Rising Islamophobia Sparks Safety Concerns Across Europe, Britain and the United States

Rising Islamophobia Sparks Safety Concerns Across Europe, Britain and the United States
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Islamophobic incidents targeting Muslim communities are increasing across public spaces in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to recent reports and community organizations, raising concerns about safety, discrimination and the normalization of anti-Muslim rhetoric.

In Britain, new data obtained by The Guardian show a steady rise in hate crimes on public transport. Records from British Transport Police indicate that racial hate crimes across England, Wales and Scotland increased from 2,827 cases in 2019–2020 to 3,258 in 2024–2025. Religiously motivated hate crimes rose from 343 to 419 cases over a similar period. Muslim organizations report that many individuals are limiting their use of buses and trains due to fears of abuse or assault, particularly in isolated settings such as half-empty carriages or the upper decks of buses. Community leaders say children traveling to and from school are increasingly being targeted.

Across the European Union, the Al-Azhar Observatory reported that 47 percent of Muslims experienced direct discrimination in 2025, up from 39 percent the previous year. Muslim women, especially those wearing the hijab, were found to be disproportionately affected. In Finland, workplace discrimination reportedly reached 63 percent, while Austria recorded around 1,500 hate crime cases, the highest level since 2015. The report also found that nearly three-quarters of Muslim migrants faced discrimination in access to housing. The Observatory warned that Islamophobia is becoming embedded in political and media practices and called for binding laws criminalizing anti-Muslim hatred.

In the United States, Muslim leaders in Austin, Texas, have condemned what they described as targeted harassment following an incident at Walnut Creek Park, where two men confronted Muslim families with Islamophobic insults during a community gathering. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) linked the incident to heightened political rhetoric targeting Muslim organizations in Texas. While city officials said no laws were violated, Austin authorities announced changes to police procedures when responding to potential hate speech incidents.

Community advocates across regions warn that rising Islamophobia risks further marginalizing Muslim communities and undermining social cohesion unless addressed through stronger protections, accountability measures and political leadership.