Fatima Raza Hassan
Hate crimes against Muslims rose by 13 per cent, with 3,866 recorded offences, making Muslims the most affected group, representing nearly 40 per cent of all religious hate crimes in England and Wales.
Police data reveals that 3,282 hate crimes were committed against Jewish individuals—more than double the 1,543 recorded the previous year.
Religious hate crimes targeting Jews and Muslims in England and Wales surged by 25 per cent, driven by the Israel-Palestine conflict and far-right narratives, according to police data published this month.
Hate crimes increased with 10,484 recorded offences, up from 8,370 the previous year.
This rise marks the highest annual figure since records began in 2012. Offences against Jews and Muslims now account for over 70 per cent of all religious hate crimes in the UK, with Muslims being the most affected group.
Responding to the latest data, the Muslim Council of Britain’s Secretary-General, Zara Mohammed, said the spike in Islamophobic hate crime is “sadly, not surprising and reflects the increased hatred experienced by British Muslims.”
“We have seen divisive political rhetoric that continues to stigmatise Muslim communities for political gain, alongside false news stories that incite far-right riots and Islamophobic attacks, showing just how deeply entrenched these issues are.”
“Most Islamophobic hate crimes go unreported, meaning this data highlights only a small part of the issue and not its systemic nature,” she added.
In the year ending March 2024, religious hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 25 per cent, rising from 8,370 to 10,484 incidents, a spike including the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has led to a surge in hate crimes targeting both Jewish and Muslim communities.
While religious hate crimes have soared, other forms of hate crime have decreased. Hate crimes related to sexual orientation dropped by 8 per cent (22,839 incidents), disability hate crimes fell by 18 per cent (11,719 incidents), and hate crimes against transgender individuals dropped by 2 per cent.
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