The "resilience, solidarity, and support" from the non-Muslim community in Burnley has been praised in a new report detailing the rise of hate crimes across the country.

Among the incidents highlighted in the Faith Associates report was the coming together of a community after graves were vandalised in the town.
 
Faith Associates through the Mosque Security initiative have published a new report that provides insight and data into incidents against mosques and Muslim institutions in the UK since October 7, 2023. 

The "Incidents against Mosques and Muslim Institutions" report reviews hate crime statistics in the UK and presents a number of case study reviews of recent hate crimes.
 
The report explores how geopolitical factors have intensified anti-Muslim sentiment and contributed to a surge in Islamophobic hate crimes in the UK.

It says there were 4,971 anti-Muslim incidents recorded between October 7, 2023 - September 30 this year, making this the highest total recorded in the past 14 years.

Incidents included vandalism, harassment, targeted attacks and arson against mosques and other forms of Muslim institutions and buildings in the UK.

In August, as first reported in the Lancashire Telegraph, a number of graves were daubed with paint at a Burnley cemetery.

On the same day the crime was discovered, the community gathered to clean the headstones.

The report highlights the incident in Burnley and adds:  "Volunteers arrived at the cemetery to begin cleaning the defaced gravestones, showcasing the strong unity and resilience of Burnley's residents. Burnley Council also contracted a specialist mason to restore the gravestones.

"Despite the gravity of the situation, community members were urged to remain calm and not retaliate against the provocation.

“Lancashire Police treated the case as a hate crime and immediately launched a thorough investigation, examining CCTV footage to identify those responsible.

“Their swift action highlighted the seriousness with which they approached this offence and their commitment to upholding justice. This case exemplifies how targeted attacks on religious sites and symbols, particularly within Muslim communities, are being confronted with resilience and solidarity in the UK.”

It points out that there were a number of cases where local communities rallied together in the aftermath of hate crimes to offer "protection, emotional support, and practical assistance".

It adds: "The community responses to attacks on mosques and other Muslim institutions throughout 2023 and 2024 demonstrate the resilience, solidarity, and support from diverse groups, despite the intensity and frequency of Islamophobic incidents."

More than 500 mosques in the UK requested the Home Office "Surge" protection between July to August and 1,200 mosques got some kind of protection from the police or the community after the riots in the summer.

Events such as the Southport knife attack and false information linking the perpetrator to Muslim asylum seekers have fuelled anti-Muslim narratives.

The report provides recommendations for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and Muslim communities to "strengthen protection, response, and prevention efforts against Islamophobic hate crimes targeting mosques".

While some support has been provided by the government to address the issue, especially after the riots, the report says more support is needed to build capacity within the mosques to ensure long term security and safety.
 
CEO of Faith Associates and director of Mosque Security Services, Shaukat Warraich, said “The increased level of violence and intimidation against mosques and Islamic centres has resulted in a major take up in the UK for security services. 

"The report highlights the challenges faced by Muslim communities, we need to look at long term solutions on how to tackle hate and misinformation”.

The report was authored by Dr Jinan Rabbee, a senior researcher with a dedicated focus on addressing hate crimes and building community resilience.