
Israel-Gaza war fuels record level of anti-Muslim hatred in Britain, monitoring group says
LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The number of anti-Muslim incidents in Britain rose to a new high in 2024, according to data compiled by monitoring organisation Tell MAMA, which said the war in Gaza had "super-fuelled" online hate.
Tell MAMA said it verified 5,837 anti-Muslim hate cases - a mix of both online and in-person incidents - last year, compared with 3,767 cases the year before and 2,201 in 2022.
The organisation's data goes back to 2012 and is compiled using data-sharing agreements with police forces in England and Wales.
"The Middle East conflict super-fuelled online anti-Muslim hate," the group said in a statement, adding that "the Israel and Gaza War, the Southport murders and riots ... created a surge in anti-Muslim hate cases reported to Tell MAMA from 2023-2024".
Its director Iman Atta described the surge as unacceptable and deeply concerning for the future.
Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) describes itself as an independent, non-governmental organisation which works on tackling anti-Muslim hatred.
Separate data last week showed levels of hatred towards Jews across Britain have also rocketed to record levels in the wake of the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
The surge in hate incidents against Muslims due to Islamophobia has also been linked to the killing of three young girls in the northern English town of Southport last summer, Tell MAMA said.
False reports spread on social media that the killer, who has since been sentenced to at least 52 years behind bars, was a radical Islamist migrant, leading to racist riots involving far-right and anti-immigration groups across the country.
"We urge the public to stand together against hatred and extremism, and we urge those in positions of influence and public authority to consider how their language risks stereotyping communities," Atta said, calling for coordinated government action to tackle anti-Muslim hate.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Focus on Africa Uganda: World Bank lifts loan ban
In 2023, Uganda voted in some of the world's harshest anti-homosexual legislation meaning that anybody engaging in certain same-sex acts can be sentenced to death. The World Bank decided to ban Uganda from receiving loans because of its legislation. The bank now says it's confident that new "mitigation measures" will allow it to roll out funding in such a way that does not harm or discriminate against LGBTQ+ community. We hear analysis. Also, why increasing numbers of people in Togo are thinking about leaving ECOWAS And why is Nigeria importing cows from Denmark? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Technical Producer: Kane Masaba-Morgan Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi


Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Winter fuel payment: Scottish pensioners could be worse off than those in England and Wales after U-turn
The U-turn was confirmed on Monday by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottish pensioners could be worse off than those in England and Wales after the UK government confirmed its U-turn over the winter fuel payment. The Chancellor announced on Monday the payment, worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners who previously received it as anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year will now get the payment automatically. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given more detail about the UK government's plans for the winter fuel allowance | PA/The Scotsman However, Scotland has already created a devolved benefit of £100 for all pensioner households, which is less generous than the UK government version, potentially leaving hundreds of thousands of Scots worse off than their English and Welsh counterparts. The decision will result in more money being sent to the devolved administration at Holyrood. Scottish Labour has now urged the Government to increase its payments. Rachel Reeves had announced the cut in the first first weeks of the Labour government last summer, prompting an immediate backlash and forcing the Scottish Government to delay the implementation of its own devolved benefit. John Swinney's administration later announced a similar payment for pensioners which would be tapered and see those on the highest incomes receiving £100, compared to £305.10 for those on the least. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Labour MSP Paul O'Kane urged the SNP to support Scotland's pensioners. He said: 'The winter fuel payment is a devolved payment in Scotland and Scottish Labour has long been clear that we want to see it reinstated for the majority of pensioners up here. But despite their loud spin, the SNP voted against our attempts to do so. 'The SNP must not go ahead with plans that would rob poorer pensioners in order to fund payments for millionaires. 'The SNP must re-examine their own proposals in light of this game-changing announcement, ensure payments reach those most in need, and give a cast-iron guarantee that no struggling Scottish pensioners will be left out of pocket under their plans.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the decision was 'a betrayal' of pensioners. She said: 'I welcome any extension of eligibility by the UK government, but this is a U-turn the Chancellor should have made a long time ago. But there is still no detail about how the Chancellor intends to go about that. Unfortunately, it still sounds as if many pensioners will miss out.' Ms Somerville said the Scottish Government had not been consulted on the decision and urged UK ministers to 'ensure the Scottish Government is fully appraised of the proposed changes as soon as possible'. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville speaks to MSPs on the Scottish Government's response to the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under equalities law, in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire 'The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last week to urge the UK government to share its plans with us as quickly as possible, so that we can understand any implications for our own programmes and, crucially, our budget,' she said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Government's plans were initially to provide a universal payment to pensioners, but the proposals were scuppered by the Chancellor's announcement of the cut last summer, forcing ministers to create a different system for this winter. Ms Reeves said the UK government had 'listened to people's concerns' about the decision to limit the payment to the poorest pensioners last winter, and was now able to widen eligibility because Labour had restored 'stability' to the economy. Ministers have insisted no additional government borrowing will be needed to cover the costs of the reversal, prompting warnings of tax rises on the horizon. Those with an income above the £35,000 threshold will also receive the payment, but it will then be reclaimed from them in tax. To be eligible for the winter fuel allowance, a person will need to have reached state pension age by the week starting September 15 this year. Pensioners who do not want to receive the payment will be able to opt out, according to the Treasury. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Writing on social media site X, Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies said: 'The corollary of 'this will not lead to permanent additional borrowing' is that it will lead to permanent additional taxes (or just possibly permanent cuts to other bits of welfare).' No.10 insisted the UK government's manifesto commitment to not raise VAT, income tax or National Insurance remained in place. 'It will be for the Chancellor to set out how this is funded at the Budget', the Prime Minister's official spokesman added. Scottish Greens social security spokesperson Maggie Chapman said: 'There is no doubt that the damage has already been done. Families will have lost loved ones and illnesses will have been caused over the winter months because of the brutal decision by Rachel Reeves and the Labour government. "The reinstatement of the winter fuel payment for some is a welcome move, but we must go further. The Labour government must end the two-child benefit cap. which hits working-class families the hardest, and they must reverse their cruel austerity policies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Poverty isn't inevitable; it's a political policy, a policy which Rachel Reeves has forced upon hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. If Keir Starmer has any shame, he would finally call an end to her disastrous time as Chancellor.' Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Opposition, claimed the Prime Minister had 'scrambled to clear up a mess of his own making'. The Conservative leader said: 'I repeatedly challenged him to reverse his callous decision to withdraw winter fuel payments, and every time Starmer arrogantly dismissed my criticisms. This humiliating U-turn will come as scant comfort to the pensioners forced to choose between heating and eating last winter. 'The Prime Minister should now apologise for his terrible judgment.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'Finally the Chancellor has listened to the Liberal Democrats and the tireless campaigners in realising how disastrous this policy was, but the misery it has caused cannot be overstated. 'Countless pensioners were forced to choose between heating and eating all whilst the Government buried its head in the sand for months on end, ignoring those who were really suffering.


Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sword rampage survivor claims 'killer' slashed him across throat
Marcus Arduini Monzo is accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and attempting to kill four others during a 20-minute sword rampage in Hainault, London last April A court has heard how an alleged killer slashed a passerby in the neck with a sword before smiling during a 'brutal string of attacks'. The trial at the Old Bailey today heard how Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, is accused of murdering 14-year-old schoolboy Daniel Anjorin and attempting to kill four others during a 20-minute sword rampage in Hainault, north-east London, on April 30 last year. He denies the charges. A grey Ford Transit can be seen mounting a pavement and hitting Donato Iwule, a Co-op security guard on his way to work, in CCTV footage shown to the jury on Monday. The video captured Mr Iwule screaming as the van struck him before it went on to collide with a house. A man is then seen exiting the vehicle and walking after Mr Iwule while brandishing a sword. 'I thought I was dying,' Mr Iwule said in evidence. He described how he desperately tried to escape into a nearby garden but was struck on his knee, face and shoulder and knocked to the ground. He told the court how he saw the driver get out of the van, pull a sword from a cover 'right in front of my face,' before throwing the cover to one side. 'I said 'I don't know you'… I said it multiple times,' Mr Iwule told prosecutor Tom Little KC. 'He said 'I don't care – I'm going to kill you'.' Mr Iwule explained to the jury how he had tried to raise his arms to defend himself but Monzo swung the sword, slicing his neck. 'I saw blood coming out of my neck,' he said. 'I pressed my thumb to not bleed out… I shouted 'God is greatest' in Arabic – because I'm Muslim. When that happened, he was smiling like it was something that he was happy about.' Mr Iwule said he was able to jump over a fence to escape when Monzo became distracted. He described how he later shouted at a schoolboy, believed to be Daniel, to go back inside. During cross-examination Mr Iwule described how he had been standing upright when he was slashed with the sword and said he could clearly hear Monzo telling him he was going to kill him. Last week jurors heard Monzo allegedly killed and skinned his own cat at home before carrying out the alleged attacks. The court heard that a search of Spanish-Brazilian national Monzo's Newham home yielded evidence of the mutilated deboned animal as well as the presence of cannabis. The court heard how Monzo was under the influence of cannabis that may have led to drug-induced psychosis. However, the prosecution says this does not amount to diminished responsibility. Another witness, Mitchell Hayes, was also on his way to work at the Co-op when he told the jury he saw the van 'going faster, slowing down, going faster' before the crash. He described hearing screaming later and said he saw the driver walk around the van and then get back in and reverse away, appearing to hold what looked like a sword. Mr Hayes said he stayed with Mr Iwule, who was bleeding from the neck, for 10 to 15 minutes. He then became aware of another incident nearby, he explained, he saw another colleague, Nathan Hutchinson, shouting that the attacker had a sword and they saw a body on the other side of the road. 'He was running around with it like a maniac,' Mr Hayes said of the man he believed to be Monzo. Monzo is charged with 10 offences in total, including the murder of Daniel Anjorin, four counts for the alleged attempted murders of Donato Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and PC Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, a count of wounding with intent, and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon. Monzo has admitted possessing two swords but denies murder, attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article. The trial continues.