UK anti-Islamophobia body ‘on pause’ despite surge in hate crimes

Concerns are rising in the UK as the government’s anti-Muslim hatred working group (AMHWG) has been “on pause” since 2020, despite a drastic surge in hate crimes.

Members of the AMHWG expressed their concern over the failure of Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, to restart the group that last met in January 2020 and tackle the sharp rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes.

Reports showed a 335% increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in the UK since Palestinian resistance movements launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the Israeli regime in early October in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

“At this time of heightened fear, anxiety and tensions, the government should be doing its utmost to fulfill its statutory obligations and responsibilities towards all communities,” Akeela Ahmed, chair of the AMHWG, said.

The last time the members of the anti-Islamophobia body officially met was in January 2020 before all working groups were adjourned because of the COVID pandemic. “Politicized discussions about terminology have stalled the real work needed to address prejudice, bigotry and discrimination against British Muslims.

Personally, I use the terms interchangeably, as I’m not precious about labels. But we do need to develop a robust definition,” Akeela Ahmed said, in an apparent reference to the official definition of Islamophobia.

In 2019, James Brokenshire, then-communities secretary, said the UK government would seek to establish a working definition of Islamophobia, but the government dropped work on the plan three years later when the government’s last independent adviser to provide expert advice on the definition, Imam Qari Asim, was removed.

Since 2022, the post has remained vacant, with senior government officials making repeated promises that the group will be restarted.

Islamic scholar in UK reported to police for supporting Palestinians

A Muslim preacher has been reported to the UK police after voicing support for Palestinians and their right to resist the Israeli occupation.

“Yet when it comes to British Muslims, this simply isn’t happening. Since Theresa May’s premiership, the government’s reluctance to address Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred has become increasingly outlandish. Even when condemning the MP Lee Anderson for his remarks about the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Rishi Sunak was unable to name either,” she added.

AMHWG was formed during the tenure of Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012. It aims to address anti-Muslim hatred and monitor hate crime and the police forces’ records of it, as well as examine initiatives to prevent it.

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