Almost 6,000 reports to Tell Mama were confirmed by the organization as anti-Muslim incidents, more than double the number two years ago, with men targeted more than women for the first time since the body was founded in 2012.

In its report, the organization said there had been a “surge in rhetoric that falsely portrays Muslims as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers” following the Israel-Gaza conflict and Southport murders.

A government spokesperson called the findings “extremely concerning” and said it would “seek to stamp out anti-Muslim hatred and racism wherever it occurs.”

A total of 6,313 cases of anti-Muslim hate were recorded by Tell Mama in 2024, a 43% increase from the previous year — with 5,837 of the reports verified by the group.

The organization, which describes itself as the leading agency monitoring anti-Muslim hate crime, said it had documented a steep rise in offline incidents, with 3,680 cases reported — a 72% increase from two years ago.

The majority of the in-person cases were abusive behavior, with Tell Mama also recording incidents of physical assault, discrimination, and vandalism. Most of the attacks took place in public areas such as streets and parks, with a minority occurring in the workplace.

For the first time since Tell Mama’s inception in 2012, more men than women were targeted by anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia, the organization said.

Tell Mama said that shift reflected “the deepening impact of harmful stereotypes that fuel societal divisions and reinforce false notions about Muslim identities.”

Anti-Muslim attacks surged in the UK following both the Southport murders last July and the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023.

According to the report, more than half of the online incidents of Islamophobia last year took place after three girls were murdered at a dance class in Southport. The majority of these occurred on the social media platform X — formerly known as Twitter.

Following the murders, misinformation about the assailant’s identity proliferated online, fueling civil unrest that spread across the UK.

Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents who had settled in Britain, is serving a minimum 52-year sentence for the murders.

Tell Mama said that there had been a “surge in rhetoric that falsely portrays Muslims as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers” since both the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the 2024 riots sparked by the Southport murders.

Iman Atta, the group’s director, called for coordinated action by the government and said: “As anti-Muslim hate continues to be felt by a greater number of British Muslims, both at a street and online level, our work and support for victims of anti-Muslim hate is needed now more than ever.”

The public must “stand together against hatred and extremism,” she said, and urged those in positions of influence to “consider how their language risks stereotyping communities and how it unduly influences discussions online and offline.”

In response to the findings, the government said that “attacks on and hatred against Muslim communities are completely unacceptable and have no place in our society.”

A spokesperson added: “We are absolutely determined to bridge divisions between communities and are working closely with community groups, charities, and public sector partners to tackle hatred in all its forms.”

Source: BBC

The Muslim community has been grappling with the increase of Islamophobia in the EU, including Germany– where physical attacks against Muslims and vandalism against mosques persist.

German parliamentary leader Raed Saleh is pushing for the inclusion of anti-Islamophobia laws into the state constitution. Saleh, who is the leader of the Social Democratic Party, emphasized the need for Germany to have its constitution forcefully showcase the country’s willingness and commitment to fight against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism. The topic is set to be discussed in a study commission planned by the ‘black-red’ (CDU-SPD) coalition.

“I can well imagine us in Berlin saying that in our diverse city, we will enshrine the fight against Antisemitism, the fight against Islamophobia and against racism in the constitution. We will not tolerate Antisemitism in our city. And anyone who [crosses the line] will have to deal with a robust democracy… We don’t tolerate Islamophobia. We don’t tolerate racism.” Said Saleh.

The remarks come amid a rapid and alarming increase in Islamophobic attacks in Germany and much of Europe, with reports indicating a surge in actions targeting Muslims and Islamic institutions like mosques.

The Muslim community in Germany and Europe at large has in recent years grappled with Islamophobia coming not only from ordinary citizens but also from elected politicians and other people in positions of authority.

According to recent converging reports, police recorded 258 Islamophobic crimes during the first half of 2023. Between January and June last year, more than a dozen mosques witnessed acts of Islamophobia. Muslims have also experienced physical attacks or verbal harassment on the street or in other public places throughout Germany, and 17 people have been said to have sustained injuries in such anti-Islam acts.

Source: The Berliner