Islamophobia legal assistance hotline launches in B.C.

Legal groups in Vancouverare launching a hotline for people who may have been discriminated against because they'reMuslim, or perceived to be.

"If they are suffering discrimination as a result of that, they can call this hotline and get connected with some free legal assistance to help them determine if there issomethinglegal they can do about it," said Josh Paterson with theB.C. Civil Liberties Association.

The new phone line is being hosted out of Access Pro Bono B.C., a non-profit organizationcalled thatconnects people to free legal advice.

Paterson says the hotline was developed by a number of legal organizations, including the BCCLA. He says there havebeen increasingreports of discrimination against Muslims.

"It can be anything from harassment, to attacks to allegations of racial profiling by police or national security authorities, property destruction these are the kinds of things we've been hearing about," Paterson said.

Faith-related discrimination assistance can also be accessed through the hotline's website.