WASHINGTON, May 24: The US Senate unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday night condemning violence against Muslims and other minorities.

The resolution, presented by a Democrat Senator Dick Durbin, named Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South-Asian Americans and Sikh Americans as the minorities targeted for hate crimes.

“This is a proud moment for Americans of all religions, backgrounds and cultures. The Senate has spoken clearly and forcefully — there should never be a place for this kind of hatred in our country,” said Senator Durban.

“Now, more than ever, we simply cannot allow prejudice to divide our nation,” he added.

The senator noted that in the aftermath of 9-11 and the war in Iraq, bias-motivated crimes, including violent physical assaults against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans increased.

The FBI reported that the number of anti-Muslim incidents rose 1,600 per cent from year 2000 to 2001.

Earlier this week, a Sikh truck driver, Avtar Singh, was shot and seriously wounded in Phoenix, Arizona, apparently because the attackers, two white man, mistook him for a Muslim.

“History demonstrates that strong action condemning discrimination, such as we have taken in the Senate, can help to lessen prejudice and promote greater tolerance and understanding,” said Mr Durbin.