The Deadly Consequences of Normalising Islamophobia

By William Gomes

Over the past week, Britain has witnessed an eruption of far-right violence targeting asylum seekers, mosques and Muslim communities. While politicians have been quick to condemn the "thuggery" on display, few have been willing to call out the deeper issue at play: the normalisation of Islamophobia in British politics and society.

For over two decades, anti-Muslim sentiment has been allowed to fester, with little pushback from mainstream political parties. The conflation of Islam with terrorism, the demonisation of asylum seekers and immigrants, the scaremongering about a supposed "Muslim takeover" of Britain - these toxic narratives have been peddled by far-right groups and shamefully echoed by some politicians and media outlets. Is it any wonder then that in a moment of crisis, these deep-seated prejudices are erupting into violence on our streets?

What we are witnessing is not just random thuggery, but the deadly consequences of years of Islamophobic rhetoric going unchecked. When politicians engage in dog-whistle politics, using coded language to stoke fears about Muslims and immigrants, they create a permissive environment for far-right extremism to grow. When they fail to robustly challenge Islamophobia within their own ranks, they send a signal that anti-Muslim bigotry is acceptable.

The current Conservative government bears particular responsibility. From Boris Johnson's infamous "letterbox" comments about niqab-wearing women, to Suella Braverman's ludicrous claim that 100 million asylum seekers could invade Britain, senior Tories have repeatedly indulged in Islamophobic rhetoric for political gain. Their "stop the boats" mantra, portraying desperate asylum seekers as invaders rather than human beings fleeing persecution, has further inflamed tensions. They have sown the wind and Britain is now reaping the whirlwind.

Of course, this is not solely a Conservative problem. Anti-Muslim prejudice exists across the political spectrum and few politicians have had the courage to consistently call it out. When Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said Islamophobia had passed the "dinner table test", her concerns were largely dismissed. For too long, the "I-word" has been taboo in British politics, with leaders preferring vague condemnations of racism over specifically naming the issue of Islamophobia.

But as Muslims across Britain now live in fear of being attacked for simply practicing their faith, this reluctance to confront Islamophobia head on has never looked more dangerous or cowardly. We cannot hope to defeat the far-right extremism behind these violent riots until we are honest about its ideological roots.

Yes, the individuals who smashed windows and hurled petrol bombs must face the full force of the law. But the politicians and commentators who have spent years normalising the dehumanisation of Muslims and immigrants must also be held accountable. They may not be criminally liable, but they bear moral responsibility for creating a climate in which far-right radicals feel emboldened to violently act out their hate.

Ultimately, Britain needs a long overdue reckoning with Islamophobia - one that goes beyond platitudes to meaningfully tackle anti-Muslim prejudice in our politics, media and society. Until then, I fear we may see more disturbing scenes like those of recent days. The dangerous consequences of normalising Islamophobia are now tragically clear. The question is whether those in power have the courage to confront it.

William Gomes, a British-Bangladeshi anti-racism campaigner, advocate for the rights of displaced people, and a contributor to various publications. He can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/williamnicholasgomes and on X at https://x.com/Wnicholasgomes .