in order to tackle the issues related to stereotyping and racial profiling. After the London bombing attacks several misconducts occurred within the country. However, in the modern world, government has emphasized on extended specialized projects, such as MET. MET helped the communities that are exposed to the threat of terrorist attacks or terrorist involvement. The security system in UK has also been enhanced significantly in order to assure that people from diverse communities do not feel any difference in behavior. In order to overcome the issues related to stereotyping and racial profiling, government and legal bodies should implement some strategies that have never been done before. First of all, it is essential to understand that the emergence of terrorism develops due to racial discriminations and stereotyping circumstances. Government and local bodies should make positive attempts to reduce the discrimination from the society. The police departments should not accuse a person because they belong from minority groups, in case of lack of evidences. Secondly, equality among the people should be maintained. It has been observed in the past that most of the minority groups have been thoroughly checked in airports or shopping malls; however the same treatment does not happen with the White citizens of the country. This kind of discrimination against security checking should be stopped immediately because it degrades the social harmony. The two solutions that are mentioned above are very essential because they would stop people from participating in terrorism activities due to anger or rage. Government of UK should incorporate special measures to reduce the threats that exist due to discrimination in the society. Furthermore, stereotyping on the basis of sex, race, religion or sexual orientation should be deterred as punishable offence by the court of law (Noor 82). These implementations would definitely help to overcome the challenges associated with stereotyping that has been a part of UK against the young Muslim males, after the London transit bombing in 2005. Works Cited Arena, Michael. The Terrorist Identity. London: Sage, 2006. Print. Bakalian, Anny. Backlash 9/11. London: Routledge, 2009. Print. Barrett, Paul. British Islam. New Jersey: Pearson, 2007. Print. Davis, Mike. Planet of Race. London: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print. Forst, Brian. Terrorism, Crime and Public Policy. London: Rowman and Littlefield, 2009. Print. Goldstein, Herman. Problem-Oriented Policing. New York: Springer, 2009. Print. Harris, Sam. The End of Faith. London: Kogan Page, 2005. Print. Noor, Farish. The Madrasa in Asia. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. Read More