Last night’s attack on a Southport mosque by a far right mob intent on weaponising the horrific murder of three children is the latest warning that racialised minorities, especially Muslims, are no longer safe in Britain.

No sooner had news broken of the attack on children attending a dance class than demagogues like Nigel Farage, Laurence Fox and Tommy Robinson began whipping up a false racialised narrative of Muslim culpability in order to incite hatred and violence against the community and “non-native” minorities.

It followed a similar pattern established in recent weeks where violent disturbances in Leeds and the stabbing of a soldier in Kent were immediately pinned on Muslims in order to foment racial hatred and incite reprisals.

For at least the last 25 years, far right views have been allowed to take root to the extent that they are now posing a real danger to the very cohesion of our society.

Indeed, politicians across the ideological spectrum from Suella Braverman to Jon Ashworth have recently fanned social unrest with their race baiting and dog-whistling.

It has led to a situation where today people can openly incite attacks on minorities using social media without legal consequence. This is another glaring example of why the platforms that permit such incitement need more effective regulation.

Britain is witnessing the environment of hate that IHRC first warned of in 2010 after a survey of Muslim attitudes, and again in 2015 by which time the situation had markedly worsened.

IHRC chair Massoud Shadjareh said: “Our reports warned of the extreme undercurrent of xenophobic intolerance that finds expression in everyday political discourse and practice. Britain is today characterised by a ‘hate environment’ that has been deliberately whipped up by the media, politicians and the commentariat, the purpose of which is to ‘otherise’ minorities and scapegoat them for the failures of the political class. Last night’s mob attack is the clearest siren call yet for politicians to grab the racist bull by the horns before it’s too late.”

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For more information or comment please contact the Press Office on (+44) 208 904 0222  or (+44) 7958 522196 or email media@ihrc.org
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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
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