United Nations criticizes growth of xenophobic behavior in Britain

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein is pressuring the British authorities to engage in halting the growth of xenophobic behavior in Britain that began after the results of the recent referendum there were announced. Last week British voters expressed themselves in favor of Britain leaving the EU.

Yesterday the UN representative declared that he is deeply disturbed by reports of attacks targeting foreign nationals and minority communities in Britain. Concerns about immigration were a key factor in the British plebiscite.

Hussein also called on British authorities to prosecute those responsible for the attacks. He pointed out that racism and xenophobia are absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances.

Since the referendum, police have reported a 57 % growth in the number of complaints of manifestations of hatred compared to the same time in May. Police are also investigating vandalism perpetrated on a Polish cultural center in West London, among other incidents.