As Islamophobia awareness month begins, Islamic Relief UK is calling on the UK Gov to make sure they ‘Don’t Let it Slide’
Charity Islamic Relief UK is calling on the government to take more stringent measures in tackling Islamophobia and protect UK Muslims. Islamic Relief is asking for:
Practical guidance and consistent implementation
Better evidence and monitoring
Meaningful participation of Muslim communities and independent experts in designing and assessing policy
The charity’s call comes at a crucial point in time, as racism towards Muslims has intensified to worrying levels. Police-recorded anti-Muslim hate crime increased by 15% over the last year, with Muslims being the victim of 46% of all religious hate crimes, more than any other group.
The charity itself has also been a target of Islamophobia, as it has been forced to deal with online abuse and misinformation targeted against it in recent years.
According to the British Muslim Trust, one Mosque was attacked every five days over the last year, and incidents involving serious harm, arson or violence rose from 3.7% to 19.6%. Mosques in the UK serve not only as religious centres but also as vital community services for people of all faiths and none, providing foodbanks, clothes banks, support for the homeless, support for domestic abuse victims and other crucial services. These critical services are put at risk for ordinary citizens as a result of the increase in Islamophobic attacks.
Earlier this year the UK government introduced a definition of Anti-Muslim Hostility, covering prejudicial stereotyping, criminal acts and unlawful discrimination. However, it did not alter any existing laws. Islamic Relief UK has welcomed this as an important first step but is now calling on the government to continue advancing this work so Islamophobia can be stamped out wherever possible.
Zia Salik, interim director, Islamic Relief UK says “For too long Islamophobia has not been taken seriously enough. Over the last few years, we’ve seen explosions in anti-Muslim and anti-migrant violence in the summers as rioters sought to cause harm, our Mosques have been targeted by violent attacks and arson, while the media turned a blind eye, and online Islamophobia and hatred has run out of control.
“The communities we work with don’t feel safe, our UK programmes work that helps the UK’s most vulnerable has been impeded and our own staff have been targeted online. Earlier this year the government made an important first step with its anti-Muslim hatred definition, but it’s time to go further. UK Muslims need to be properly protected from discrimination and potential harm.”
