The relentless online abuse faced by the Mayor of London, is not just political vitriol—it is Islamophobia, plain and simple. According to new research commissioned by the Greater London Authority, Islamophobic mentions of Sadiq Khan have more than doubled in the past year, reaching nearly 28,000 posts in 2024 alone. And this isn’t new. This is part of a sustained pattern of racist, Islamophobic attacks that began when Khan first entered public life—and it is intensifying.
Let’s be absolutely clear: Sadiq Khan is not being attacked merely because he is a politician — he is being attacked because he is a Muslim politician. From Donald Trump’s dog-whistle smears to unhinged online conspiracies accusing him of ‘Muslimising’ London, to violent threats from figures like Charlie Mullins — this isn’t the rough and tumble of democratic politics. It’s racism. It’s Islamophobia. It’s a sustained campaign of hate rooted in religious identity and racial prejudice.
The baseless claim that Khan is ‘engineering’ a demographic shift to turn London into a Muslim-majority city is pure far-right paranoia, steeped in anti-Muslim bigotry. These are not just lies — they are dangerous narratives. They echo the ideological playbook of white nationalist movements around the world: a fear of the ‘other’, a rejection of multiculturalism, and a relentless demonisation of Muslim communities. This isn’t just offensive — it’s a threat to social cohesion, democratic values, and public safety. And it must be called out, without hesitation or apology.
Social media has become the amplifier of choice for this hate. The report shows that 89% of Islamophobic posts about the Mayor originate from X (formerly Twitter), a platform that has increasingly become a haven for far-right content under Elon Musk’s ownership.
What’s even more disturbing is how this abuse is becoming institutionalised. While individuals like Mullins are condemned for their language, they often escape real consequences. A call to “kill the Muslim mayor” should not be met with a diversity training session—it should be met with serious accountability. The tolerance of such language only emboldens others and contributes to a culture where racist and Islamophobic abuse is brushed aside as just another part of online life.
The effects go beyond Khan himself. As a source close to the Mayor has rightly pointed out, this kind of targeted hate sends a chilling message to young minority Britons: “Politics is not for you.” When public figures of colour are subjected to constant abuse without consequence, it discourages the next generation from participating in public life. We lose future leaders. We lose diverse voices. And we lose the soul of a truly representative democracy.
Islamophobia is not a fringe problem—it is a national issue. Over the past year, anti-Muslim hate crimes and online abuse have surged across the UK. In this climate, Sadiq Khan’s experience is a grim reflection of a wider societal failing. His critics may insist that their opposition is purely policy-driven. But the numbers don’t lie. Tens of thousands of posts, many violent, many overtly racist, have one thing in common: they are not about low emission zones or policing—they are about religion and identity.
The abuse directed at Khan is a mirror to the rise of Islamophobia in Britain. If we truly believe in fairness, equality, and inclusion, then we must stop pretending that this is just part of political life. It’s not— it’s racism. It’s hatred. And it must be called out—loudly and unequivocally.
