UK Announces £1 Million Annual Fund to Tackle Anti-Muslim Hate Amid Rising Islamophobia
The Combatting Hatred Against Muslims Fund, announced on Wednesday, will focus on documenting Islamophobic incidents, raising awareness of hate crimes, and ensuring Muslim communities feel safe, officials said, Arab News reported.
The initiative follows concerns over the increasing number of reported anti-Muslim hate crimes, with recent police data indicating a sharp rise in such incidents.
The fund will be open for applications starting next week, allowing a single organization or a coalition of groups to oversee data collection and reporting on hate crimes across England.
Faith Minister Lord Khan emphasized the urgency of the initiative, stating: “Putting an end to the shocking rise of targeted attacks against Muslims requires a thorough understanding of the nature and scale of the hatred our Muslim communities face. That’s why we’re taking a crucial step forward this week to open this fund, seek new ideas and solutions, and tackle this hatred head-on.”
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The announcement follows the government’s decision last month to withdraw funding from Tell Mama, a long-established service for reporting Islamophobia. A 2023 report by Byline Times alleged that the organization had significantly underreported anti-Muslim hate crimes, raising concerns about the accuracy of its data.
Anti-Muslim hate crimes in the UK have escalated sharply since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. According to official statistics, nearly two in five of all religiously motivated hate crimes in England and Wales last year targeted Muslims—a 13% increase compared to the previous year.
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The newly funded initiative will track and report Islamophobic incidents, encourage victims to come forward, and facilitate access to support services. The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government has allocated up to £650,000 for the 2025/26 financial year, with funding rising to £1 million in subsequent years.
Source: Agencies
