By MWN Hub Team

The latest report from Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK), Anti-Muslim hate: concerns and experiences, identifies the breadth of anti-Muslim hatred before and during the summer riots that followed the Southport stabbings. The report reveals the level of abuse experienced both online and offline is largely unreported, as 80% of Muslims who experience hate do not report them. What is more, the findings have mainly been informed by Muslim women’s experiences of hate and hate related incidences. Therefore, giving voice to Muslim women, whose experiences are often unheard and least documented.

 

While MWNUK has previously spoken out about the inefficacy of existing systems to adequately tackle hate crime, particularly in relation to anti-Muslim hatred, the findings presented in the report further underpins the lack of action. Presented here is a summary of the key findings, based on analysis of 218 responses to the Anti-Muslim hate incident survey, of which 191 responses were from Muslims. And so, in large the survey, which was conducted soon after the riots took place in early August provides timely insights on scale of hate related incidents Muslims often experience.

Frequency of anti-Muslim hate experiences

Of those who had experienced hate incidents, 82% had experienced them in the last five years with one in four stating they had encountered hostility between 5 to 10 times. The figure below highlights the prevalence of hate incidents following the riots and within the previous 12 months, as overall 1 in 5 have experienced forms of hostility.

 

(Source: MWNUK Anti-Muslim hate incident data, 2024)

 

Anti-Muslim hate incident type

Although, experiences of hate are online and offline, of those who had encountered anti-Muslim hate, a staggering 84% had experienced in person verbal abuse with 15% being physically assaulted and 18% had property damage. Considering that, majority of the respondents were Muslim women this indicates they are disproportionately at risk of being targeted. Some Muslim women provided descriptions of the verbal and physical abuse subjected to.  

A white man verbally abused me and bought me to tears. I was shocked at how he abused me in front of my young children. I believe it was due to my hijab and my skin colour. This has traumatised me and I haven't visited the beach since.

The forms of abuse, such as hijab (head covering) being pulled off, underlines the gendered stereotypes Muslim women are often reduced to what they wear and how they look, which gives perpetrators a sense of entitlement when exerting their power. For that reason, we need to recognise anti-Muslim hatred against Muslim women as gender-based abuse.  

Reporting of anti-Muslim hate incidents

Among respondents who had experienced offline hostility, 16% reported them to the police, 5% to hate crime reporting hubs, and 8% to other helplines. This suggests that in-person hostility is largely going unreported, leading to a significant underestimation of current levels of anti-Muslim hatred.

 

Trust and confidence in government

An overwhelming 67% felt the Conservative government were integral in furthering Islamophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric. While there was increased confidence in the new Labour Government’s ability to address Islamophobia and anti-Muslim prejudice, it remained relatively low. Only about 27% believed the government would take significant or strong action.

I had my hijab pulled while I was pregnant.