In 2024, the United Kingdom witnessed a record high number of anti-Muslim incidents according to data released by monitoring organization Tell MAMA. The group reported 5,837 verified cases of anti-Muslim hate, a significant increase from 3,767 cases the previous year and 2,201 in 2022. Tell MAMA, which collaborates with police forces in England and Wales, attributed the spike in incidents to the impact of conflicts in the Middle East, such as the Israel and Gaza War and the Southport murders and riots.
Iman Atta, the director of Tell MAMA, expressed serious concern about the surge in hate incidents and emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue for the future. Tell MAMA, short for Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks, is an independent organization dedicated to combatting anti-Muslim hatred.
The rise in hostility towards Jews post the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel and subsequent conflict in Gaza was also highlighted by recent data. The organization associated the increase in anti-Muslim hate to Islamophobia and events like the tragic incident involving three young girls in Southport. False information spread on social media following the incident, fueling xenophobic sentiments and involving far-right and anti-immigrant groups.
Atta called for unity against hatred and extremism, urging individuals in positions of influence to consider the impact of their language on stereotyping communities. She appealed for coordinated government efforts to address the issue of anti-Muslim hate in the country.