UK charity launches manifesto urging new government to combat rising hate crime

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - A UK charity unveiled its manifesto Wednesday against hate ahead of the general elections on July 4.

Tell MAMA, which describes itself as the leading agency monitoring anti-Muslim hate crimes, urged candidates to address the alarming increase in anti-Muslim incidents and to foster social cohesion through a series of strategic initiatives.

Recent months have witnessed a disturbing rise in incidents, particularly following Oct. 7, in response to Israel’s onslaught against the Gaza Strip after an attack by the Palestine resistance group, Hamas.

Between Oct. 7 and Feb. 7, Tell MAMA recorded 2,010 Islamophobic incidents, a sharp increase from the 600 recorded during the same period the previous year.

The majority of the incidents targeted Muslim women and were prevalent on social media platforms, underscoring the need for more robust measures to combat online hate speech and physical attacks.

Iman Atta OBE, Director of Tell MAMA, emphasized the urgency of the measures: "The sharp rise in hate crimes in the UK, both online and on our streets, is deeply alarming. It is no secret that Muslim and Jewish communities are more distanced and fractured from each other than ever before."

"Our Manifesto for the next Government is crucial. It is a blueprint for security and social cohesion, urging political parties to create a future free from hate and division, a UK in which all its citizens are safe," she added.