Britain at dark point as social media and Gaza conflict whip up tensions and drive hatred

JEWISH communities feeling threatened because of the actions of Israel in Gaza. Muslim communities being abused simply because they are Muslim. MPS, such as Mike Freer, stepping down because of the firebombing of his office.

What is happening in our country that leaves people feeling intimidated, racially abused and made to feel that their mental and physical well-being is at stake? How have we reached this dark point? Well, partly it is because social media platforms have been the driver of hate and these corporations have a strategy of using their algorithms to get more eyeballs on inflammatory comments.

Their business model is to promote social media “influencers”, some of whom have an agenda of whipping up tensions between our communities.

However, we cannot leave out the impact of the Gaza conflict, the activities of far-right, far-left and Islamist extremist groups and those who have an axe to grind in pitting communities against each other.

I have stepped down from the role of government advisor for anti-muslim hatred after a torrent of racial, anti-muslim abuse. I spent more than a decade of my life setting up Tell MAMA, the nationally recognised anti-muslim hate crime reporting project. Its director, Iman Atta, tirelessly works for the victims of anti-muslim hate, because she and her team seek to get justice. In 2023-24 alone it will have assisted more than 6,000 British Muslims. It is a trailblazer project, yet it is interesting to note that some of the very groups shouting about Islamophobia seek to attack it. Why? Scratch the surface, and the ideology at play here is based on dividing communities, rather than resolving issues.

I have never been naïve and our nation faces a real threat from Islamist extremist groups and we need to always make a distinction between the law-abiding, peaceful and productive majority of British Muslims and the ideologically driven, politicised groups who want to change and ultimately corrode the secular democratic nature of our country’s institutions.

These Islamist groups have touted Islamophobia training to police forces, local authorities and other statutory bodies who have in good faith engaged with them.

Many such groups have expanded their online follower base after Gaza, drawing in people who have legitimate concerns about what is happening over there, but being unaware that they had become linked to toxic and divisive Islamist groups.

We all have a duty to therefore challenge far-right, far-left and Islamist extremists, ensuring that our Muslim and Jewish, faith and nonfaith, black and white communities and the diverse and beautiful nature of our society are protected.

I for one, will try and hang on to these ideals, while working away from government.

‘The ideology at play here is based on dividing communities, rather than resolving issues’