Anti-Muslim incidents in Britain amid war on Gaza alarming: NGO
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A government official stated that the findings were highly alarming, adding that violence and intolerance of Muslim communities were unacceptable.
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Demonstrators take part in a protest against Islamophobia in the United Kingdom. (Undated, AP)
The number of anti-Muslim incidents in Britain reached a new high in 2024, with the war on Gaza "super-fuelling" online hatred, data produced by monitoring firm Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) revealed.
Tell MAMA is an independent, non-governmental group that seeks to combat anti-Muslim bigotry. The group reported 5,837 anti-Muslim hate cases last year, including both online and in-person attacks, compared to 3,767 the previous year and 2,201 in 2022.
The organization's data date back to 2012 and were gathered through data-sharing agreements with police units in England and Wales.
"The Middle East conflict super-fuelled online anti-Muslim hate," a statement released by the organization read. It continued that "the Israel and Gaza War, the Southport murders and riots ... created a surge in anti-Muslim hate cases reported to Tell MAMA from 2023-2024."
Its director, Iman Atta, condemned the spike as unacceptable and very alarming for the future.
According to Tell MAMA, the rise in hate crimes against Muslims caused by Islamophobia is also related to the murder of three young girls in the northern English town of Southport last summer.
False rumors circulated on social media claiming the killer, who has subsequently been sentenced to at least 52 years in prison, was a radical Islamist migrant, sparking racial riots across the nation by far-right and anti-immigrant organizations.
"We urge the public to stand together against hatred and extremism, and we urge those in positions of influence and public authority to consider how their language risks stereotyping communities," Atta added, calling for a concerted government effort to combat anti-Muslim sentiment.
A government official stated that the findings were highly alarming, adding that violence and intolerance of Muslim communities were unacceptable.
"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 spokesperson told CNN.
