05/12/2025 - Luton event confronts alarming growth in anti-Muslim hate
Luton Council marked the end of Islamophobia Awareness Month 2025 with a powerful and timely event, “Beyond the Headlines – Challenging Islamophobia in Modern Britain,” hosted at the University of Bedfordshire’s Luton campus.
Through open and honest conversations, attendees explored the root causes of Islamophobia and the practical steps everyone – both Muslim and non-Muslim – can take to challenge hate and strengthen mutual understanding.
Held under the town-wide #LutonNoPlaceforHate banner and organised by Luton Council’s Social Justice Unit, the event forms part of Luton’s ongoing commitment to tackling all forms of hate and discrimination.
Speakers stressed that the need for action has never been more pressing. Cases of anti-Muslim hatred are rising sharply across the UK, and this increase is being felt not only through growing hostility but also through deeply worrying acts of violence.
Recent far-right riots and arson attacks on mosques show just how serious the situation has become. National figures paint the same picture: Home Office statistics for the year ending March 2025 reveal that Muslims were targeted in 44% of all recorded religiously motivated hate crimes – a 19% rise compared with the previous year.
Speakers outlined that Islamophobia requires all of us to confront misinformation, harmful stereotypes and sensationalist portrayals that fuel prejudice and division. By sharing real stories and celebrating the many contributions of Luton’s diverse Muslim communities, the event aimed to replace fear with familiarity and suspicion with empathy.
Councillor Javed Hussain, Deputy Leader of Luton Council, said: “As a council, we’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our communities and partners – united in our determination to challenge hate wherever it appears. We all have a role to play in challenging people’s negative perceptions and harmful stereotypes that can lay the ground for hatred. That’s how we make Luton a safer, more inclusive place for everyone.”
Panellist Rosemary Clarke reflected on her experience as a Muslim convert working in the social care sector: “As a visible Northern Irish Muslim convert, I have felt firsthand the impact that Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred can have. When I embraced Islam and began wearing the hijab, many colleagues were supportive, but I also experienced a clear sense of being ‘othered’ in my workplace – from subtle exclusion to assumptions and comments about who I was and what I believed. These experiences showed me how deeply misconceptions about Muslims can shape people’s behaviour, and how urgently we need to change the narrative. With incidents of anti-Muslim hatred continuing to rise, events like these are vital in challenging stereotypes and highlighting the diversity of our stories.”
Sultan Mahmood, facilitator of the event and Director of Diverse Consultancy Training, added: “We know that Islamophobia does not emerge in a vacuum. Harmful stereotypes, misinformation, and sensationalist portrayals of Muslims in politics, the media and online spaces fuel prejudice and suspicion.
"Events like these play a hugely important role in deepening mutual understanding between communities and equipping people to challenge and report hate wherever they come across it. But this work cannot be limited to Islamophobia Awareness Month – we all have a responsibility to confront prejudice and reshape perceptions throughout the year. And crucially, the Muslim community cannot tackle Islamophobia alone; we need allies across all communities to stand with us, challenge harmful narratives, and help build a society where everyone feels safe and respected.”
If you witness or experience Islamophobia or any kind of hatred – whether its online or in person, verbal or physical – please report it. Every report matters and helps keep our community safe, welcoming, and inclusive for everyone.
Find out how to report a hate incident and access support.