ANTI-MUSLIM HATE IN UK ‘HITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN A DECADE’

Sun 06 October 2024:

Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate in the UK has risen to the highest total in more than a decade, according to a charity monitoring such incidents.

Tell Mama said it recorded 4,971 incidents of anti-Muslim hate and discrimination in the year since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The incidents, to the end of September this year, mostly took the form of abusive behaviour (63%), the organization said.

Just over a quarter of cases (27%) involved what it described as threatening behaviour.

Most incidents took place in London, the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands, the group said.

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The history of anti-Muslim hate in the UK has deep roots, influenced by colonialism, global events, and domestic policies. Tensions began to rise in the late 20th century, particularly with the influx of Muslim immigrants from former British colonies in South Asia.

While initially framed around racial tensions, Islamophobic sentiment became more distinct following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and later, the Rushdie Affair in 1988, when protests erupted over Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses.

The events of 9/11 in 2001 and the 7/7 London bombings in 2005 marked a turning point, significantly intensifying anti-Muslim rhetoric in the UK. Media and political discourse often painted Muslims as a security threat, fueling fear and distrust.

This led to an increase in hate crimes, profiling, and discriminatory policies, such as the controversial Prevent strategy aimed at countering extremism.

The rise of far-right groups, like the English Defence League, further amplified Islamophobia in the 2010s. The Brexit campaign also saw spikes in anti-Muslim sentiment, with populist rhetoric targeting immigration and multiculturalism.

Despite efforts by civil rights organizations, anti-Muslim hate remains a significant issue in the UK, manifesting in both physical attacks and institutional discrimination, reflecting deeper social divisions.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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