Why racism against Muslim people is rising in UK

March 14, 2025
Why racism against Muslim people is rising in UK. PA Media
  • Many victims believe that filing a report would be futile, feeling that it would not lead to any meaningful action or change.

Several complex and interconnected factors contribute to the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment in the UK. It's important to understand that these factors don't exist in isolation, and they often reinforce each other. 

The Being Muslim in the EU: Experiences of Muslims report, published last year by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, offers insights into racial discrimination and harassment faced by Muslim individuals. It highlights a significant rise in such discrimination since the agency’s previous report in 2016.

The report identifies employment and housing as the sectors with the highest levels of reported discrimination. It also documents incidents of racial harassment and violence against Muslims, with visibly Muslim women being particularly vulnerable.

A common theme among these experiences—beyond their racist nature—is the low rate of reporting to relevant authorities. Many victims believe that filing a report would be futile, feeling that it would not lead to any meaningful action or change. This sentiment aligns with previous research conducted within the Irish context.

Women are almost twice as likely to experience anti-Muslim racism when compared to men

Ireland was included in this survey for the first time. While the available data from Ireland are not sufficient to make definitive statistical claims, an interesting trend emerged—those who experienced racial discrimination in Ireland reported lower levels of trust in the police compared to those who had not.

Previous studies examining anti-Muslim racism in Ireland have provided valuable insights into this issue. The first such study revealed that nearly one in three Muslim men and women who faced hostility or discrimination believed it was due to being identified as Muslim. Women were found to be almost twice as likely as men to experience anti-Muslim racism. Reports of hostility included physical assaults, verbal abuse, and property damage, with employment, housing, and access to goods and services being key areas where discrimination occurred.

Further research, commissioned by the Immigrant Council of Ireland and published in 2016, reinforced these findings, particularly in Dublin. Participants recalled facing hostility and discrimination because of their Muslim identity. Crucially, the study also highlighted the emotional and psychological toll of such experiences, with individuals reporting feelings of fear, shock, anger, frustration, and depression, illustrating the lasting impact of racist acts.

'Dublin riots'

Several other reports have documented the realities of anti-Muslim racism in Ireland, not only highlighting similar patterns of hostility and discrimination but also drawing attention to the rise in online abuse. Additionally, they have noted the concerning growth of far-right groups that exploit racist, anti-Muslim, and anti-migrant rhetoric for political purposes.

One of the most prominent instances of such hostility in Ireland occurred during the Dublin Riots of November 2023, an event that was heavily influenced by anti-migrant and anti-Muslim narratives. In the aftermath, Gardaí described the scale of violence as "unprecedented" for modern Dublin.

The riots were triggered by a knife attack earlier that day, which targeted three young children and their carers outside a school in Dublin’s North Inner City. In response, far-right and anti-migrant agitators spread misinformation on Irish social media, falsely framing the incident as an act of Islamist terrorism and calling for mass protests. This led to widespread chaos, with vehicles set on fire, buildings looted, and violent clashes between rioters and Gardaí.

Recommendations from projects and reports like these point to pathways forward in the fight against racism

Research has increasingly highlighted the role of far-right groups in Ireland in spreading misinformation and disinformation about minority communities. However, it is essential to recognize that racism directed at any group is not solely the product of fringe political movements or isolated incidents of interpersonal hostility and discrimination, no matter how troubling these may be.

Anti-Muslim racism follows this pattern, as noted by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. This reality makes combating racism in all its forms particularly challenging and emphasizes the need for sustained, meaningful action.

One initiative working towards this goal in Ireland is the Sustainable Alliances Against Anti-Muslim Hatred (SALAAM) project. Launched in March 2022, the SALAAM project aims to develop evidence-based, community-led initiatives to raise awareness of anti-Muslim racism and create resources to combat it. The project engaged with nearly 200 Muslim men and women across four Irish cities, gathering firsthand accounts of their experiences with anti-Muslim racism and insights on how to address the issue effectively.

Beyond working with Muslim communities, the project also collaborated with almost 70 staff members from seven local authorities to explore opportunities for joint efforts in tackling anti-Muslim racism and broader racial exclusion. These partnerships have resulted in a variety of initiatives, including training programs, public awareness campaigns, community engagement platforms, and practical resources to support victims—such as reporting tools and psycho-social assistance.

Findings from projects and reports like these outline potential pathways for addressing racism. Moving forward, it is crucial to shift the understanding of racism beyond individual acts of hostility and discrimination to a broader critique of racist ideologies and their use in dividing and marginalizing communities. If racism is to be effectively challenged in Ireland and across the EU, these efforts must be backed by strong political will at both national and local levels.