With one mosque attacked every five days on average, Britain is facing a crisis of escalating anti-Muslim hatred. The sobering statistic has been revealed by the British Muslim Trust in new data that paints a dire picture of a country struggling to protect its mosques from intimidation, violence, and vandalism.
Akeela Ahmed, Chief Executive of the British Muslim Trust, expressed deep concern about the trend, highlighting that attacks are becoming increasingly frequent. She urged the government to implement an immediate and robust response to the crisis, backed by Home Office statistics showing a 19% rise in anti-Muslim hate crime in England and Wales over the past year.
The data reveals that London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands are hotspots for these attacks, with nine incidents reported at mosques in London alone. One mosque in Birmingham was targeted three times within the last year, prompting Ms Ahmed to call on the government to take urgent action: "We believe the government should do everything it can to help mosques protect themselves from this rising threat."
Despite a government pledge of up to £40 million for the Protective Security for Mosques scheme, designed to fund physical security measures like CCTV and alarms, the British Muslim Trust reports significant barriers to access. Many mosques face long waits – up to 18 months – for funding, with some applications being denied without explanation.
Akeela Ahmed criticised the current system, saying: "A mosque is vulnerable purely because it's a mosque. They're waiting months in fear of another attack due to the backlog." The Trust has called for more efficient ways to deliver funding, including devolving the fund to speed up its distribution and address concerns about normalising hostile attitudes towards Muslims.
Recent research by the British Muslim Trust and British Future found that one in six Britons believe the growth of the Muslim population poses a fundamental threat to UK culture. In response, a Home Office spokesperson acknowledged the "appalling levels of religious hate crime" faced by Muslims in the UK, confirming increased funding for protective security at mosques, Muslim faith schools, and community centres – up to £40 million for 2026-27 – and promising swift processing of all applications.
The British Muslim Trust's call for a more efficient system comes as many mosques struggle with the fear of attacks, which are having a profound impact on communities. As Akeela Ahmed pointed out, "A mosque is not just a place of worship; it's a hub of community life." The urgent need for protection and support from government has never been clearer.