UK Commits £117M to Protect Muslim Communities

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Facts

  • The UK government announced on Monday that it will commit £117M ($150M) over the next four years to security programs that protect Britain’s Muslim communities, including mosques, Muslim faith schools, and other community centers.1
  • Home Secretary James Cleverly says that the investment is 'crucially needed' amid growing tensions following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the Gaza war, noting that anti-Muslim sentiments have been rising and that there is “no place” for anti-Muslim hatred in the UK.2
  • According to Tell MAMA, an activist group reporting on Islamophobia, a 335% increase in anti-Muslim posts, assaults, and activities occurred last month compared to the same time last year.3
  • The UK has already earmarked £29.4M ($37.6M) for services protecting Muslims, including £4.9M ($6.2M) following the start of the Gaza war. The funds will go towards CCTV cameras, alarms, and fencing and come at the beginning of Ramadan.4
  • It also comes after Sunak last month committed to providing more than £70M ($89M) to protect the Jewish community. The four years of funding will go to the Community Security Trust as part of the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant.1
  • Sunak came under fire for not strongly condemning statements made by fellow Tory Lee Anderson, who said that London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour leader Keir Starmer were 'controlled by Islamists.' His government is now planning to release a new definition of 'extremism.'3

Sources: 1GOV.UK, 2Independent, 3Al Jazeera and 4BBC News.

Narratives

  • Progressive narrative, as provided by The Frontier Post. No matter what Rishi Sunak and his government might say, it's clear that he is complicit in the anti-Muslim rhetoric of his fellow Tories. Sunak is engaging in performative gestures by giving lukewarm speeches condemning 'extremism' and providing some money to certain causes, but he has failed time and again to meaningfully put an end to the Islamophobia plaguing Britain.
  • Conservative narrative, as provided by The Telegraph. As tensions continue to rise across Britain and the world, Rishi Sunak is trying his best to unify Brits of all creeds and beliefs. Extremism has no place in the UK, and Sunak’s government is doing its best to fight the horrific rise of antisemitism as well as Islamophobia that has happened since Oct. 7. Sunak and the Tories will continue to protect the UK's Jewish and Muslim communities from religious and ethnic hatred.

Predictions