Definition
“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” - APPG on British Muslims
1. What is Islamophobia?
“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”- All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims
What does this mean?
Islamophobia is a type of racism that targets Muslims or those who appear to look like Muslims.
2. How is Islamophobia a form of racism if Muslims are not a race?
Islamophobia is not just a form of hate crime. Muslims experience discrimination across many areas of life including healthcare, education, employment and policing.
It is therefore more appropriate to categorise Islamophobia as a form of racism rather than a hate crime.
Moreover, Muslims have become racialised through stereotyping which leads people to believe that they are different from the rest of society.
3. What does Islamophobia look like?
Prejudice, hostility and hatred towards Muslims or those who appear to look like Muslims. This includes:
- – Hate crime – physical and verbal attacks
- – Stereotyping Muslims
- – Accusing Muslims of being responsible for the wrongdoings of other Muslims
- – Exclusion and discrimination of Muslims or those who appear to look like Muslims. This includes: Favouring non-Muslim candidates over Muslim candidates for job interviews because of their Anglo-Saxon or western sounding name.
4. How widespread is Islamophobia in the UK?
- – England and Wales: Between 2017-2024, the percentage of religious hate crimes targeted against Muslims ranged between 45-52% (Home Office)
- – 75% of Scottish Muslims say that Islamophobia is a regular or everyday issue in Scottish society (Peter Hopkins, 2023)
- – 9% of the British public feel negative towards Muslims and 9.9% feeling ‘very negative’ (Jones and Unsworth, 2022)
- – 59% of all British news articles associated Muslims with negative behaviour (CfMM, 2018)
5. What should I do if I witness or experience Islamophobia?
Just like any other form of racism and hate crime, you must report it! You can report the incident to the police or the Islamophobia Response Unit (IRU).
If you are still in danger, it is advised to report the incident immediately to the police by dialling 999, otherwise you can report it to the IRU by dialling the following line: 0203 904 6555.
Alternatively, you can submit a report to the IRU HERE.
