Islamophobia, attacks on mosques: Muslims in London welcome Ramadan with anxiety

Islamophobia is on the rise in London amid the war in Gaza. Since mid-February, three mosques in the city have been attacked, and Muslims welcome the month of Ramadan with fear and anxiety.

For London's Muslim community, this year's holy month of Ramadan got off to a tumultuous start. The rise of Islamophobia in the wake of Israel's war in Gaza has fueled fears and anxieties, prompting the government to step up security measures.

In particular, since mid-February, there have been several incidents in London, including attacks on three mosques - Palmers Green, Southgate and Aisha Mosque. The attackers damaged surveillance systems and stole computer hard drives, according to the London Society of Islamic Culture.

Cases of Islamophobia in the UK have more than tripled since October 7, when Israel launched a deadly war in the Gaza Strip, according to Tell MAMA, a national advocacy project that tracks anti-Muslim incidents.

In early March, incidents were reported at Wembley Mosque and other mosques in Leicester . Members of the public in these areas have been urged to observe strict security measures during the month of Ramadan.

The Muslim community is witnessing a significant increase in hate crimes across London. These include abuse of individuals or groups in person or online, racial or religious harassment and other offenses, the public statement said.

Earlier, we reported that the British government will allocate 117 million pounds (about 150 million dollars) over 4 years to protect British Muslim communities against the background of the escalation of fighting by some anti-Muslim forces. These funds are mainly used to protect mosques, Muslim religious schools and other community centers.