LONDON

A sharp rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes across Europe and the UK was revealed in a new report discussed in the British Parliament on Tuesday.

Labour MP Afzal Khan, vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, hosted a panel to present the European Islamophobia Report, warning of growing hostility and discrimination against Muslim communities.

“Islamophobic assaults in the UK surged by 73% in 2024,” Khan said. “For the past five years, around half of all religious hate crimes in the UK have targeted Muslims.”

He added that the rise in anti-Muslim hate is not limited to Britain.

In Germany, hate crimes against Muslims have increased by 140% since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. In France, strict secularist policies have drawn criticism, particularly those affecting Muslim women’s clothing.

“I can never understand why a government should decide how a woman dresses,” Khan said.

-‘Historic moment’ for UK Muslims

Also speaking at the event, Lord Khan of Burnley, Minister for Faith and Communities, said the government remains committed to tackling Islamophobia, though defining it remains a challenge.

“It’s difficult to define Islamophobia. But that doesn’t mean we can ignore it,” he said. “A definition alone won’t solve it — we need action across schools, universities, the NHS (National Health Service) and the police.”

Lord Khan described the moment as “historic” for the UK’s Muslim community and said he hoped progress would be made before next year’s report.

Call for stronger action

Professor Enes Bayraklı from the Turkish-German University in Istanbul urged European governments to take stronger action.

“The first step is recognizing Islamophobia as a real and serious issue,” he said. “We need better laws, public education campaigns and stricter penalties for hate crimes.”

The report also called for improved tracking of hate crimes, support for grassroots organizations and accountability for media outlets spreading anti-Muslim sentiment.

The European Islamophobia Report also found that most European governments except Spain ignored the UN's Day to Combat Islamophobia.

It also showed that the Gaza conflict led to intensified anti-Muslim rhetoric, with Muslim voices often portrayed as extremist and protests restricted in countries like Germany and France.

Hate crimes surged in nations such as Norway, Spain and Greece, while both mainstream and far-right media were blamed for spreading anti-Muslim narratives.

The report also highlighted institutional bias, particularly in France and Denmark, where laws disproportionately affected Muslim communities.