UK: growing Islamophobia

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Islamophobic attacks in the UK continued to rise in 2024, fueled by a broader increase in anti-Muslim sentiment and hate speech from far-right figures. The disturbing trend is a stain on the nation's commitment to diversity, tolerance and social cohesion. Moreover, it posed a massive challenge to the Starmer government, most prominently over the summer when, barely weeks after the election, far-right propagandists instigated nationwide anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant riots over the horrific murders of three children in Southport, falsely claiming that the Christian, British-born attacker was a Muslim migrant or asylum seeker.

Israel and pro-Israeli groups and individuals have also contributed to anti-Muslim sentiment, trying to equate anti-genocide protesters to supporters of Hamas, which carried out the October 7, 2023, attack that Israel used as the pretext for its ensuing genocidal campaign in Gaza. Several media outlets and political figures also parroted these narratives, even after they were proven false.

Although the British government has mostly responded the right way, the media's response has been less responsible. Social media has generally not fared better, though Elon Musk merits a mention. As part of his personal rebranding as an anti-immigrant white supremacist, the owner of X has been actively spreading disinformation about Muslims, Starmer and the British government, seemingly challenging them to cite him for violating hate speech laws.

The impact of these hate crimes extends far beyond the immediate victims. 'Visible' Muslims, including women who wear hijabs and people entering or leaving mosques, are disproportionately targeted, and children are growing up in an environment where they feel unwelcome in their own country. This erosion of safety and belonging undermines the very principles of equality and inclusion on which the UK prides itself. It also perpetuates the cycle of alienation and marginalisation, which has long-term social and economic consequences such as failure to integrate and the creation of ghettos.