Islamophobia-related crimes in the UK have increased, according to the latest figures from the Home Office. Also, reports from independent religious discrimination monitoring bodies show rising Islamophobia in the UK. This has led to an intensification of the atmosphere of hatred towards Muslims living in the country.
Leaders of Islamic institutions and civil society organizations in the UK have called for more serious measures from the government and police to combat Islamophobia and protect religious places. Human rights organizations also emphasize the need to pass stricter laws to deal with online hate speech. This article examines the challenges facing the UK in the field of hate attacks against Muslims. The article also presents new statistics related to Islamophobia in the UK.
Rising Islamophobia in the UK after Brexit
Islamophobic attacks in the UK have increased sharply, especially since the country left the European Union. One reason for this increase is the widespread use of social media by hate groups to incite violence against Muslims. Extremist groups also often use social media to coordinate and promote such actions. In this regard, the annual report of the Home Office shows that religiously motivated hate crimes have increased alarmingly in the country. Nearly 38% of recorded crimes in England and Wales are against Muslims. This includes cases of verbal abuse and attacks in public places, online harassment, destruction of property belonging to Muslims and religious centers, and even physical attacks.
Intensification of verbal attacks and threats against Muslims
The charity Tell Mama specializes in monitoring and recording Islamophobic incidents. The charity announced in its latest report that the number of verbal and threatening cyber-attacks has increased by about 30 per cent in the past year. The organisation has stated that many incidents have been reported on social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok, making it difficult for the UK police and judiciary to identify and deal with perpetrators of hate crimes, given the anonymous or fake nature of the accounts. The organisation said there were 5,837 confirmed cases of Islamophobia in the UK last year. These included online incidents and physical targeting of Muslims. This represents a significant increase compared to 3,767 cases the previous year and 2,201 cases in 2022.
Gaza war causes a rise in hate speech against Muslims in the UK.
Tell Mama reveals Rising Islamophobia in the UK, reaching its highest level in 2024. According to data collected by Tell Mama, the number of Islamophobic incidents in the UK reached its highest level in 2024. The charity announced that the war in Gaza has caused an “intensification” of hate speech against Muslims in cyberspace. The charity announced in a statement: “The Israel and Gaza War, the [UK’s] Southport murders and riots… created a surge in anti-Muslim hate cases.”
Concerns about rising Islamophobia in the UK
The Muslim Council of Britain said it was deeply concerned about the rising Islamophobia in the UK. The council called for stronger legislation and a united response to Islamophobic crime. The MCB also urged the government to strengthen existing hate crime laws, implement targeted strategies to tackle Islamophobic hate crimes and allocate dedicated resources to support victims and prevent such incidents. The MCB also said that comprehensive efforts and investment in education are needed to better understand and ensure safety and justice for Muslim communities across the UK.
Hate attacks on Islamic centres on the rise
London police have said seven Islamic centres, including mosques and a primary school, have been targeted in hate crimes in the past month, raising concerns about rising Islamophobia in the UK. The incidents took place between January 6 and 25, 2025, the Metropolitan Police said. The Islamophobic crimes include anti-Islamic graffiti on the walls of mosques and community centres. Mosques such as Leyton Jamia, alongside Noor Ul Islam Primary School, were among those targeted.
Hate groups behind Islamophobic attacks
Stratford Islamic Association, whose mosque was targeted on January 23, said in a statement: “Our mosque has been part of this community since 1993, and in all that time, we’ve only known kindness and respect from our neighbours.” The statement added: “We are proud to be an integral part of this community, and today, we’ve been deeply moved by the overwhelming support from people of all backgrounds.” The Metropolitan Police said it was investigating the incidents as a series of hate crimes. In this regard, the police believe that these attacks are linked to a hate group on the Telegram platform. The group is said to have offered rewards of up to £100 to those who carry out the attacks.
Starmer urges urgent action to reduce hate attacks against Muslims.
Given the political sensitivities of recent years, including Brexit and immigration tensions in Europe, some extremist groups and populist movements have tried to exploit xenophobic sentiments. Therefore, this propaganda atmosphere often places Muslims at the center of verbal and propaganda attacks. It also introduces them as dangerous elements. For these reasons, the increase in Islamophobia in Britain is worrying. The Starmer government has so far failed to take serious action to prevent hate attacks against Muslims. The British government’s inaction could lead to an escalation of religious tensions in the cities. Muslim dissatisfaction with the Labour Party could also be a consequence of Starmer’s inattention to the escalation of hate attacks against Muslims.
