Islamophobic assaults in the UK surged by 73% in 2024, according to new figures from the anti-hate crime charity Tell MAMA. The organisation recorded 6,313 reports of anti-Muslim hate last year, a 43% increase on the previous year, with 5,837 cases verified. Iman Atta, director of Tell MAMA, described the current period as the “most dangerous” time to be a Muslim in Britain, citing the normalisation of Islamophobic rhetoric in political discourse and the spread of far-right conspiracy theories online.
Atta warned that rightwing extremists are sharing tips on how to target Muslim communities, attack mosques, and evade police, even offering financial incentives for attacks. She noted that the intensity and regularity of incidents have shocked her team, with visibly Muslim women and families reporting fear of going out alone or taking children to parks. The charity’s data also showed “disproportionate” hatred directed towards Muslim politicians, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, and MP Zarah Sultana most targeted.
The figures reveal that assault cases rose by 73% between 2023 and 2024, vandalism increased by 60%, and reports of threatening behaviour surged by 328%. Tell MAMA attributed the rise to the aftermath of the 7 October attacks, the Gaza war, last summer’s riots following the Southport attack, and increased rhetoric around grooming gangs. Despite the challenges, Atta said Muslims are more likely to openly express pride in their identity, and she praised the criminal justice system’s response to the riots.
Meanwhile, the Community Security Trust recorded 3,528 antisemitic incidents in 2024, an 18% decrease from the record high in 2023 but still the second-highest total ever reported. Atta, who is Palestinian, called for solidarity between Muslim and Jewish communities against the common threat of rightwing extremism. She highlighted the intersection of online and offline worlds, noting that misinformation on platforms like Telegram triggered far-right mobilisation during the Southport riots.
