ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT

EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2015
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The UK faced a difficult year, marked by what many perceived as a downward turn
in race relations, seeing in particular, a demonstrable rise in Islamophobia.The general
election in May saw the Conservative Party returned with a majority (it had previously
been in government in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats). The party had
inter alia campaigned on a platform of securitisation and anti-immigration.
Events during the year that had impact on the environment of hatred included
terror related incidents: the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo office, and the attacks in
Paris in November; the attacks on British tourists in Tunisia and various Daesh /
ISIL related events. The reportage, opinions from the commentariat and political
elites, and policy related announcements following these events contributed to an
anti-Muslim climate. Other issues that raised Islamophobia or intersected with its
rise included the so-called migrant crisis, the continued fall-out from the Trojan
Horse affair and the rise of Daesh/ ISIL.
The legal climate was marked by the implementation of the Counter-Terrorism
and Security Act, which made it a statutory requirement for public sector workers,
e.g. doctors and teachers, to refer people they thought to be extremists to the authorities.
This requirement made the previous policy of PREVENT, introduced in 2005,
law. With no concrete definition of extremism, referrals have been reported as being
based on misconceptions and prejudices.
Media representation of Muslims continued to be problematic, with continued
conflation of Islam, Muslims and terrorism, misogyny, sexual deviancy and disloyalty.
In order to deal with the repercussions of increased Islamophobia a number
of civil society initiatives were undertaken, including campaigns to end anti-terror
laws, interfaith initiatives and the building of community alliances.
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