The results of the latest research show that the number of crimes related to Islamophobia in the UK has tripled since the beginning of the Gaza war. This is the highest rate in four months since the charity Tell Mama started collecting statistics on Islamophobia in 2011. This article deals with the impact of international conflicts on British Muslims.
600 cases of increasing Islamophobia in the past year
The impact of international conflicts on British Muslims in the recent Gaza war has been entirely negative. The charity Tell Mama announced that from October 7 and the beginning of the Gaza war to February 7, it recorded 2 thousand ten incidents related to anti-Islamism. This statistic shows an increase of 600 cases compared to last year.
Increase in physical and virtual harassment of Muslims
According to the report of Tell Mama, half of the crimes committed in the last four months were related to insulting statements in cyberspace. 576 cases of physical attacks, insulting behavior, threats, and vandalism were recorded. Out of every three recorded crimes, two are related to Muslim women. Some have been called “terrorists,” and some have been physically abused.
Impact of International Conflicts on British Muslims
Iman Atta, the Tell Mama director, said about this: Since the Gaza war began, Muslims have been persecuted more than ever before. According to him, “assassin,” “murderer,” and “terrorist” are among the insulting titles attributed to Muslims these days. The impact of international conflicts on British Muslims is very high. The Gaza war is a clear example of the influence of global issues on Muslims.
Suspension of a conservative representative on charges of Islamophobia
Lee Anderson, representative of the ruling conservative party from the constituency of Ashfield, was suspended from membership in this party last Saturday, in a rare development, on charges of Islamophobia. Simon Hart, a spokesperson for the Conservative chief whip, announced on Saturday that Anderson had been suspended from the party for refusing to apologize for comments he made against Muslims.
Lee Anderson’s Islamophobic remarks
In an interview with a right-wing TV channel, Anderson, the former deputy secretary of the Conservative Party, in response to the British Parliament’s vote on the motion of the opposition party of the London government to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, claimed: “I don’t actually believe these Islamists have got control of our country. But what I do believe is they’ve got control of Khan, and they’ve got control of London. He’s actually given our capital city to his mates.”
Labor Party’s continued support for Israel
Anderson made Islamophobic statements while the British MPs’ vote on the two-pronged plan of the Labor Party has alarmed the Israeli lobby in the UK. In this plan, despite supporting the establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza, the Labor Party has left Israel’s hand open for the continuation of the war. In this plan, it is claimed that Israel cannot be expected to stop the war if the Hamas campaign continues.
The Scottish National Party’s objection to the Labor Party’s proposal
The plan proposed by the Labor Party caused strong protests from the Scottish National Party (SNP), which, as the leading proponent of this plan, had accused Israel of mass punishment of Palestinians. However, the Labor Party amendment caused the UK Parliament members to call for a ceasefire in Gaza in a different language. However, the same plan has brought the protest of the Israeli lobby.
The anti-Islamic statements of the former Home Secretary
Previously, Suella Braverman, the former Home Secretary, who was dismissed from Rishi Sunak’s government a few months ago after spreading hatred and insulting statements against Palestine supporters, wrote in a note to the Daily Telegraph with insulting literature: “On a day when Keir Starmer should have shown strength of character, he bowed to the mob, abused his position, and undermined the integrity of Parliament. Conventions were cast aside, the Speaker’s legitimacy destroyed, and democracy denied. Trust was shattered by Starmer’s grubby backroom deal.”
London mayor’s reaction to conservatives’ anti-Islam statements
By publishing a message on the X, Sadiq Khan called the statements made by Mr. Anderson and Ms. Braverman a “poisonous attempt to drive a wedge between our communities and serve her own naked ambition.”. He said that these statements indicate Islamophobia and a racist approach in the party.
British Muslim Council’s letter to the Conservative Party
Britain’s largest Muslim group has written to the Conservative Party, calling for an investigation into “structural Islamophobia” in the party. In a letter addressed to Richard Holden, the leader of the Conservative Party, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said that Islamophobia in the party was “institutional, tolerated by the leadership and seen as acceptable by great swathes of the party membership.” Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the MCB, wrote in this letter that the provocative statements of former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, former Home Secretary Lee Anderson, former Tory party deputy chair, and former Prime Minister Liz Truss once again show the existence of Islamophobia.
Islamophobic comments by Liz Truss
Liz Truss, the former Prime Minister, recently claimed in an interview that a “radical Islamic party” can infiltrate the Parliament. The British Muslim Council’s letter states that there is no radical Islamic party; This is a lie and an Islamophobic act. Zara Mohammed said that the Muslim Council of Britain had shared the letter with the Equality and Human Rights Commission so that the complaint would be taken seriously and steps would be taken to eliminate structural Islamophobia among politicians.
Covering Islamophobia by Rishi Sunak
The Prime Minister, who is under a lot of pressure from public opinion following the suspension of the senior member of the conservative ruling party on charges of Islamophobia, tries to cover up the deep-rooted case of anti-Islamism in this party by misreading and distancing himself from acknowledging his literature. Rishi Sunak, in an interview with BBC radio, in response to a question about the tendency of the conservative party towards Islamophobia, claimed: “No, of course it doesn’t. Racism or prejudice of any kind is completely unacceptable. It’s not British, and we must stamp it out where we see it.”
Reluctance of the conservative government in defining Islamophobia
Year after year, British Muslims are the victims of the highest proportion of hate crimes, and there is no sign of this trend slowing down under the Conservative government. In 2019, the then Communities Secretary James Brokenshire stated that the government was looking to create a practical definition of Islamophobia, adding: “To get a firmer grip on the nature of this bigotry and division, we agree there needs to be a formal definition of Islamophobia to help strengthen our efforts.”
Lack of definition of Islamophobia by conservative party
The British Labor Party officially recognized the definition of Islamophobia five years ago. According to this definition, Islamophobia is identified as a type of racism that targets all forms of being Muslim. However, the conservative ruling party refuses to accept such a definition. The conservative party promised four years ago that it would provide a practical definition of Islamophobia. Still, the delay and comments have increased doubts about the government’s seriousness in this field. The impact of international conflicts on British Muslims has always been negative. The recent war in Gaza has caused the spread of anti-Islamic thinking in the UK. Conservative Party officials have no plan to reduce Islamophobic positions.
