Anti-Muslim incidents in Britain reached a record high in 2024, according to data released by the monitoring organization Tell MAMA, which attributed the rise to the war in Gaza “super-fueling” online hate.
The organisation reported on Tuesday that it verified 5,837 cases of anti-Muslim hate last year, including both online and in-person incidents. This marked a significant increase from 3,767 cases in 2023 and 2,201 in 2022.
Tell MAMA, which has been collecting data since 2012 through agreements with police forces in England and Wales, highlighted that the conflict in the Middle East was a major catalyst. “The Middle East conflict super-fuelled online anti-Muslim hate,” the group stated, adding that incidents also surged following other events such as the Southport murders and riots.
Iman Atta, the director of Tell MAMA, described the spike as unacceptable and alarming for the future. “The Israel and Gaza War, the Southport murders, and related riots created a surge in anti-Muslim hate cases reported to Tell MAMA from 2023-2024,” Atta said.
Misinformation and Far-Right Riots
The surge in anti-Muslim incidents was also linked to the killing of three young girls in Southport last summer. False reports circulated on social media, falsely claiming the perpetrator — who has since been sentenced to at least 52 years in prison — was a radical Muslim migrant. These reports sparked racist riots led by far-right and anti-immigration groups across the country.
“We urge the public to stand together against hatred and extremism,” Atta said. “We also call on those in positions of influence and authority to be mindful of their language and how it risks stereotyping communities.”
A Call for Action
Tell MAMA, which stands for “Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks,” is an independent organisation working to combat Islamophobia in the UK. It called for coordinated government action to address the rise in anti-Muslim hate and emphasized the need for solidarity in the face of growing extremism.
This data sheds light on the heightened challenges faced by the UK’s Muslim community amidst a backdrop of increasing hate crimes and misinformation.
