Monitoring group records surge in Islamophobia in Britain, says ‘war on Gaza super-fueled online anti-Muslim hate’
Demonstrators hold a banner reading "stop racisms, stop islamophobia" during a protest "against racism, against Islamophobia" at the call of various organisations in Paris on April 21, 2024. A court decided on April 20, 2024, to suspend a prefectoral ban on a march against racism and Islamophobia planned for April 21, 2024, in Paris, ruling that it constituted "a serious and manifestly illegal infringement of the freedom of demonstration". (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)
Britain witnessed an unprecedented rise in anti-Muslim incidents in 2024, with monitoring group Tell MAMA reporting 5,837 verified cases, a significant increase from 3,767 in 2023 and 2,201 in 2022.
The organization attributed this surge to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, which has intensified online hate speech and led to a spike in reported incidents.
Tell MAMA, which compiles data through agreements with police forces in England and Wales, highlighted multiple factors behind the rise, including the Southport murders and subsequent riots.
False reports that the perpetrator was a radical extremist migrant fueled racist violence, drawing in far-right and anti-immigration groups across the country.
Director Iman Atta condemned the surge as “unacceptable and deeply concerning for the future,” calling for unified action against rising Islamophobia. The group also urged public figures to be mindful of their rhetoric to prevent further stereotyping of communities.
The report follows separate data indicating record-high levels of anti-Jewish hate crimes across Britain, triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
As tensions persist, Tell MAMA has called for coordinated government intervention to address anti-Muslim hatred and ensure community safety. “We urge the public to stand together against hatred and extremism,” Atta emphasized.
