Islamophobia Awareness Month

What is Islamophobia Awareness Month?

November is Islamophobia Awareness Month and aims to showcase the positive contribution of Muslims in the UK and to raise awareness of Islamophobia in society.

Islamophobia Awareness Month was co-founded in 2012 by Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) and is dedicated to highlighting the danger posed by Islamophobic hate crimes.

Home Office data ending March 2024 shows that 38% of religious hate crimes recorded by the police were against Muslims. Over 70% of young Muslims in the UK who say they experience mental health struggles; also say they have been victims of Islamophobia. 42% of Mosques experienced a religiously motivated attack in the last 3 years, and of those, 83% have been attacked at least once a year.

Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets the expression of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness. This awareness month encourages us to take action to tackle Islamophobia.

Mental Health

Islamophobia can lead to a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, and psychological distress. The unpredictability of Islamophobic incidents can lead to a state of hypervigilance, which can have a negative impact on mental health as well as physical health.

Those who have experienced such attitudes, words, and actions can suffer – mentally and emotionally, as well as physically and financially.

Physical Health

Islamophobia can lead to a range of physical health issues, including high blood pressure, high levels of C-reactive protein, coronary artery calcification, and an unhealthier diet.

The Muslim community in the UK experiences a range of health inequalities compared with the wider population.

• 24% of Muslims aged 50 years and over reported poor or very poor health which is double of the national average.
• A large number of the Muslim community also live in deprived areas, which influences health and wellbeing.

Access to Healthcare

Islamophobia can lead to reduced access to healthcare services, including maternity care, and less healthcare-seeking behaviour. Muslim patients may also experience discrimination from healthcare providers, including when wearing religious attire.

Muslim patients are more likely to be dismissed and misdiagnosed, it’s reported that concerns are not taken seriously and as a result infection and mortality rates are exponentially higher for them than other groups. Muslim women face stark inequalities in access to maternity and young British Muslims suffer from clinical prejudice and cultural stigma.

Developmental Wellbeing

Adverse childhood experiences greatly influence any person’s future health and wellbeing. Early exposure to harassment and racism impacts the developmental well-being of Muslim kids.

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