Racial abuse is on the rise in post-Brexit Britain, a Conservative British MP said as police confirmed they were investigating several racially motivated crimes. (CNN)

There has been a 57 percent increase in hate crimes since Brexit according to CNN and Facebook page Worrying Signs reports abuses taking place throughout Britain from regular people posting their personal experiences on a daily basis. More than a hundred incidents of racial abuse and hate crime have been reported since the UK voted to leave the European Union. (Independent)

Comment:

The Brexit vote has opened a whole avenue for racism and the consequences that follow suit. As Britain exits the EU, it seems its people have existed from the ethics of humanity. The British imperialist mentality has been stoked once again in the British people seeing themselves superior to the other ethnicities and races. Where it may have been a private opinionated matter somewhat taboo to speak outright in public even though some have jeered publicly at the “others”, now it is British ego that allows them to openly declare their racism to those from foreign countries. There are several double or even triple standards taking place – the acceptable immigrant (the European already living in Britain) and the rejected group (newly arriving migrants), some have went even further excluding the Muslim population irrespective if they are British citizens or employment seeking migrants.

Cases of officially reported and unreported harassment and abuse multiplied including hostilities towards the Poles with David Cameron calling Poland’s Prime Minister to reassure her of the situation to the brown population to the Eastern European job-seeking migrants are being expected to leave the country at once.

The Muslim population in particular and the Muslim women hijabis are especially at risk for harm as many intimidators seem to believe they can take the authority into their hands as they physically assault and taunt Muslims flagrantly without the slightest bit of shame with onlookers remaining silent.

The Brexit vote has lifted the layers hidden in the Brits young and old of discrimination, intolerance  and the superiority complex after all the ground is fertile for this type of sentiment and behavior, viewing the foreigner as the thief of their nation’s resources, jobs, and housing taking advantage of their welfare casting away all weight of responsibility of the meddling in the foreigners’ home affairs from crippling high interest IMF and world bank loans, sanctions, war ridden lands forcing thousands to seek asylum elsewhere. Of course when hatred and bigotry are combined feelings of entitlement consume the masses, this becomes a highly volatile situation for those of other races and ethnicities and religion. This is conveniently overlooked by both the common folk and the folks in government. While we do see some Britons apologizing to the euro communities while remaining silent regarding the third and even fourth generation of Muslim communities born and raised in Britain, contradicting values are definitely at play. All in all Brexit appears to be justification for open racism and abuse against Muslims and foreigners in Britain.

Manal Bader