| Bullying, Religion and Belief |
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Just over two thirds of the Scottish population reported having a religion in the 2001 census. The most common faith was Christianity followed by Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism and Hinduism. 27% of people stated their religion as 'other' and 27.5% of people stated that they had no religion. Bullying based on religion is directed against individuals and groups because of their actual or perceived religious belief or their connection with a particular religion or belief. For example, someone may be targeted because of the religion of a friend or family member, or because they are wrongly assumed to belong to a particular faith community, due to their appearance. Individuals may also experience bullying because they don't hold a particular faith or because of their philosophical beliefs that shape their view of the world they live in. Lack of knowledge and understanding about the traditions, beliefs and etiquette of different faiths can lead to religious intolerance. Lack of awareness about the differences in practices of religions such as prayer times, dietary requirements, fasting and the wearing of religious clothing or articles of faith can result in misunderstandings and stereotyping, which may fuel bullying. As well as religious intolerance and bullying between one faith against another, bullying behaviour can also occur because of differences (or perceived differences) between different denominations or sects within the same faith, e.g. between Catholic and Protestant Christian, Sunni and Shia Muslim, and between the Orthodox and Reform strands of Judaism., Sectarianism and religious intolerance put children and young people at greater risk of bullying directly and indirectly. Finding out what others believe and why religious practices are important to them can be the first step to promote tolerance and understanding for people of all faiths and none. However, merely learning about different customs is not enough. Encouraging young people to celebrate diversity through meeting and talking with others from different faiths allows a greater understanding and the creation of a climate where all are valued and bullying is not tolerated. Local, national and international events can all contribute to a social climate which makes children and young people more likely to be the targets of religious bullying. After the Sept 11 attack on the World Trade Centre and the London bombings of 7 July many Muslims found themselves the target of reprisal attacks, verbal insults and harassment. Individuals from other faith communities, such as Sikh and Hindu were often wrongly assumed to be Muslim and were also targeted for abuse. Barriers to telling that bullying is taking place:
At the youth club, Fariha is isolated by the other girls who accuse her of being an extremist because she wears the hijab (Muslim headscarf) Graffiti is scrawled in the school toilets suggesting that Laura is a witch because her classmates have heard that her mother is a practising Pagan. Several classmates have moved their seats away and refuse to sit near hear because they say she might ‘cast a spell' on them. Hassan's classmates taunt him with name-calling and jokes that allude to him being a suicide bomber because he is a Muslim On the way home from school, Liam is attacked by boys from a neighbouring school because he attends a catholic school and they assume he is Catholic. For further information, please visit the Scottish Interfaith Council |
