Increase towards queer and transgender people – Greater Oslo

Thee-Yezen Al-Obaide know full well what other people’s hatred can do to you.

The big beard around the smile, the prayer hat which sometimes covers the head. And the sexuality he is open about.

– I fall between two chairs. Both devout Muslims, Arabs and queers.

On the same chairs you find two types of hatred, homophobia on one and racism on the other.

He has known both on his body. Repeatedly.

Swear words and spittle enemas.

People shouting in the open street. Who says they will rape, injure and kill him.

During last year, a total of 1,090 reviews where hate was the motive were submitted.

There are around three reviews every single day.

Never before have so many people reviewed

Today, the annual report on hate crime from the national competence center for hate crime was presented.

The largest number of reviews, 614, concern racism.

But last year, like the year before, the number of reviews from queer and transgender people increased sharply.

In 2022, the police registered 215 reports from queers and 69 from trans people.

Last year, these figures increased to 309 and 152.

Chief Constable Abetare Krasniqi works in the Hate Crimes Task Force.

She calls it a trend.

– Since the pride terror in 2022, we have received more and more reports of hate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

But it is not only these groups that have had more hatred directed at them.

• If you look at all hate crimes together, reports have increased by 18 per cent in 2023.
• The increase is greater than for many other types of offences.

Such crime does not only affect certain individuals, but entire environments. Anyone who identifies with the victim.

– And there is potentially a large group that creates fear and dread in them, says Krasniqi.

Does that mean there is more hatred in society?

It’s hard to say for sure. More people go to the police and make a report, but there can be many reasons for this.

Owarden Abetare Krasniqi points to these:

• That more people know what hate crime is.
• That more people have confidence that the police investigate these cases and choose to report them.
• Increased competence in the police. For example, that the cases are registered correctly. Police in the districts have also received training in hate crime, which can lead to more targeted work against hate crime.

– But we can’t rule out that there has actually been more hate crime in Norway, says Krasniqi.

At the same time, the police believe that there are large black figures. People who experience hate but never report. They hope the police will reach out to.

But does a review weaken the hatred in the streets and on social media?

Unfortunately, the majority of cases are never resolved. In 2023, the detection rate for hate crimes dropped from 52 to 45 percent.

– It was lower than it has been for quite a few years. For example, there is a challenge that deals with damage or theft of Pride flags or other effects where there may be a lack of evidence, says Krasniqi.

That worries the queer community in Norway.

Little trust in the police

Thee-Yezen and many of his friends and members have razor-thin confidence that the police will deal with the case if they report it.

– It is not a big surprise for us when the cases are dropped.

Only once did he submit a review.

He had good pictures, filmed and the police got videos from Oslo S.

– But the case was dropped anyway. I think it’s a ridiculous basis, that it was an unknown perpetrator.

And it has become more common.

The number of closures increased by 43 per cent from 2022 to 2023.

But the reviews can have something to say, even if the matter is not resolved.

Can’t turn it around alone

NRK has told the chief officer Abetare Krasniqi about the concerns. She emphasizes that they take it seriously.

– It is sad and serious that vulnerable groups have little faith in us. Hate crime must be prioritized in all police districts, regardless of severity. The police take this seriously.

Regardless of whether a case is resolved, it is worth reporting, say the police.

– Because we then know where hate crime takes place, and who the perpetrator is, and who is the victim. And then we can take preventive measures, she says, adding:

– But we cannot turn it around alone, we depend on the whole community to contribute.

Since the terror of 2022 has also Thee-Yezen urged others to go to the police.

– And use the right term to get it in the statistics. So that we get a picture of what it’s really like to be queer in Norway today.

For Thee-Yezen, fear is the worst. For almost a year, he went on a violence alarm.

– I try to stand by it, I have chosen to be a public figure, but it hurts. Sometimes you just want to give up.

He says there are many who cannot come forward with who they are.

Who also do not dare to review.

– Hwho will do the work if we all give up? Squeer muslims don’t grow on trees.