The United Kingdom has been hit by a wave of violent unrest in recent weeks. Mainly driven by right-wing activismThe upheaval began after a tragic knife attack at a children’s dance event in Southport, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls. False rumours quickly spread on social media, incorrectly identifying the attacker as a Muslim refugee.
This misinformation sparked a series of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant protests, resulting in nightly riots and widespread attacks on mosques and migrant facilities.
The violence forced a significant police response And many cities have seen thousands of anti-racism protesters take to the streets to protest right-wing unrest. Anti-racism demonstrationsDemonstrations in cities including London, Birmingham and Sheffield saw protesters chanting slogans and holding banners condemning right-wing violence.
Anti-racism protesters have held rallies across England, including significant gatherings in cities such as London, Birmingham and Sheffield. In London, protesters chanted “Whose streets? Our streets!” and held banners that read “Stop the far-right.” The gatherings were largely peaceful, although there were some confrontations in some places, such as in Aldershot, where police intervened between anti-racism activists and a group opposing them.
pushing the news
This misinformation sparked a series of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant protests, resulting in nightly riots and widespread attacks on mosques and migrant facilities.
The violence forced a significant police response And many cities have seen thousands of anti-racism protesters take to the streets to protest right-wing unrest. Anti-racism demonstrationsDemonstrations in cities including London, Birmingham and Sheffield saw protesters chanting slogans and holding banners condemning right-wing violence.
Anti-racism protesters have held rallies across England, including significant gatherings in cities such as London, Birmingham and Sheffield. In London, protesters chanted “Whose streets? Our streets!” and held banners that read “Stop the far-right.” The gatherings were largely peaceful, although there were some confrontations in some places, such as in Aldershot, where police intervened between anti-racism activists and a group opposing them.
pushing the news
- Muslims in Britain are facing a resurgence of right-wing violence, with recent attacks targeting mosques, defacing Muslim graves, and spreading fear across communities in northern England.
- In Burnley, local mosque secretary Noor Miah found that many Muslim graves had been vandalised, and set about pacifying distressed families. “When I got to the cemetery there were already some families there who were really worried and emotional,” Miah said.
- “It’s disgusting. Nobody deserves this… things like this shouldn’t happen today,” Mia told AFP.
- Abdulwase Sufian, a 20-year-old student who helps out at Al-Rahma, expressed his deep attachment to his birthplace and upbringing in Liverpool. “I was born here, I grew up here. So seeing this, it doesn’t feel like home,” he told Reuters, identifying himself as a “Scouser”, the local term for a native of Liverpool.
- “I am terrified by what has happened, not just for myself, but for the future,” he said, revealing his apprehensions about the current situation and its possible impact on the days to come.
- Farmanullah Nasiri, a taxi driver in Liverpool, said he was attacked by a female passenger after he picked up two people on Aigburth Road on Tuesday morning. According to Nasiri, the woman struck him in the face and damaged his dashcam, then exited his silver Ford Focus car, Reuters reports.
- The 28-year-old driver decided not to report the incident to the police. “This is a form of racism … I’ve lived in Liverpool for more than 10 years. Everyone is friendly. There have been no problems like this before. This is the first time,” Nasiri said.
why it matters
- The recent riots are the worst in Britain in nearly 20 years.
- “The worst race riots since the second world war do not fit the image of a new stable Britain sought by the incoming Labour government,” said a report in the Economist.
- The current wave of violence is reminiscent of the racial tensions of 2001, when riots broke out in Burnley and Oldham after a series of racist provocations. Two decades later, fears are resurfacing, particularly among the Muslim community, as anti-immigrant and Islamophobic sentiments are fuelled by false stories and misinformation on social media.
- The violence has not only affected Muslims, but has also created a widespread sense of fear among other ethnic minorities.
- For example, some mosques in Liverpool have been temporarily closed due to safety concerns, and there has been a significant increase in reports of anti-Muslim incidents across the country.
- Many countries including India have issued advisory Travellers arriving in the UK are being encouraged to remain vigilant during their visit. These countries are advising tourists and other visitors to take precautions while in the UK to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
The Big Picture
- The most recent unrest was sparked by a mass stabbing in Southport on July 29, which left three children dead. False reports circulated online, incorrectly identifying the suspect as a Muslim migrant, prompting right-wing groups to riot in several cities and towns.
- Mosques were attacked, asylum centres were targeted and Muslim communities bore the brunt of this hostility.
- In Sheffield, just a few miles from where rioters attacked police and set fire to a refugee hotel, Muslim women like Amina Blake live in fear. “I’ve been approached by Muslim sisters who wear hijab and say, ‘I feel anxious going out wearing my hijab,’” Blake said.
- The violence has forced many Muslims to stay indoors and avoid going to public places out of concern for their safety.
zoom in
- Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, Also known as: Tommy Robinsonand other prominent figures who oppose immigration and Islam have been encouraging protests through online platforms. These individuals have faced criticism from political leaders and news outlets, who have accused them of spreading misinformation to escalate tensions.
- Robinson has denied these allegations, claiming that the media is misrepresenting him. He has said, “Robinson has accused the media of lying about him.”
- The British government has criticised social media companies for not doing enough to stop the spread of misinformation that fuelled the riots.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned such comments
Elon Musk who suggested that “civil war is inevitable” in Britain. - Authorities are also taking legal action against individuals who spread misinformation online, with one man charged with using threatening words or behaviour with intent to incite racial hatred in a Facebook post.
- “One reason the far right has transformed from an organised political force into a shadowy one is that Britain is becoming an increasingly liberal country,” reports the Economist.
- “Only 17% of people now think it is very important to be born in Britain to be truly British, compared with 48% in 1995,” the Economist reports.
What are they saying?
- Commenting on these riots, Elon Musk said on X: “Civil war is inevitable”.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to maintain pressure on those inciting violence, and has held emergency meetings with law enforcement agencies to deal with potential unrest.
- Starmer praised cooperation between police and Muslim community leaders which had so far prevented the riots from spreading further.
- Starmer insisted “it’s vital we don’t let up here”, as nearly 500 people have been arrested across Britain in connection with the unrest.
- The government has announced additional security measures for places of worship and is working with Muslim community leaders to maintain peace.
what will happen next
- Despite the tight security measures, fear remains in Muslim communities. Miyaah, who helped build his local mosque, has urged his family to stay home for safety.
- “I have to think about the safety of my family,” he said, adding that he hoped the violence would not reach Burnley.
- Meanwhile, the government has put 6,000 specialist police on standby, and extra security measures have been implemented at places of worship. But as Friday prayers approach, uneasiness persists.
- “There is fear, but also a feeling that we should carry on as normal,” said Amina Blake, a community leader on the boards of two local mosques in Sheffield. “It shows the resilience of a community under siege.”
(with inputs from agencies)
