Police recorded 3,866 religious hate crimes against Muslims in 2023/24, 4,479 in 2024/25 and 5,132 in the year to March 2026, a rise of a third in two years.
Muslims are now targeted in nearly half of all religious hate crimes.
Summary
Muslim Engagement and Development said police recorded rising anti-Muslim religious hate crimes in England and Wales, citing figures for 2023/24 to 2025/26 and asserting Muslims are targeted in nearly half of religious hate crimes; MEND called on the government to adopt an APPG definition and other measures.
Document Muslim Engagement and Development, Muslims targeted in nearly half of all religious hate crimes, statement, October 8, 2026, mend.org.uk.
We call upon parties to root out those in their rank and file who are normalising Islamophobia. We demand that regulators exercise their full powers to block the spread of hate.
Summary
MEND said MI5 warned that "anti-Muslim grievance is tipping into terrorist intent," and cited recent attacks in Greenock, Leeds and Peacehaven. MEND called on political parties, regulators and the government to root out Islamophobia, use regulatory powers and carry out an urgent review into threats faced by Muslim communities.
Document Muslim Engagement and Development, MEND statement on MI5’s warning of rising Islamophobic terrorism, statement, October 14, 2026, mend.org.uk.