7th September 2015
Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain today gave the following reaction to news that Islamophobic hate crime has soared by some 70% according to figures from the Metropolitan Police:
“The rise in Islamophobic hate crimes should be a concern for us all. The fact that Muslim women bear the brunt of attacks is especially worrying. In London we take pride in the city’s diversity and tolerance. But these figures tell us that there is much more to do. Islamophobia takes place at all levels, across the country and is actively encouraged in certain quarters, including from sensationalist headlines within parts of the media and from certain politicians.
Only last month we learned of the tragic murder of Muhsin Ahmed, who is believed to be a victim of an Islamophobic hate crime. And we are also aware that Islamophobic hate crimes are massively underreported. That is why we welcome the Metropolitan Police’s initiative to highlight these figures, and we urge this bigotry to be taken seriously by all concerned parties and that a coordinated, national response is undertaken to tackle Islamophobia more effectively.”