Islamophobia remains alarmingly high in the UK, with anti-Muslim hate reaching record levels last year, according to a report by Tell Mama, an organisation that monitors Islamophobic incidents.
Nearly 6,000 cases were confirmed as anti-Muslim hate, more than double the number reported just two years earlier. This sharp rise reflects not only increasing hostility but also a deepening public misunderstanding of Islam and its followers.
A recent YouGov poll conducted for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community reinforces these concerns, revealing widespread negativity and misconceptions about Islam in Britain. Over half of respondents (53%) said they believe Islam is not compatible with British values, while nearly a third (31%) viewed the religion as promoting violence.
The survey also exposed stark disparities in how different religious and ethnic communities are perceived. While 41% of the British public believe Muslim immigrants have a negative impact on the country, significantly fewer feel the same about other groups—only 7% for Christian immigrants, 13% for Jewish, 14% for Sikh, and 15% for Hindu immigrants.
These findings highlight not only the disproportionate scrutiny faced by Muslims but also the broader challenges confronting minority communities in the UK.
Additionally, 49% of those surveyed believe Muslim women are pressured into wearing the hijab, reflecting persistent misconceptions about Islamic teachings on modesty and women’s personal choice.
Dr Qurratul Ain Anni Rehman, President of the Ahmadiyya Women’s Association, addressed misconceptions about the hijab, saying, “The belief that Muslim women are forced to wear the hijab is simply untrue. In our community, women choose to follow Islamic teachings on modesty as a personal expression of faith, not due to pressure or compulsion. They wear the hijab with pride. His Holiness has clearly stated that there is no place for coercion in matters of religion. The decision to wear the hijab is deeply spiritual and stems from individual conviction.”
“The most powerful weapon against ignorance is education”
Speaking to Asian Voice, Abbas Najib, Chief Executive of Better Communities Bradford, responding to a poll showing Muslims are the least favoured immigrant group in Britain said, “These results are the inevitable outcome of a deliberate, sustained narrative pushed against Muslims. People don’t hate Muslims because of their religion, most don’t even know what Islam teaches. The hatred stems from decades of right-wing media framing and political rhetoric, often used to justify harmful foreign policies or to stir division for political gain. We’ve spoken to hundreds of people who hold negative views of Muslims but can’t articulate anything about the faith itself. The issue isn’t religion, it’s the narrative created by a small but powerful group with influence."
On whether growing hostility towards Muslims in Britain could impact other ethnic minorities, Najib said, "There is an undeniable intersection between anti-Muslim hate and anti-brown racism. Those who harbour hate don’t distinguish between a Pakistani Muslim, an Indian Hindu, a Punjabi Sikh, or a Sri Lankan Christian, they see anyone who looks like ‘other’ as a target. This hate is often rooted in both racial prejudice and religious ignorance. The people expressing it on the frontlines, often from uneducated or misinformed segments of society, don’t always understand who or what they’re attacking. They’re simply looking for someone to blame. But they are not the architects of this hate. The real drivers are individuals like Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage, who deliberately spread anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant myths, fuelling division and using that narrative to mobilize fringe groups into open hostility and even violence against minorities."
On what steps the government can take to improve public perceptions of ethnic minorities, Najib said, "The most powerful weapon against ignorance is education. If people are given airtime to claim Islam is incompatible with British values, equal airtime must be given to those who can explain how it aligns with those very values, like democracy, rule of law, and individual liberty. We also need accountability: if an ordinary person can face prison for hateful speech online, why do politicians face no consequences for spreading harmful stereotypes? More frontline education, especially through NGOs and third-sector organisations, is crucial. The idea that Muslims or ethnic minorities aren't integrating is baseless. We outperform in education, contribute significantly to the NHS and small businesses, and engage deeply in our communities. The demand for 'integration' often comes from those who don’t engage with other social classes themselves. It reflects a colonial mind-set, expecting others to conform while not questioning their own biases. What exactly is integration? Do we need to drink alcohol or eat bacon to be accepted? If we follow the law and contribute to society, we are already integrated."
