British Muslims Face Twice As Many Hate Crimes As A Decade Ago, Study Shows
Tell MAMA, which provides support to victims of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate, analyzed the experiences of over 20,000 individuals who sought its assistance between 2012 and 2022. Throughout this period, Tell MAMA handled more than 16,000 reported cases of anti-Muslim hate.
The study, which has been published on the organization's website, identified several factors contributing to the rising number of hate crime reports. These include the influence of far-right agitators, a global surge in anti-Muslim attacks, political rhetoric, the impact of Brexit, and the activities of extremist organizations like the Islamic State. Additionally, grooming scandals and targeted anti-Muslim campaigns were perceived as underlying causes.
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a significant increase in online instances of anti-Muslim hate, the report revealed. The lockdown measures implemented during the health crisis contributed to a notable rise in neighbor disputes, which often escalated into incidents of anti-Muslim hate.
The conflict between Palestine and the Israeli occupiers in 2021 further exacerbated the problem, leading to a surge in anti-Muslim cases reported to Tell MAMA. The charity also highlighted that the public exposure of racist abuse and attacks against asylum seekers and centers, as recounted by cricketer Azeem Rafiq, contributed to the uptick in hate crime reports.
Iman Atta OBE, the Director of Tell MAMA, emphasized the importance of the study's findings. She stated that the data presented in the report provides a comprehensive overview of anti-Muslim hate cases in the UK over the past decade, demonstrating the urgent need to address this issue.
Atta hopes that the study will inspire others to focus on combating anti-Muslim hatred and raise awareness about the necessity of peaceful challenge, monitoring, and counteraction against such acts. She underscored that collective efforts are crucial for fostering social cohesion and ensuring a society that is free from discrimination.
Source: Agencies
