Hate Attacks on UK Mosques Soar Amid Far-Right Incitement

Mosques and Muslim communities across the UK are once again becoming targets of hate-fueled attacks, as a recent surge in anti-Muslim incidents raises alarm among community leaders and police. The latest in a worrying trend of anti-Muslim hostility, a man has pleaded guilty to attacking a group of worshippers praying outside a mosque in Portsmouth, while a separate incident saw a masked man break into a mosque in Huddersfield. These events are part of a broader pattern of Islamophobia that has intensified in recent weeks, with several other attacks and incidents reported across the country, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.

In Portsmouth, 29-year-old Callum Mcinally pleaded guilty to assault by beating after he allegedly verbally abused a group of men, women, and children praying outside Portsmouth Jami Mosque. Police stated that the victims were subjected to verbal abuse before the assault, with one man punched in the chest. The suspect, who reportedly threatened the group with a knife, is also facing charges of racially aggravated assault, racial harassment, and making threats with a blade. He is due to be sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on October 3.

Meanwhile, in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire Police are investigating a break-in at the Markazi Jamia Masjid Riza & Islamic Centre on Halifax Old Road. The suspect, a masked man in all black, forced his way into the mosque and attempted to steal property before fleeing. The incident has caused significant distress to the local community, with Councillor Imran Safdar describing people as being in a "state of shock."

These two incidents are not isolated. They follow a disturbing series of events that have unfolded across the UK in the last two weeks. The South Essex Islamic Centre in Basildon was vandalized with red crosses and the words “Christ is King” and “This is England” daubed on its walls. The attack, which took place the night before Friday prayers, was widely condemned by local leaders as an act of "pathetic criminal cowardice" and an attempt to intimidate worshippers.

The recent rise in these attacks follows a period of heightened far-right activity and misinformation campaigns. The anti-Muslim hate monitoring group Tell Mama UK reported a record number of anti-Muslim hate incidents in the past year, with 4,971 incidents recorded between October 2023 and September 2024—the highest total in 14 years. These incidents range from verbal abuse and threatening behavior to vandalism and assault. In the year ending March 2024, the Home Office reported a 25% increase in religious hate crimes in England and Wales, with nearly 40% of all such crimes targeting Muslim communities, making them the most affected group.

The recent rise in Islamophobia is not a new phenomenon. It has been building over several years, fueled by divisive political rhetoric and misinformation. The data highlights a deeply entrenched issue within UK society, with the rise in attacks and discrimination reflecting how pervasive anti-Muslim sentiment has become. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and other organizations have repeatedly called on the government to take more robust action to combat Islamophobia and protect Muslim communities, including the adoption of a working definition of Islamophobia.