Islamophobia - The intensification of racism against Muslim communities in the UK
Published on 1 November, 2024.
In the UK, Muslims also overwhelmingly tend to be of an ethnic minority background, and so their racialisation as Muslims overlaps with their collective experience as people of colour living under institutional racism. They also live in the long shadow of the War on Terror and the securitising of Muslims under anti-terror schemes that have surveilled and scrutinised them, rendering them suspect until proven otherwise simply because of their identities. The general election was a microcosm of how Muslims in general are spoken of as if they are not in the room, not part of the country, and not seriously impacted by how they are constantly othered and their behaviour pathologised. The result is rightwing rhetoric about Muslims that goes unchallenged, and political messaging that affects not only policy but media coverage and public attitudes. The combined effect is an environment that impacts Muslims’ mental wellbeing, polices and limits their self-expression, and constrains their civic rights. This report is a vital and much-needed examination of that climate and how it is impacting Muslims in the country today. The less time is spent discussing the meaning and validity of Islamophobia and the more is dedicated to such highlighting of lived reality, the sooner Muslims will be free to participate in public life and thrive in their private lives.