Why it matters:
The U.K. has been a focal point for debates over security policies, structural Islamophobia, and civil liberties in recent years. By bringing together researchers, human rights activists, and civil society representatives, the event provided a platform to critically examine how state policies, media narratives, and institutional practices can contribute to the marginalization of Muslim communities.
The big picture:
In recent years, official statistics illustrate a sharp rise in anti‑Muslim hostility in Western countries. In Home Office’s 2025 report for England and Wales, there were 7,164 religious‑hate crimes recorded in the year to March 2025, the highest annual total on record. Of these offences where the target religion was identified, 4,478 cases (about 45%) were directed against Muslims. The same report notes a 19% increase in religious‑hate crimes against Muslims compared with the previous year.
Across the Atlantic, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported 11,679 hate‑crime incidents in the United States in 2024; among single‑bias incidents, 23.5% were motivated by religion, which includes attacks on religious minorities. While FBI data does not publicly disaggregate hate crimes specifically against Muslims in that report, the religious‑bias category shows that hate crimes with religious motivations remain a substantial component of overall hate crime in the U.S.
What he's saying:
Chair of the Islamic Human Rights Commission U.K., Masoud Shajareh, in an exclusive interview with Iran Press said that decades of research show Islamophobia is driven by an environment of hate promoted by politicians, media, and racists, not by Muslims themselves.
He emphasized: “Our reports over 30 years show that what creates and strengthens Islamophobia is this environment of hate, which isolates Muslims and portrays them as outsiders, separate from society and humanity.”
Go deeper:
Australian Report Warns of 'Skyrocketing' Islamophobia Since October 7
Why European Countries Support Islamophobia?
F.abedi - Mahboubeh Habibi
