We in Tell MAMA are continuing to receive cases of anti-Muslim hate which demonstrate increased levels of aggression towards British Muslims or people perceived to be Muslim. This is worrying and we recognise that within those cases, we are also seeing the increased use of racialised language that is also mixed in with anti-Muslim rhetoric and threats of physical aggression.
The fact is that online discussions seem to have thrown up issues of race and identity on key platforms like ‘X’. Whether there is a link to the actual street based cases we are receiving is questionable, but the timing seems to dovetail and the increased aggression is being picked up over the last 8-10 weeks in Tell MAMA. Discussions on platforms like X around belonging, identity and citizenship have roughly been taking place around this timeline.
Social media commentators making suggestions that British Muslims are not ‘English’ or in fact ‘British’ are percolating across ‘X’ and these have impacts on comments and conversations that also take place on other social media platforms. What is deeply concerning though are cases like the one listed below which we have received.
Short Case Study
This involves a young man who was driving his elderly mother who was wearing a Hijab. A motorcyclist collided with the car and it seems that the collision was not life threatening and that the motorcyclist and both car passengers were not physically harmed.
The young Muslim male reported into Tell MAMA threats of harm and aggression which were made towards him as he went to check on the situation regarding his vehicle. He also suffered racial and anti-Muslim abuse and felt deeply threatened by the posture, the language and the anger that was directed towards him.
He also made clear that he believed that the abuse was linked to the Hijab that his mother was wearing in the vehicle and which the perpetrator had seen. He described his fear and the vulnerability that he felt particularly when he was with his elderly mother. He also felt that her personal safety was at risk.
These are not isolated cases as we have said and the language, rhetoric and anger directed at the young Muslim who was driving his elderly mother has left the individual shaken. He may well carry the view that being a Muslim is a risk factor for him and these kinds of feelings and perceptions have huge impacts around a ‘sense of self’, personal safety and belonging.
Tell MAMA continues to re-assure, seek justice for victims and ensure that perpetrators account for their actions and we do this by working in partnership with police forces.
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