A third of Muslims in the UK said the recent far-right riots have led them to consider leaving the country, a survey revealed.

The survey, conducted by Survation on behalf of Tell Mama, an NGO that tracks hate crimes targeting Muslims, revealed rising concerns within British Muslim communities following the violent unrest that swept across the UK this summer.

One in four Muslims interviewed, either online or by phone, reported experiencing anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia after July 30, the day following a mass stabbing in Southport.

The violence, which was sparked by false online claims that a Muslim asylum seeker was responsible for the fatal stabbing of three children in Southport, led to a significant surge in charges as authorities address the unrest.

Two-thirds of survey respondents said they felt the risk of harm to Muslim communities had increased since July 30, with more than two-thirds expressing that anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia had become more prevalent.

Nearly four in 10 participants also said they believed their local mosque was at risk from far-right groups and extremists, according to the survey.

However, despite the hostility, half of the respondents said the riots had made them feel “more open about their Muslim identity,” and six out of 10 said they still felt safe in the UK.

In a statement, Tell Mama said: “The poll findings demonstrate that anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia is having significant impacts on Britain’s Muslim communities.”

It added that in the weeks following the riots in late July, Tell Mama had been inundated with reports from the public, many of whom had been shouted at, threatened with death, spat at, or physically assaulted.

The survey, which contacted 750 Muslims in the UK between Sept. 30 and Oct. 14, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by British Muslims in the wake of the far-right violence.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Sunak commented, “People are abusing our liberal democratic values – the freedom of speech and right of protest – to intimidate, threaten and assault others, to sing anti-Semitic chants on our streets and our university campuses.”

Many perceived this as a veiled criticism aimed at Muslims and other groups protesting perceived injustices in the Middle East.

Adding to the tension, outgoing MP and Communities Secretary, Michael Gove, delivered a speech on anti-Semitism, targeting pro-Palestinian activism.

He stated, “The cry of ‘From the River to the Sea’, or calls for the globalization of the intifada, or demands for victory for the resistance are not really antisemitic are so disingenuous.” Earlier this year, after George Galloway’s election victory in Rochdale, Gove introduced a controversial new definition of extremism, equating certain Muslim activist groups with far-right extremists.

Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “I urge our political parties and all those seeking our votes to pursue a campaign that is hopeful: to resist the urge to scapegoat Muslims and minorities and proposing a future where all Britons can play a positive role.”

The upcoming election is expected to spotlight the influence of the Muslim vote, particularly after their significant impact in the May local elections. In Birmingham, nearly 70,000 Muslim voters supported an independent candidate, and in Oldham, several independents saw strong support from Muslim voters.

Labour faces its own challenges, with many Muslim voters expressing disappointment over the leadership’s stance on Gaza.

Historically, the Conservative Party has not actively sought the Muslim vote, potentially creating a vacuum that Labour could struggle to fill if it does not address these voters’ concerns. As the election date approaches, the strategies of both major parties will be scrutinized, particularly their engagement with the Muslim community and the broader implications for British society.

Source: The Muslim News