Islamophobic Incidents in UK Hospitals Rise by 92% in One Year

Islamophobic Incidents in UK Hospitals Rise by 92% in One Year
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Islamophobic incidents in UK National Health Service (NHS) healthcare facilities have increased sharply, with verified cases rising by 92% in one year, according to the anti-Muslim hate monitoring group Tell MAMA.

The organization recorded 71 confirmed incidents in healthcare settings in 2025, up from 37 in 2024, with a further 29 cases reported in the first six months of 2026. The incidents included verbal abuse, discrimination and harassment in GP clinics, hospital wards, outpatient departments and emergency units.

Tell MAMA said both Muslim patients and healthcare workers have been affected. One Muslim NHS doctor reported being called a “terrorist” and targeted because of her hijab while in a hospital waiting area.

The group’s director, Iman Atta, warned that anti-Muslim prejudice was reaching people even while seeking medical care, stressing that hospitals should remain safe environments for everyone.

Tell MAMA called on NHS institutions to strengthen reporting systems, improve staff training on religious hate incidents, and enhance cooperation with independent hate-crime monitoring organizations to better address the issue.