The Netherlands: gay attackers usually young Dutch men

Most of 150 cases of verbal or physical violence against gay men and women in the Netherlands in the first six months of 2008 were committed by native Dutch men --or no attacker was listed-- according to home affairs ministry figures.

Police teams throughout the country were asked to keep a record of instances of gay bashing following concerns that attacks were increasing and that young immigrants were largely to blame.

In total, in the first sex months of 2008, 1,512 incidents of discrimination were reported, of which 150 related to attacks on homosexual men and women. It is likely that the number of anti-gay incidents is far higher but that the victims of discrimination are often less likely to go to the police.

Non-white?

There have been several high profile attacks on gay men over the past year, particularly in Amsterdam. But as it turns out, in only 14 percent of the registered incidents between January and June was the attacker described as non-white, the figures show.

Physical violence was involved in 28 percent of the 150 attacks on gays. The rest involved intimidation, threats, verbal abuse and vandalism.

In almost all cases, both attackers and victims were men. Age was not registered but police say the overwhelming impression is that the attackers are usually young.

Increase

2008 is the first year police forces and regional anti-discrimination bureaus have had a uniform system to register incidents of discrimination and this has led to a sharp increase in reports.

A second report, due next spring, will focus on full-year figures involving religious and racial discrimination as well as anti-gay attacks.

[DutchNews.nl]
[Photo in Dutch reads "Serious violence against gays? 'Incident?'"]



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