UK |

British Muslim Communities Grapple with Increasing Unrest

August 09, 2024
Dr Rakib Ehsan

A critic has stated that Muslim communities in the UK are feeling "deeply unsettled".

Last weekend, riots broke out in the streets due to false information spreading about the murder of three young girls in Southport by stabbings.

Dr. Rakib Ehsan said in an interview with GB News that this has affected members of the Muslim community in the UK.

He said: "We've seen the far right disorder. It's had a decidedly anti-Muslim dimension.

"We saw in the aftermath of that horrific atrocity in Southport, the killing of the three little girls.

"We saw anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, speculating on what the background of the suspect is.

"Not just speculating, but saying the suspect is an illegal Muslim migrant of Middle Eastern origin who arrived in the UK by crossing the English Channel from France.

"I think we've also seen during the rioting where they targeting of mosques and Muslim communities more generally.

"I think these are troubling times and I think understandably, there will be families within our British Muslim communities who are deeply unsettled by this."


The riots began after misinformation was spread online claiming that the suspect in the Southport stabbings was a migrant.

Protesters took to the streets and targeted immigration centres and mosques and even tried to burn down a hotel known to house asylum seekers in Rotherham.

This caused counter-protests from the Muslim community that were peaceful in comparison on Wednesday evening.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has claimed that the rioters will receive the "full force of the law" and the police have remained on "high alert" for any protests this weekend.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper met with police officers and Deputy Commission Dame Lynne Owens at the Metropolitan Police’s specialist operations room in Lambeth on Thursday.

She said: "We’re going to continue with this strong policing response, making sure that there are additional police officers ready to respond."