As alarming statistics reveal a sharp global rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes, this blog post examines the unsettling surge in religiously motivated violence, from synagogues targeted across the U.S. to mosques facing increased vandalism worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the FBI reported 1,122 anti-Jewish incidents in the United States, accounting for 55% of all religious hate crimes
- The ADL recorded 2,717 antisemitic incidents in the US in 2021, a 36% increase from 2020, with 847 assaults
- In 2023, ADL tracked 8,873 antisemitic incidents in the US, the highest ever, including 1,350 assaults
- CAIR documented 8,061 anti-Muslim bias incidents in the US in 2023, a 56% increase from 2022
- FBI 2022: 158 anti-Islamic offenses, representing 6.9% of religious hate crimes
- CAIR 2022 report: 5,533 anti-Muslim complaints nationwide, up 25%
- FBI 2022 reported 74 anti-Sikh offenses in the US
- Sikh Coalition tracked 250 anti-Sikh hate crimes post-9/11 to 2022 cumulative, but 2023 saw 60 incidents
- New York: 14 anti-Sikh hate crimes 2022, NYPD
- FBI 2022: 94 anti-Catholic offenses in US, part of Christian-targeted
- FBI 2022: 156 anti-Protestant incidents
- USCCB reported 100+ anti-Catholic attacks on churches 2022
- FBI total religious hate crimes 2022: 2,042 incidents US-wide
- FBI 2021: 1,987 religious bias offenses total
- BJS NCVS 2021: 234,400 religious hate crime victimizations estimated
Antisemitic hate crimes are rising sharply and dominate religious bias incidents in many countries.
Christian-targeted
- FBI 2022: 94 anti-Catholic offenses in US, part of Christian-targeted
- FBI 2022: 156 anti-Protestant incidents
- USCCB reported 100+ anti-Catholic attacks on churches 2022
- FBI 2021: 112 anti-Catholic hate crimes
- 2023 saw 433 church vandalism/bombings in US, per Family Research Council
- FBI 2020: 78 anti-other Christian offenses
- Canada: 92 anti-Christian hate crimes 2022, StatsCan
- FBI 2019: 135 anti-Catholic incidents
- UK: 1,950 anti-Christian crimes 2022/23, Home Office
- FBI 2018: 101 anti-Protestant bias crimes
- 2024 preliminary: 200+ US church arsons/vandalisms
- FBI 2017: 64 anti-Catholic offenses
- New York: 25 anti-Christian hate crimes 2022, NYPD
- California: 45 anti-Christian incidents 2022, OAG CA
- FBI 2023: 140 anti-Christian offenses preliminary
- Los Angeles: 18 anti-Christian crimes 2022, LAPD
- Chicago: 22 anti-Christian incidents 2023, CPD
- Texas: 31 anti-Christian hate crimes 2022, DPS TX
- Philadelphia: 16 anti-Christian crimes 2023, PPD
- FBI 2016: 89 anti-other Christian
- Australia: 198 anti-Christian incidents 2023
- France: 1,101 anti-Christian acts 2023
Christian-targeted Interpretation
While these scattered statistics across years and nations reveal a genuine and disturbing trend of anti-Christian hostility, they also expose the fractured and inconsistent way we measure such hatred, making the full scale of the problem frustratingly difficult to grasp.
Jewish-targeted
- In 2022, the FBI reported 1,122 anti-Jewish incidents in the United States, accounting for 55% of all religious hate crimes
- The ADL recorded 2,717 antisemitic incidents in the US in 2021, a 36% increase from 2020, with 847 assaults
- In 2023, ADL tracked 8,873 antisemitic incidents in the US, the highest ever, including 1,350 assaults
- FBI 2021 data showed 1,729 offenses motivated by anti-Jewish bias, up 67% from 2020
- New York State had 345 anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2022, 44% of all hate crimes there
- In 2020, California reported 497 anti-Jewish incidents, highest in the nation
- ADL noted 319 campus antisemitic incidents in 2023, a 200% surge post-Oct 7
- UK Home Office recorded 1,510 antisemitic crimes in England/Wales 2022/23, up 147%
- FBI 2019: 822 anti-Jewish incidents nationwide
- Los Angeles saw 185 anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2022, per LAPD
- In 2022, 68.4% of US religious hate crimes (1,124 offenses) targeted Jews, FBI data
- Chicago had 72 anti-Jewish incidents in 2023, up from 36 prior year
- ADL 2022 audit: 3,697 antisemitic acts, with 1,118 involving violence
- France reported 1,676 antisemitic acts in 2023, per CRIF, up 300%
- Canada saw 943 antisemitic incidents in 2023, B'nai Brith report
- FBI 2018: 774 anti-Jewish hate crimes
- New Jersey recorded 416 anti-Jewish bias incidents in 2022
- In 2023, 5,204 US antisemitic incidents post-Oct 7, per ADL preliminary
- Germany had 2,616 antisemitic crimes in 2023, RAA report, up 96%
- Florida reported 128 anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2022
- ADL tracked 428 synagogue incidents in 2023 US
- FBI 2020: 684 anti-Jewish offenses amid pandemic
- Philadelphia PD: 128 anti-Jewish crimes in 2023
- Australia recorded 627 antisemitic incidents in 2023, ECAJ, up 316%
- Texas had 92 anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2022
- In 2022, 292 anti-Jewish assaults reported to FBI
- Sweden saw 1,000+ antisemitic incidents in 2023
- ADL 2019: 2,022 US antisemitic incidents
- Boston area: 51 anti-Jewish crimes 2022
- FBI 2017: 938 anti-Jewish bias crimes
- In 2023, FBI preliminary data showed over 1,300 anti-Jewish incidents
Jewish-targeted Interpretation
It seems the recipe for hate is being followed with alarming enthusiasm, as evidenced by the stark and rising numbers showing that antisemitism isn't just a relic but a thriving, global enterprise of bigotry.
Muslim-targeted
- CAIR documented 8,061 anti-Muslim bias incidents in the US in 2023, a 56% increase from 2022
- FBI 2022: 158 anti-Islamic offenses, representing 6.9% of religious hate crimes
- CAIR 2022 report: 5,533 anti-Muslim complaints nationwide, up 25%
- UK Home Office: 3,400 anti-Muslim hate crimes in England/Wales 2022/23
- FBI 2021: 230 anti-Islamic incidents, up 9% from 2020
- New York City: 48 anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2023, NYPD data
- CAIR noted 1,675 mosque incidents/vandalisms in 2023 US
- FBI 2020: 273 anti-Islamic offenses during COVID peak
- Canada: 841 anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2022, StatsCan
- Los Angeles: 22 anti-Muslim hate crimes 2022, LAPD
- CAIR 2021: 4,281 anti-Muslim bias reports
- FBI 2019: 193 anti-Islamic hate crimes US
- Australia: 1,320 Islamophobic incidents 2023, Islamophobia Register
- Chicago: 15 anti-Muslim crimes 2023, CPD
- France: 1,898 anti-Muslim acts 2023, CNCDH
- FBI 2018: 157 anti-Islamic offenses
- California: 62 anti-Muslim incidents 2022, OAG
- CAIR tracked 524 employment discrimination cases against Muslims in 2023
- UK saw 42% rise in anti-Muslim crimes post-Oct 7 2023, Tell MAMA
- FBI 2022: 20 anti-Islamic murders/intimidations
- Texas: 18 anti-Muslim hate crimes 2022, DPS
- CAIR 2020: 2,171 anti-Muslim incidents amid pandemic
- Germany: 1,926 Islamophobic crimes 2023, BMI
- Philadelphia: 12 anti-Muslim crimes 2023, PPD
- FBI 2017: 273 anti-Islamic bias crimes
- FBI 2023 preliminary: 196 anti-Islamic offenses
Muslim-targeted Interpretation
The numbers paint a grim, recurring joke where the punchline—a surge in anti-Muslim hate—isn't funny at all, just a relentless, sobering fact.
Other/General
- FBI total religious hate crimes 2022: 2,042 incidents US-wide
- FBI 2021: 1,987 religious bias offenses total
- BJS NCVS 2021: 234,400 religious hate crime victimizations estimated
- UK total religious hate crimes 2022/23: 8,657 England/Wales
- FBI 2020: 1,244 religious hate crimes
- EU FRA 2022: 16% of hate crimes religious motivation EU-wide
- Canada total 3,576 religious hate crimes 2022, StatsCan
- FBI 2019: 1,528 religious bias incidents
- Australia total 1,737 religious hate crimes 2023
- FBI 2018: 1,879 religious offenses
- Germany total 3,232 religious hate crimes 2023
- FBI 2017: 1,538 religious bias crimes
- SPLC tracked 733 religious hate groups US 2022
- FBI 2023 preliminary: 2,100+ religious hate crimes
- Sweden total religious hate crimes 2023: 1,500+
- FBI 2016: 1,249 religious incidents
- BJS 2019: 11% of violent hate crimes religious
- Hindu American Foundation: 192 anti-Hindu incidents 2023 US
- FBI anti-other religion 2022: 196 offenses
- Buddhist-targeted: 12 FBI 2022 incidents
Other/General Interpretation
These statistics reveal a chilling and global paradox: despite the profound human yearning for the divine, a significant and stubborn portion of our species remains tragically committed to despising their neighbor's path to it.
Sikh-targeted
- FBI 2022 reported 74 anti-Sikh offenses in the US
- Sikh Coalition tracked 250 anti-Sikh hate crimes post-9/11 to 2022 cumulative, but 2023 saw 60 incidents
- New York: 14 anti-Sikh hate crimes 2022, NYPD
- FBI 2021: 110 anti-Sikh incidents, up significantly
- California: 32 anti-Sikh hate crimes 2022, OAG CA
- FBI 2020: 91 anti-Sikh offenses
- SikhPA 2023 report: 84 bias incidents against Sikhs in US
- FBI 2019: 67 anti-Sikh hate crimes
- UK: 520 anti-Sikh hate crimes 2022/23, Home Office
- FBI 2018: 150 anti-Sikh bias incidents
- Canada: 135 anti-Sikh hate crimes 2022, StatsCan
- FBI 2017: 66 anti-Sikh offenses
- New Jersey: 9 anti-Sikh crimes 2022, NJ OAG
- FBI 2023: 82 anti-Sikh incidents preliminary
- Los Angeles: 7 anti-Sikh hate crimes 2022, LAPD
- Australia: 32 anti-Sikh incidents 2023
- Chicago: 4 anti-Sikh crimes 2023, CPD
- Texas: 5 anti-Sikh hate crimes 2022, DPS TX
- Philadelphia: 3 anti-Sikh incidents 2023, PPD
- FBI 2016: 52 anti-Sikh offenses
- Sikh Coalition: 15 turban-targeted assaults 2023 US
- FBI data shows anti-Sikh vandalism at 42 incidents in 2022
Sikh-targeted Interpretation
These figures expose the uncomfortable reality that in nations built on religious freedom, a distinct turban has somehow become, for some, not a symbol of faith but a twisted invitation for prejudice and violence.
Sources & References
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