Behind the UK’s new anti-Islamophobia project: support or surveillance?

The UK Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities recently announced an official partnership with the British Muslim Trust to “combat Islamophobia” and “support victims of anti-Muslim hate.” The organization is tasked with operating a national hotline and online platform to record incidents of discrimination and report them to the government.

While London presents this move as a step toward tackling religious hatred, analysts and social observers argue that the project appears more political than protective—a move aimed at rebranding the government’s image and controlling Islamic narratives in Britain’s multicultural society.

Last winter, the UK government cut funding for Tell MAMA (“Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks”), which since 2012 had been the country’s primary body documenting and analyzing anti-Muslim hate crimes. Tell MAMA warned that the decision could force its closure and erase years of work in documenting Islamophobic hate crimes. The organization also criticized the government for weakening oversight mechanisms and silencing independent Muslim voices at a time when hate crimes are on the rise.

The government claims that its new partnership with the British Muslim Trust will create a “more comprehensive and reliable” system for data collection and victim support. However, the Trust’s leadership ties to government circles have sparked doubts among Muslim activists about its independence and neutrality—especially amid the growing number of Islamophobic attacks.

According to official Home Office data, over 10,480 hate crimes based on religion were recorded in the year ending March 2024, of which 3,860 targeted Muslims—a 13% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, Tell MAMA reported a 73% rise in Islamophobic incidents during 2024, ranging from street harassment and physical assaults to arson and online threats.

Akeela Ahmed, director of the British Muslim Trust, says many British Muslims in cities like Manchester, Bradford, and East London feel “tired and distrustful” of the government. She noted that Muslims routinely face everyday discrimination—being ignored in workplaces or shops—and despite their education and civic engagement, are still viewed as a threat.

Speaking to The Guardian, Ahmed revealed that she herself was recently denied service at a store because of her hijab. She emphasized that her organization intends to collect detailed data to pressure the government and social media companies to take accountability for hate-promoting content.

Ahmed previously served on a government advisory panel on anti-Muslim hatred and women’s empowerment and was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). Nevertheless, her appointment—and the selection of her newly formed organization as the government’s main partner—has drawn criticism and raised questions about political motives and selection criteria. Critics argue that choosing a new, government-linked body over long-established and independent organizations such as Tell MAMA or the Islamic Human Rights Commission reflects not a shift in policy but rather a shift in control.

In addition to launching this new body, the UK government is reportedly drafting an “official definition of Islamophobia”, intended to guide legal frameworks for reporting and prosecuting hate crimes. However, sources close to the Home Office say the definition will be worded to “preserve freedom to criticize Islam,” potentially leaving loopholes for disguised discrimination.

Analysts warn that such measures could legitimize government control rather than empower Muslims—especially as funding cuts to independent organizations coincide with the promotion of a state-aligned institution.

Chris Allen, a sociologist and expert on Islamophobia studies at the University of Leicester, notes that discrimination against Muslims in Britain is not limited to extremist groups or individuals but is embedded in institutional structures and political rhetoric. He argues that the government’s focus on “managing the Muslim community” rather than addressing systemic bias only reinforces the security-centered narrative from which Islamophobia itself has emerged.

Beyond institutions, mainstream political and media discourse also perpetuate Islamophobia. Senior politicians often distinguish between “ordinary Muslims” and “extremist Muslims,” fueling stereotypes. For instance, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while condemning attacks on both Jews and Muslims in Parliament, recently stated that “part of the problem stems from extremist Muslims”—a phrase that implicitly frames Muslims as prone to extremism. Notably, he has never used the phrase “extremist Jews,” highlighting a linguistic double standard that shapes public perception and sustains Islamophobic attitudes.

Overall, the sharp rise in anti-Muslim incidents alongside the government’s restructuring of anti-Islamophobia mechanisms has triggered public skepticism about its true intentions. On the surface, London seeks to project an image of commitment to minority rights. Yet its simultaneous withdrawal of support from independent institutions and ambiguous definition of Islamophobia suggest a more controlling and political approach—one that risks turning the fight against discrimination into a tool for managing Britain’s Muslim community.