Anti-Muslim hatred has become engrained in parts of our society. So much so, we are no longer able to differentiate between genuine debates about religion or culture and outright prejudice.

Over previous decades a vast amount of anti-Muslim rhetoric has been permitted, almost unchecked, to infiltrate the political and media landscape.

No other religion in the UK is targeted in this way. What was deemed offensive a decade ago now finds its way on to talk shows and mainstream newspapers. People’s reputations are being built on how much they can criticise Islam and immigrants.

Much of this hate is based on the notion that these people 'deserve it'.

We can blame social media all we want but there are serious questions to be asked about mainstream media sites and politicians who have been allowed to use migrants and Muslims as a battering tool.

Then, when something happens everyone appears to forget that it was a politician who used that that same term or a news website that posted a false story. 

The same news sites and talk shows that are inviting guests on to spout their nonsense are the same ones reporting on the criminals who go on to smash up some shop all ‘in the name of England’. 

We have become accustomed to several major newspapers regularly running pieces and features on asylum seekers and Muslims.  These are clearly Islamophobic in nature.

These are coming from the traditional broadsheets and their associated podcasts and commentators.

We allow this happen and then wash our hands of it when we must deal with the consequences. We know who is to blame. Who instigated the violence. Who allowed it to fester and made it acceptable to say things that might once be deemed offensive.

In fact, we applauded and defended those who said it.

Then, some time later we repeat the same ‘mistakes’.

We fear saying anything ourselves in case we ourselves become targets and our reputations are called into question in the future. 

So, you can blame X and Tiktok all you want. But mainstream media groups and politicians are contributing to this hatred of minorities on a daily basis and have been doing so for years.

Much of this is centred around this idea of ‘free speech’. But none of this is really free speech. It is an excuse to demonise minorities and use it as an excuse to show off one’s profound ‘love for the British way of life’. 

This week’s events details how easy it is to target Muslims in this country even when the perpetrator has nothing to do with the religion.

You can sense the disappointment when these blatant lies are pointed out.

Moreover, it was disappointing to see the familiar academics and politicians rolled out in front of the cameras to attempt to explain the disorder as some sort of 'disenchantment'. Are we really now attempting to explain away blatant displays of racism?

Islamophobia has long moved on from being associated with the working classes. It may not appear that way. But this disorder did not begin with a few thugs on the streets.

There has been a systematic attempt to demonise a whole communities.

Yet, ask any Muslim and minority group and they will be the first to point out this glaring fact. It is easy to blame the thugs and violent protestors in the hope it will absolve the rest of society and mainstream media groups and politicians of any blame.

Actually, the working classes are the first to call out racism and hatred when they see it. They are in the front-line.

Almost without fail we know when these incidents happen non-Muslim communities are always first to defend their neighbours. They did it when the first generation of immigrants arrived in this country and they will do it now.

True Brits.