Religious hate crimes have risen to record levels since the Gaza war started
Team Clarion
LONDON – Britain has set up a new £1 million fund to provide a comprehensive service to monitor anti-Muslim hate and support victims. The announcement came on Wednesday, with applications opening on Monday, April 7.
Last year, police-recorded statistics found almost two in five of all religious hate crimes targeted Muslims, an increase of 13% in comparison to the year before.
With cases on the rise, up-to-date and detailed information on incidents and drivers of this form of hatred will play a fundamental part in supporting the government to combat anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia and ensure Muslim communities feel safe and supported.
The establishment of the fund also contributes to the government’s broader commitment to creating safer streets as part of the Plan for Change, with addressing the rise of anti-Muslim hate playing a crucial part in building safer, stronger and more cohesive communities for all.
The Combating Hatred Against Muslims Fund will help counter Islamophobia and ensure Muslim communities feel safe, the government said.
Last month it emerged that the UK was withdrawing funding for the Islamophobia reporting service Tell Mama. A report in the Byline Times last year said the organisation had heavily underreported anti-Muslim hate crimes.
The new fund will be open from next week to applications from a single organisation or a group of organisations working together to deliver an accurate record of hate incidents across England.
“Putting an end to the shocking rise of targeted attacks against Muslims requires a thorough understanding of the nature and scale of the hatred our Muslim communities face,” Lord Khan of Burnley, Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement, said. “That’s why we’re taking a crucial step forward this week to open this fund, seek new ideas and solutions, and tackle this hatred head-on.”
Religious hate crimes have risen sharply in the UK since the Gaza war started in October 2023.
The recipient of the grant will monitor and report Islamophobic incidents, raise awareness of hate crimes, encourage victims to report incidents and facilitate support for victims.
Up to £650,000 will be available in the 2025/26 financial year, and up to £1 million in the following years, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said.
Earlier this year, the UK set up a working group to provide the government with a working definition of anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia. – With inputs from Agencies
