Muslim leaders across the UK are sounding the alarm over a stark rise in anti-Muslim hate crime, with some describing the current climate as reaching unprecedented levels. Reports indicate a surge in both the frequency and severity of incidents, from verbal threats and harassment to violent assaults and vandalism targeting mosques and individuals, leaving communities on edge.
Akeela Ahmed, head of the British Muslim Trust (BMT), the government's official partner for monitoring anti-Muslim hatred, has expressed profound shock at the stories she has encountered while travelling the country. Drawing parallels with the racial violence experienced by her parents in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ahmed suggests that the current situation represents 'another level' of hostility.
The BMT has documented 27 attacks against 25 mosques in 23 different parts of the country over a three-month period last year. Official figures show that anti-Muslim hate crime in England and Wales increased by 19% in the 12 months leading to March 2025.
Muslim leaders report a growing sense of fear within their communities, compounded by frustration over what they perceive as a lack of coordinated response from government, police, and other institutions. The recent attack in Edinburgh, where five people were injured near a mosque, has intensified these anxieties. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Parliament that the Edinburgh attack appeared to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.
Incidents reported in the past six months alone include attempted firebombings, vandalism, and violent attacks on mosques in cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Blackburn, Manchester, and Liverpool. Muslim women appear disproportionately affected, with numerous reports of hijabs being torn off, abuse on public transport, and harassment in public spaces.
A recent BMT survey highlighted the pervasive nature of prejudice, finding that over half (56%) of Muslims had experienced religious prejudice in the past year, indicating that official figures may significantly undercount the true extent of the problem. Campaigners have welcomed the government's adoption of a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hatred earlier this year but express frustration at the pace of progress and the perceived timidity of the official response.