In 2022 the United Nations designated March 15th as an international observance day dedicated to countering Islamophobia. Islam is the second-largest religion in the world and also the second-largest religion in the United Kingdom, with the 2021 census recording just under four million Muslims or 6.0% of the UK population.
The UK Ambassador to the UN General Assembly made a statement this year to commemorate International Day to Combat Islamophobia, saying:
“No-one should be targeted because of their faith.
“Like many countries, we have seen an increase in Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hate crime, alongside a rise in antisemitism.
“Again, we reiterate our strong position: these incidents have no place in our – or any – society.”
Islamophobia in the UK
The Show Racism the Red Card campaign has highlighted that negative perceptions of Muslims are fuelled by a steady stream of anti-Muslim and anti-immigration propaganda in the media. A comprehensive review of over 500,000 news articles mentioning “Muslims” or “Islam” over a span of 30 years—from 1996 to 2016—unveiled a troubling reality: more than three-quarters of these articles carried negative portrayals. This trend is consistent across countries, with the USA reporting 80% negative coverage and the UK closely following at 79%.
Earlier this year, the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) launched an inquiry examining issues around gendered Islamophobia, focusing on the barriers women and girls encounter reporting Islamophobia and the ways gendered Islamophobia can be challenged.
The Runnymede Trust’s Islamophobia: the intensification of racism against Muslim communities in the UK shows how Islamophobia is growing in the UK and highlights its structural nature across British society. The report states that in the year to February 2024, there was a recorded 335% increase in hate cases against Muslims compared with the previous year, most of them against women. The racist riots of summer 2024, with direct attacks on Muslims, mosques and a Muslim cemetery, are one reflection of this intensification.
As a way to help tackle Islamophobia this Ramadan, the Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM) campaign has called for people to host an iftar.
“If you’re non-Muslim, you can host an iftar this Ramadan to support your Muslims friends, colleagues, and neighbours. If you’re Muslim, why not invite those around you to experience Ramadan!”
An iftar is the meal eaten by Muslims after they have refrained from food and drink throughout the day. Iftar is eaten at sunset, and local Mosques publish timetables in Ramadan to let you know when this will be. Usually, the fast is broken with dates and some water. Muslims may then pray Maghrib (the 4th of the 5 daily prayers) before eating a larger meal.
The IAM campaign, which was founded by a coalition of Muslim organisations and runs throughout November each year, is inviting both Muslims and non-Muslims to host an iftar this Ramadan to help raise awareness of this important time and show solidarity with those who are fasting.
For more information on Ramadan and iftar please see the Muslim Friendly Employers (MFE) Ramadan Guide: https://www.muslimfriendlyemployers.com/resources
SWU always welcomes hearing from our membership about issues that are important to them, and we invite Muslim members and members from all backgrounds interested in becoming more active within their union to consider becoming a Union Contact. SWU National Organiser Jessie Hoskin would welcome hearing from you, so please get in touch at jessie.hoskin@swu-union.org.uk.
You may also be interested in the SWU blog “I want to talk about the UK riots and the impact on the social work profession” and the BASW & SWU joint response to the UK riots.