Islamophobia is a growing threat to British society

In light of recent far-right riots that swept across parts of the UK, the Islamophobia Action Group (IAG) issued a stark warning today about the rapidly growing threat of anti-Muslim racism. This escalating threat, the IAG emphasised in a press conference, does not just target the Muslim community; it also endangers the very fabric of British society.

“This is a problem that all of society needs to deal with,” said Dr Anas Altikriti, who chaired the conference and serves as CEO of the Cordoba Foundation. “It’s important to recognise that this is a threat to all of society. Everyone, everyone is in danger if this is allowed to run free, run loose, run, excuse the pun, riot.”

The press conference was organised by the IAG to unveil details of a major initiative involving 80 Muslim organisations and community leaders, who have come together in an unprecedented show of unity. The coalition was forged in response to last month’s far-right riots, which saw a shocking increase in anti-Muslim attacks across the UK. The IAG called upon the government to take immediate and concrete steps to address the growing threat of Islamophobia which endangers Muslims as well as the wider society in Britain.

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The IAG’s demands focus on three key areas. For a start, the group insists that the government must adopt the All-Party Parliamentary Group’s (APPG) definition of Islamophobia without further delay. This, it argues, would send a clear message that anti-Muslim hatred will not be tolerated in British society.

The adoption of the definition is seen as a crucial step in recognising the severity of the problem and setting the stage for more robust measures to combat it.

Secondly, the IAG is calling for an urgent, independent investigation into far-right activities in the UK. This review would focus on the role of social and mainstream media, and political narratives in perpetuating hate and Islamophobia.

Finally, the government is urged to engage directly with legitimate, democratically-elected representatives of Muslim communities, particularly the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). Such a step is seen as being crucial to ensuring that Muslim voices are heard and their concerns addressed at the highest levels of government.

Lindsay Taylor, representing MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development), was one of the four panellists at the press conference. She provided a harrowing account of the recent riots. She described how Muslim worshippers were trapped in mosques for hours, fearing for their safety as violent mobs rampaged outside. “These riots were not just an attack on Muslims, but an assault on the very fabric of our diverse society,” said Taylor, emphasising the need for a united front against such extremism.

The personal toll of Islamophobia was brought into sharp focus by the testimony of Rubina Rahman, a teacher and victim of an Islamophobic attack.

Rahman recounted how she and her friends were targeted by a man expressing anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian views. The attacker started talking about Israel and Palestine and then started using Islamophobic vile language. There were six victims, but Rahman noted that only two felt able to pursue legal action afterwards. This reluctance to come forward, she said, is the result of fear and intimidation that accompany Islamophobic attacks.

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Rahman stressed the need for better support systems for those who have faced Islamophobic attacks. “We need to do more within our society to bring this to an end,” she insisted. Importantly, she noted that the attack affected not only Muslims but also non-Muslim friends who were with her at the time, illustrating the wider impact of Islamophobia on society.

The alarming increase in Islamophobic incidents was a central theme of the conference. According to Taylor, there has been a shocking 360 per cent spike in Islamophobic incidents in this country. This dramatic surge was used by all panellists to underscore their central argument: Islamophobia has become dangerously normalised in British society. They pointed to a range of factors contributing to this normalisation, including inflammatory media coverage, divisive political rhetoric and the unchecked spread of misinformation on social media.

The message is clear: without sincere concern and decisive action from the government to tackle the root causes, anti-Muslim incidents will spiral out of control. The speakers made it clear that the stakes are high, not just for the Muslim community, but for the future of British society.

The IAG and its member organisations stressed that the fight against Islamophobia is not solely a Muslim issue but one that requires the support and engagement of all sectors of society. They pointed to recent counter-demonstrations where people of all backgrounds stood in solidarity with Muslim communities as a positive example of the inherent fairness and unity within British culture, embodying the true spirit of solidarity. The speakers argued that this sense of unity and resistance against hatred must be nurtured and encouraged if society in this country is to be successful in combating the rising tide of Islamophobia.

The speakers also drew parallels between these displays of unity and historical examples of community resistance against far-right extremism, such as the Brick Lane riots in the 1970s. These moments of collective solidarity against hatred, they stressed, present the real face of British society and should be celebrated and taught to future generations. By invoking these historical examples, the speakers sought to remind the audience that the fight against Islamophobia is part of a broader struggle for justice and equality that has deep roots in British history.

In concluding the press conference, the speakers expressed hope for positive change while underlining the urgency of the situation.

They emphasised the importance of maintaining an open dialogue with the government while also holding it accountable when necessary.

The Islamophobia Action Group’s press conference marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle against anti-Muslim hatred in the UK. By bringing together a broad coalition of Muslim organisations and community leaders, the group has sent a clear message that the Muslim community is united in its call for action. Their demands for government engagement, official recognition of Islamophobia and independent investigations into far-right activities present a comprehensive approach to tackling this growing menace.

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