Mosques and Islamic centres have been subjected to a shocking number of hate incidents in the past year, says a new report.
 
Faith Associates through the Mosque Security initiative have published a new report that provides insight and data into incidents against Mosques and Muslim institutions in the UK  since October 7 2023. 

The 'Incidents against Mosques and Muslim Institutions' report reviews, hate crime statistics in the UK and present a number of case study reviews of recent hate crimes, with a specific focus on those targeting mosques and Muslim institutes.
 
The report explores how geopolitical factors have intensified anti-Muslim sentiment and contributed to a surge in Islamophobic hate crimes in the UK.

The reports shows that Islamophobic attacks increased by 365% across the UK between October 2023 – October 2024.

More than 500 Mosques in the UK requested the Home Office 'Surge' protection between July-August 2024.

Over 1200 Mosques sort some kind of protection from the Police or the community after the Southport riots in July 2024.

The report provides recommendations for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and Muslim communities to 'strengthen protection, response, and prevention efforts against Islamophobic hate crimes targeting mosque's.
 
Incidents includes vandalism, harassment, targeted attacks and arson against Mosques and other forms of Muslim institutions and buildings in the UK.

Whilst some support has been provided by the UK Government to address the issue, especially after the Southport riots, the report calls for more support is needed to build capacity within the Mosques to ensure long term security and safety.
 
The report says there were 4971 anti-Muslim incidents recorded between 7 October 2023 - 30 September 2024, making this the highest total recorded in the past 14 years.
 
CEO of Faith Associates and Director of Mosque Security Services Shaukat Warraich said “The increased level of violence and intimidation against Mosques and Islamic Centre has resulted in a major take up in the UK for security services. 

"The report highlights the challenges faced by Muslim communities, we need to look at long term solutions on how to tackle hate and misinformation”.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and MOPAC has supported Faith Associates and Mosque Security to deliver Mosque protection awareness programmes. 

What does the report say:

63% of the cases were classified as abusive in nature.

27% of the cases involved threatening behaviour.

The majority of the incidents occurred in London, North West of England, Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric alongside accusations of terrorism against Muslim communities have escalated tensions.

Events such as the Southport knife attack and false information linking the perpetrator to Muslim Asylum seekers have fuelled anti-Muslim narratives.

The number of anti-Muslim cases reported to Tell Mama since its launch in 2012 has increased by between 800-1000%.

The report says: "Muslim women have been disproportionately affected by Islamophobic hate crimes during this period. Data from Tell MAMA indicates that in two out of every three reported incidents, the victims were visibly Muslim women.

"The targeting of Muslim women in public spaces has become a concerning pattern, reflecting deep-seated prejudices amplified by global events and domestic political discourse."

The report says: "The rise of far-right extremism in the UK has become increasingly intertwined with the surge in Islamophobic incidents over the past year.

"Far-right groups have long been known for their anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim rhetoric, but the Israel-Gaza conflict has provided a new avenue for these groups to spread their ideology.

"By exploiting geopolitical events, they have managed to link local Muslim communities with international terrorism, framing Muslims as a domestic threat."

The response from the wider community was praised.

The report adds: "The community responses to attacks on mosques and other Muslim institutions throughout 2023 and 2024 demonstrate the resilience, solidarity, and support from diverse groups, despite the intensity and frequency of Islamophobic incidents."

It points out cases with local communities often rallying together in the aftermath of hate crimes to offer protection, emotional support, and practical assistance.

This includes the vandalism of Muslim graves in Burnley Cemetery, where the local community expressed 'widespread disgust at the act of defacement. Religious and civic leaders called for unity and condemned the hate crime.

This sentiment during  a threat against Hastings Mosque in January 2024 which prompted immediate action from both the police and local anti-racism activists.

The report reveals how fifty members of the community, responding to a call from Stand Up to Racism, showed up in solidarity to defend the mosque, preventing an actual attack from taking place.