Mosques attacked, children racially abused as hard right rises in UK | Racism News
Muslim Communities in UK Face Rising Concerns Over Racism
Basildon, United Kingdom — “People here are tired, scared, and feel forgotten,” said Nabila*, a Muslim mother of two residing in Basildon, a town in Essex. Reflecting on a series of troubling incidents, she noted instances of discrimination against local Muslims, including glass being thrown at children and a racist attack on a mosque.
Nabila, sitting in her living room adorned with a Qur’an and Japanese prints, highlighted the fear that has gripped her community. She recalled a recent attack where red crosses and the phrases “Christ is King” and “This is England” were scrawled on the walls of the mosque. In another frightening occurrence, she reported that drivers accelerated towards Muslim women crossing the road with their children.
According to the 2021 census, Basildon is 93 percent white, with Muslims accounting for less than 2 percent of the population. Campaigners have expressed concerns that ethnic minority communities in such demographics face increased vulnerability due to their isolation.
A single mother who works full-time, Nabila has taken on the responsibility of documenting incidents of racism, supporting victims, and organizing meetings with local authorities. “I no longer feel safe in the place I call home,” she remarked, mentioning her decision to avoid a nearby park after experiencing racial abuse there. Women in her community, she noted, are increasingly vigilant, adjusting their routines to avoid confrontation.
At a women’s listening circle Nabila organized in collaboration with local authorities at the Wat Tyler Centre, another attendee, Zarka*, recounted her experiences as a hijab-wearing mother navigating Basildon’s streets. After enduring verbal abuse from a passerby during a school run, she refrained from taking her children to school for two weeks, citing an environment marked by hostility, from cars ignoring pedestrian crossings to the dismissive glances she received.
Rising Incidents in Schools
Hundreds of miles away in Scotland, similar issues have emerged. Etka Marwaha reported that her daughter Anisa faced racial taunting at her primary school in Glasgow when she was just seven years old. Over time, Anisa’s transformation from a lively child to a withdrawn individual was evident as she struggled with isolation and bullying in the playground.
Despite Marwaha’s repeated attempts to engage the school in addressing the situation, she felt her concerns went unheeded, leading her to eventually transfer Anisa to a different school. “The plan was never to move her,” she explained, emphasizing her daughter’s distress. “She would come home very upset, saying, ‘I can’t do this any more, Mum.’ So she made the decision to leave.”
Anisa’s new school, although further away and inconvenient, has a clear policy against racism, allowing her to discuss her experiences openly and express her feelings about the past.
Marwaha reflected on her own childhood experiences, noting that societal attitudes toward racism seemed stagnant or even regressive. “You’d think things have changed, but a seven-year-old can openly make a racist comment, and that’s accepted by society,” she said.
Dr. Sam*, a physician in northwest Scotland, voiced concern over the normalization of racist behavior in local schools. “There has been a clear normalization of racist jokes and name-calling,” he stated. “Every one of our kids has been affected.” The silence of bystanders against such conduct has prompted him to consider relocating his family from the UK.
Escalating Racist Attacks
The issue of racism is underscored by a recent alarming incident in Manchester, where a man reportedly entered the Manchester Central Mosque with an axe and other weapons. He was subsequently arrested, with approximately 2,000 worshippers present for evening prayers at the time.
Recent statistics reflect a troubling rise in reported hate crimes. In October 2025, the UK Home Office reported the first increase in hate crimes recorded by police in England and Wales in three years, including an alarming 19 percent rise in religious hate crimes against Muslims. This spike in incidents followed a series of racially charged events in mid-2025.
As right-wing politicians and activists continue to amplify anti-immigrant sentiments, organizations such as the Runnymede Trust have highlighted the dangerous narratives that scapegoat migrants, asylum seekers, and people of color. Shabna Begum, head of the trust, remarked on the pervasive nature of racism in schools, citing data indicating that school suspensions for racism have more than doubled and children as young as four are being sent home for such behavior.
“The rise in racism is out of control,” Begum stated, emphasizing how affected individuals are forced to navigate their environments with hyper-vigilance that can lead to long-term mental and physical health repercussions.
As communities grapple with these challenges, voices like Nabila and Marwaha continue to advocate for change, seeking safer environments for their families and a society that actively confronts racism in all its forms.
