UK: Islamophobic attacks reaching emergency levels, says Amnesty

Amnesty International UK has warned that Islamophobic violence in the UK has reached emergency levels, as Muslims across the country face an escalating wave of hate crimes and targeted attacks.

The warning comes after homes, cars and mosques across the country have been targets of suspected firebombing and arson attacks over the last few weeks.

Over the last year, attacks have targeted mosques from Glasgow to Peacehaven to Belfast. Several firebombings have been reported in Blackburn in recent weeks, with three prayer rooms or mosques targeted. Similar attacks have been reported at mosques and in homes in Greater Manchester. Last month, a man pled guilty to an arson attack at a mosque in East Sussex.

The violence has taken multiple forms. Last year, two women were raped in separate racially aggravated attacks in the West Midlands.

This comes amid a broader pattern of escalating racist and Islamophobic violence. In recent weeks, hate attacks have been reported following unrest in Southampton and incidents connected to the Unite the Kingdom movement. This follows the racist violence in Belfast - which Amnesty condemned - and the stabbing attack in Edinburgh that left Muslim communities across Scotland shaken.

Ilyas Nagdee, Amnesty International UK’s Racial Justice Director, said:

"Muslim communities across the UK are living in fear. There is an escalating pattern racist and Islamophobic violence that demands an urgent response from the government and law enforcement.

“When homes and mosques are firebombed and communities are left feeling terrified, we have reached a point of genuine emergency.

“The UK government must act now - resourcing hate crime investigations, holding perpetrators to account, and sending an unambiguous message that racism and anti-Muslim hatred will not be tolerated."

Amnesty International UK is calling on the UK government to:

• Urgently resource police forces to investigate Islamophobic hate crimes thoroughly and swiftly
• Publish a comprehensive strategy to address the rise in anti-Muslim hatred
• Ensure Muslim communities are consulted and supported in the development of any government response
• Take immediate action against far-right networks inciting violence against Muslim communities online and offline