Rising islamophobia
Muslim students are increasingly facing both overt and covert Islamophobia (Akel, 2021).
Targeted Abuse
Female Muslim students, especially those wearing hijabs, are most likely to experience verbal abuse, with one student reporting 20–30 incidents (Akel, 2021).
Verbal Attacks
25% of Muslim students report verbal abuse, often being called derogatory names like "terrorist" or "extremist" (Akel, 2021).
Defending Faith
25% of Muslim students were asked to defend wearing religious garments on campus (Akel, 2021).
Education Gaps
Young Muslims are more likely to drop out of higher education or achieve lower degrees compared to non-Muslim peers (Social Mobility Commission, 2017).
Job Discrimination
Job applicants with English-sounding names are three times more likely to get interviews than those with Muslim names (BBC, 2017).
Workplace Islamophobia
Over two-thirds of UK Muslims experience Islamophobia at work, with 34% facing discrimination in job interviews and 32% during work reviews (Savanta ComRes, 2022).
Ethnic Minority Gap
Employer discrimination accounts for up to half of the ethnic minority employment gap in the UK (DWP, 2008).
Discrimination Against Women
23% of working Muslim women and 43% of unemployed Muslim women report facing discrimination in job interviews (Young Foundation, 2008).
Hate Crimes
44% of religious hate crimes targeted Muslims in the year ending March 2023 (Home Office, 2023).
Islamophobia Spike
The Islamophobia Response Unit reported significant increases in Islamophobia cases from October 2023 to February 2024, with a 365% rise in October alone (IRU, 2023).
Attacks on Mosques
Physical attacks on mosques occurred in 2022, including incidents in East Ham and Shoreditch (Evening Standard, Tell MAMA, 2022).
Hijab Attack
A Muslim woman was assaulted on the London Tube, where the attacker attempted to tear off her hijab and verbally abused her (Tell MAMA, 2022).