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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In the United Kingdom, addressing the House of Commons early this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to fight “hate in all its forms”, condemning a “despicable” attack on a mosque in East Sussex earlier this month, elsewhere in the country, a Muslim women’s group said a charity run which excluded females aged over 12 could have been more inclusive and avoid the “reinforcement of negative stereotypes” surrounding British Muslims, and in the U.S., The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Florida chapter (CAIR-Florida) today condemned Governor Ron DeSantis for endorsing Florida House Bill 119, the so-called “No Sharia Act,” and urged Florida lawmakers to reject this and similar Islamophobic measures. Our recommended read of the day is by Geneva Abdul for The Guardian, on a recent study out by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) shows that the right to protest has “come under sustained attack” in the west, citing the the growing criminalization of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. This and more below:
International
Right to protest is under sustained attack in the west, report finds | Recommended Read
The right to protest has come under sustained attack in the west, according to a report highlighting the growing criminalisation of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The study by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) pays particular attention to the UK, the US, France and Germany, where it says governments have “weaponised” counter-terrorism legislation as well as the fight against antisemitism to suppress dissent and support for Palestinian rights in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. “This trend reflects a worrying shift towards the normalisation of exceptional measures in dealing with dissenting voices,” said Yosra Frawes, the head of the Maghreb and Middle East desk at FIDH. The report, which draws on open-source research, first-hand testimonies and reports from international bodies, comes a day after a US-sponsored plan led to a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all living Israeli hostages and thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The research, which was conducted between October 2023 and September 2025, also raises questions over the censorship of public office holders, violations against journalists, civil society and academic freedom in the UK, France, Germany and the US. read the complete article
United Kingdom
Keir Starmer vows to 'fight hate in all its forms'
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to fight "hate in all its forms" in a statement to the House of Commons. Addressing MPs earlier, the prime minister condemned the "despicable" attack on the mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex, which took place on 4 October. He told MPs: "An attack on British Muslims is also an attack on us all". Four men - aged 22, 25, 27 and 46 - have so far been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after the incident, Sussex Police said. Sir Keir was speaking to MPs about increasing protection for Jewish people due to a rise in antisemitism in Britain. Meanwhile, Chris Ward, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has called for government funding to help pay for repairs to the mosque. He said: "After the shocking arson attack on Peacehaven Mosque, I've called for extra funding to help the community rebuild and recover. "We must ensure they have the resources they need to repair, reopen, and feel safe again." read the complete article
Muslim Women’s Network says charity run could have been more inclusive
A Muslim women’s group said a charity run which excluded females aged over 12 could have been more inclusive and avoided “reinforcement of negative stereotypes”. The event in London’s Victoria Park on Sunday was billed as an “inclusive 5km race” welcoming “runners and supporters of all ages and abilities”, but it was open only to “men, boys of all ages and girls under 12”. The Muslim Women’s Network UK said while single-sex charity runs can be legally permissible, organisers could have taken “practical steps” such as different starting times or separate groups “to accommodate women and girls without compromising religious beliefs”. The network’s chief executive, Baroness Shaista Gohir, said: “Such adjustments would have been straightforward and would have demonstrated a commitment to inclusion while avoiding the reinforcement of negative stereotypes about Muslims.” The Muslim Women’s Network said it was “concerned about the disproportionate media attention given to the event, which suggests that the reaction reflects a broader hostility towards Muslims rather than genuine concern for women’s equality”. Baroness Gohir added: “The level of scrutiny in this case appears to have less to do with advancing equality for Muslim women and more to do with an opportunity to be negative about Muslims. “If the concern for women’s rights were genuine, there would be equal focus on the widespread anti-Muslim abuse that Muslim women endure in today’s hostile environment.” read the complete article
United States
CAIR Action Alert: Tell Ron DeSantis to Stop Wasting Time with Israel First Political Stunts Like ‘No Sharia Act’
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and its Florida chapter (CAIR-Florida) today condemned Governor Ron DeSantis for endorsing Florida House Bill 119, the so-called “No Sharia Act,” and urged Florida lawmakers to reject this Israel-First political stunt designed to distract the public from Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza by manufacturing panic about Muslims in America. HB 119, introduced by Florida Representative Hillary Cassel, who ran and won as a Democrat before switching parties, closely mirrors, by about 80 percent, the language of David Yerushalmi’s discredited “American Laws for American Courts” (ALAC) model legislation. ALAC was designed to stigmatize Muslims by falsely suggesting that American courts could be overruled by so-called “foreign law.” This is not the first time such legislation has surfaced in Florida. read the complete article