Tell MAMA reports over threefold increase in Islamophobic incidents

In the aftermath of Hamas’s attacks, the UK has witnessed a significant rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes. Tell MAMA, a charity monitoring Islamophobia, has reported a more than threefold increase in such incidents. From 7 October to 7 February, the charity documented 2,010 Islamophobic incidents, a sharp rise from 600 in the same period the previous year. This marks the highest number of reported incidents in four months since the charity’s inception in 2011.

The surge in hate crimes coincides with a rise in both anti-Muslim and antisemitic attacks following the Israel-Gaza conflict. Over half of these incidents involved hate speech on social media. However, physical assaults, abusive behaviour, threats, and acts of vandalism were also prevalent. London experienced the largest share of incidents, with 576 cases reported.

Muslim women were particularly targeted, accounting for two-thirds of the incidents. Examples include an assault on a Muslim woman on a bus, death threats to mosque worshippers, and vandalism of a car with a Nazi swastika. These attacks often labelled the victims as “terrorists” or “Hamas sympathisers.”

Iman Atta, the director of Tell MAMA, highlighted the gendered nature of Islamophobia, pointing out the targeting of women wearing visible Muslim attire or of Asian background. The charity’s findings come in the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict, which has had a profound impact on UK communities. Following Hamas gunmen’s infiltration into southern Israel on 7 October, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 253 hostages, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza with over 29,000 fatalities reported by the Hamas-run health ministry.

This period has also seen a notable increase in antisemitic hate crimes, with the Community Security Trust (CST) reporting 4,103 attacks against the Jewish community in 2023, two-thirds of which occurred after 7 October.

Both Muslim and Jewish communities in the UK are bearing the brunt of the conflict’s fallout, with a significant impact on their sense of safety and freedom. The government has condemned the rise in hate crimes, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy and the importance of police investigation and legal action against perpetrators. Additional funding has been allocated to provide security at places of worship and faith schools, reinforcing the message that there is no place for hate in society.