Muslims face ‘bleak and dystopian’ climate in UK: Think tank head
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Shabna Begum, who became CEO of the Runnymede Trust earlier this year, warns that the UK is entering a new era of derogatory discourse about Muslims, and without changes in political policies, last summer's riots would not be isolated.
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Protesters against "Israel's" war on Gaza in London, UK on April 27, 2024. (AFP)
Islamophobia has become "brutally divisive" in the UK, and failing to address its core causes will result in more riots, according to the president of the country's top race equality think tank.
Shabna Begum, who took over as CEO of the Runnymede Trust earlier this year, stated that the UK was entering a new era in how it talks about Muslims, calling it the most derogatory yet.
She warned that without changes in political discourse and policies, last summer's riots would not be isolated, and would become "just a regular feature of our politics."
Begum told The Guardian ahead of the release of the Runnymede Trust's study on Islamophobia, that the war on Gaza and the response to the UK pro-Palestine demonstrations made the issue "inescapable" and had to be addressed.
She blamed both Labour and Conservatives for a "bleak and dystopian" atmosphere for British Muslims, recalling the reaction to the summer riots as particularly concerning as there was a "real reluctance to use the term Islamophobia during that period because no one wants to be seen to defend Muslims".
'Political stripes'
She went on to say that politicians are competing for popularity and that popularity is determined by how far they are ready to intimidate and demonize Muslims, earning them "political stripes."
Supported by Lady Warsi, Amnesty UK, and the Muslim Council for Britain, research highlights the intensifying Islamophobia across the UK. The Tell Mama initiative recorded a 335% rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents in 2023-2024, with most victims being women.
Muslims account for 38% of all reported religious hate crimes, experiencing a 13% increase in attacks, and are disproportionately (2 out of 5) targeted by assault, stalking, and harassment.
According to the statistics bulletin, last year saw the largest number of anti-religious hate crimes since records began, with authorities reporting it coinciding with the war on Gaza.
Begum emphasized that the issue goes beyond violent racial attacks, pointing to state-sponsored Islamophobia in legislation, policies, and societal narratives. She criticized the double standard for Muslims, who are criticized both for not engaging in public life and for doing so, detailing how “Whether it’s through being governors at schools, as we see through the Trojan horse affair … we are seen trying to take over and hijack local schools. Or when we go on protest marches, along with many other people, we are described as hate marchers and Islamist extremists. And when we use our vote to express our political preferences, we’re described as sectarian and divisive.”
While welcoming the government’s £15m community recovery fund to address the underlying causes of the riots, she called for more substantial funding to tackle issues stemming from austerity and structural racism, arguing the need for robust state infrastructure and a broader challenge to societal narratives, highlighting the importance of addressing stereotypes and fostering true integration.
Muslims in Europe experience ‘worrying surge’ in racism: Survey
Muslims throughout Europe are facing a "concerning increase" in racism, partly driven by "dehumanizing anti-Muslim rhetoric," according to the EU's foremost human rights agency.
In a recently published survey, nearly half of the Muslim respondents reported experiencing discrimination.
The survey, released last month by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), included responses from 9,600 Muslims across 13 member states and revealed that racism and discrimination permeate many areas of their daily lives.
Respondents reported instances of children being bullied at school, disparities in access to job opportunities, and discrimination in the rental and housing markets.
Even though the survey was conducted prior to October 7, 2023, and the launch of Operation al-Aqsa Flood and the war on Gaza, the Vienna-based agency revealed that information from civil society organizations and national authorities suggested a continued rise in anti-Muslim crimes since the outbreak of the war.
“We are witnessing a worrying surge in racism and discrimination against Muslims in Europe,” said the agency’s director, Sirpa Rautio, adding, “This is fuelled by conflicts in the Middle East and made worse by the dehumanizing anti-Muslim rhetoric we see across the continent.”
After Operation al-Aqsa Flood, officials scrambled to contain a rise in hate crimes aimed at the Muslim communities, such as dozens of letters containing threats and insults sent to Muslim councils and mosques in France.
