It is now the “most dangerous” time to be a Muslim living in the UK, a monitoring organisation has told Sky News.
Tell Mama, which tracks anti-Muslim hatred, also said Islamophobic incidents have reached a record level.
It said 5,837 reports of anti-Muslim hate were made in 2024 – the most it has received in a single year.
The figure compares to 3,767 in 2023 and 2,201 in 2022, according to the organisation. This is a rise of 165% in two years.
It also said Islamophobic assaults surged by 73% in 2024 – with men targeted more than women.
In a new report, Tell Mama said that specific events, including the Southport stabbings, the UK general election, the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 in 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza contributed to the “notable spikes”.
The latter, it said, resulted in “record levels of reports” – including over 2,000 cases in the first 100 days following October 7.
The impact of Israel’s assault on Gaza “has left some people questioning their safety and sense of belonging in the UK”, the report added.
Tell Mama said that anti-Muslim hate and extremism “continue to be on a sharp upward trend in our country”.
Its report said: “We cannot and should never be complacent or dismissive of anti-Muslim hate as some social and political commentators are.
“Nor should we forget the very basic fact that Muslim communities should never be dehumanised or marginalised because of their identity.”
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In response to these figures, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) told Sky News that it is “deeply troubled” by the sharp increase of Islamophobic assaults in 2024 – describing it as “an unprecedented crisis culminating in last summer’s violent riots”.
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The MCB warned: “Our decision makers face a stark choice: ignore this hatred or confront it properly.”
The council is calling on the government to tackle “anti-Muslim bigotry” through a “comprehensive national strategy”, and on everyday Britons to “stand together” against this “alarming trend” of anti-Muslim violence.
A government spokesperson has described Tell Mama’s report findings as “extremely concerning”.
They said: “Attacks on and hatred against Muslim communities are completely unacceptable and have no place in our society.
“We will seek to stamp out anti-Muslim hatred and racism wherever it occurs.
“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.”
