Anti-Muslim hate incidents in the UK surged to unprecedented levels last year, with a significant rise in both online and offline incidents. Tell Mama, an organisation dedicated to monitoring anti-Muslim hatred, reported a dramatic 43% increase in cases from the previous year, documenting 6,313 instances in 2024. This wave of hostility has been linked to events such as the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and riots following the Southport murders.
The majority of these incidents occurred on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Tell Mama confirmed that 5,837 of the reports were verified as anti-Muslim incidents. This spike reflects a troubling shift in public discourse, with rhetoric increasingly portraying Muslims as terrorists or sympathisers. For the first time since Tell Mama's inception in 2012, more men than women were targeted by anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia.
A government spokesperson expressed deep concern over the findings, stating that attacks on and hatred against Muslim communities are "completely unacceptable" and have no place in society. The spokesperson also emphasised the government's commitment to bridge divisions between communities by working closely with community groups, charities, and public sector partners to combat hatred in all its forms.
"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," a government spokesperson stated.
Offline incidents also saw a steep rise, with 3,680 cases reported, marking a 72% increase compared to two years ago. This surge has been linked to misinformation about the identity of assailants in the Southport murders, which fuelled civil unrest that spread across the UK. The proliferation of harmful stereotypes has deepened societal divisions and reinforced false notions about Muslim identities.
"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," stated Iman Atta.
Tell Mama highlighted the urgent need for public figures to consider how their language risks stereotyping communities and unduly influencing discussions online and offline. The organisation stressed the importance of addressing the deepening impact of harmful stereotypes that contribute to societal divisions.
"Consider how their language risks stereotyping communities and how it unduly influences discussions online and offline," urged Iman Atta of Tell Mama.
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