Muslim community fears for safety amid UK far-right riots

Muslims across the UK have raised alarm over their safety amidst ongoing Islamophobic attacks and far-right riots following a stabbing attack in Southport which killed three girls.

Muslim community groups have urged the police to ramp up security and patrols outside mosques as far-right groups have planned at least 19 rallies across England in the coming days.

Violent riots have already taken place in Southport, Manchester and London as well as other cities and towns after the girls were stabbed at a children’s holiday club on Monday.

The teenager charged with murder after the stabbing has been named as Axel Rudakubana.

Although the defendant is 17 which typically means he would be granted anonymity, the court judge made his name public due to fake news spread by far-right groups that he was Muslim and because he is set to turn 18 in six days.

In the days following the stabbing, riots spread across cities after misinformation spread online about the identity and nationality of the suspect.

Mosques were aggressively attacked in the aftermath, as false rumours about his religious identity spread, despite their being little information regarding him.

Asylum seeker accommodations in Manchester and Hampshire were also attacked by rioters who shouted anti-migrant slogans and called for them to be deported.

According to The Guardian, there are at least 19 far-right rallies planned in the coming days across England, many of them under the title of "enough is enough" and "protect our kids".

Azhar Qayum, the CEO of the UK based NGO Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) told The New Arab that Muslims are now feeling "very anxious".

"Shops and houses have been attacked and Muslims across the country are wondering if it will be their turn next," he said.

"This situation arose through long term demonisation of Islam and Muslims. This has occurred for decades but is more acute now after a virulently Islamophobic election campaign, where far right MPs were elected to the House of Commons," he added, calling for more concrete action.

Anxiety amongst Muslims

Zara Mohammed, the secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) told The New Arab that more should be done to protect Muslims amid the riots.

"There is a palpable amount of anxiety and fear over the coming weekend. I’m also very anxious from the scenes we saw in Southport and even near Downing Street with far right thugs and mobs," she said.

"We spoke to the imam from Southport mosque who talked about having to lock himself in an office out of fear of the mosque being broken into, there’s a very real fear and threat," she added.

Mohammed also said that the MCB issued guidance on mosque security and safety this week, including informing congregations to be alert and vigilant.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that a "national capability" would be established to tackle the rioters following the uptick in attacks and misinformation.

He said the new measure would improve intelligence gathering on “extremist troublemakers" and would show that division has no place among communities.

"The far right are showing who they are – we have to show who we are in response to that," he said.

"In relation to the Muslim community, let me be very clear: I will take every step that’s necessary to keep you safe," he added, when asked about what his message is to concerned Muslims alarmed by the violent riots.

Starmer made the comments during a press conference after meeting with senior police chiefs, praising them for standing up to "intimidation and violence".  

Mohammed said the prime minister's  statements are welcome but more needs to be done to protect Muslims.

'Call it out for what it is'

"You can use your tolerance policy on these thugs but I don’t think it really goes far enough because there’s an ideological element to this which is troubling," Mohammed said, adding that the suspect has nothing to do with Islam or immigrants yet the attacks against the two groups have raged on.

"I think it needs to be called out for what it is, blatant Islamophobia and anti-immigration. And where does that come from? People like Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson, Suella Braverman and some others in the government,” she explained, adding that the root of the issue needs to be tackled as well as greater police presence in the face of attacks.

Mohammed also said that the misinformation about Muslims and the incident online has resulted in "vitriol" and "terrifying" hatred.

"Muslims are not asking for special treatment, but we’re asking for parity when it comes to how our communities are supported…for Muslims it feels like it doesn’t matter because we’re Muslims," she said.

Shaukat Warraich, the director of Mosquesecurity.com, an organisation that provides security for mosques, told The New Arab that they have received over 100 requests from mosques around the UK seeking help and advice regarding security.

"Since the spike in the false anti-Muslim narrative being peddled following the Southport murders and the live streaming of the riots and attack on the Southport Mosque & Cultural centre many mosque have expressed their vulnerability and fear to us" he said.

Warraich explained that "main attacks have been vandalism and the fear of arson. There are verbal assaults on people looking visibly Muslim going to the mosque".

Qayum highlighted some recommendations for the government to tackle the far-right riots, including creating an emergency mosque protection fund to improve mosque security, improve media regulation, equalise the racial and religious incitement legislation and implement legislation to deal with hate speech online.

Other organisations which monitor Islamophobia, including Tell Mama, a UK based organisation that tracks anti-Muslim attacks, said they found a number of potential threats to mosques in the Merseyside area and informed the police and counter-terrorism forces this week.

In a statement posted on X, they said they urge mosques to follow their safety advice in the coming days.

Their statement calls people to be alert to their surroundings, stick to public and well-lit routes, and let family or friends know about travel plans. It also advises Islamic institutions to not directly engage directly with perpetrators and ensure their CCTV is working.