Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Home Office
London

Dear Home Secretary,
Re: “Unite the Kingdom” march and rising anti-Muslim hatred
I am writing on behalf of the Rochdale Council of Mosques (RCM) to express our grave concern regarding the “Unite the Kingdom” march held in London on Saturday 16 May 2026, and the deeply disturbing anti-Muslim and Islamophobic rhetoric reportedly witnessed throughout the demonstration.

Widely circulated footage and social media content appear to show participants engaging in openly hostile and inflammatory chants and statements directed at Muslims and Islam. Among the reported slogans and comments were:

  1. “Who the F*** is Allah”
  2. “Islam should be banned”
  3. Calls for Muslims to be removed from the United Kingdom
    We are also alarmed by reports of:
  4. Placards stating “F*** Islam, Christ is King”
  5. Muslim women wearing the niqab being mocked, sexualised, and dehumanised
  6. Online posts suggesting British Muslims do not belong in the country and should be expelled
  7. Black and brown police officers being racially abused during the event.

    Taken together, these incidents represent more than isolated acts of offensive behaviour. They reflect a dangerous pattern of anti-Muslim hatred that risks normalising hostility towards British Muslims in public spaces and online discourse. Such rhetoric contributes to fear, intimidation, and division, particularly affecting Muslim women, young people, and visibly Muslim communities. RCM believes that some of the conduct witnessed may potentially engage provisions under the Public Order Act 1986 relating to incitement of religious hatred, as well as racially and religiously aggravated offences under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. We are further concerned that this behaviour appears contrary to the UK Government’s stated commitment to tackling anti-Muslim hatred and protecting minority communities from hate crime and extremism.

    The Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty place clear responsibilities upon public institutions to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between communities. When openly anti-Muslim abuse occurs publicly and appears to go unchallenged, it risks undermining public confidence in these protections and creating the perception that hatred towards Muslims is tolerated differently from other forms of racism or religious hostility.

    British Muslims are increasingly concerned about the normalisation of Islamophobia within sections of public discourse. Events such as this not only create immediate fear and insecurity, but also risk encouraging further acts of harassment, abuse, and violence against Muslim communities nationwide. In light of these concerns, we respectfully urge you as Home Secretary to consider the following actions:
  1. Publicly condemn anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobic incitement witnessed during the demonstration, making clear that hatred directed at Muslims will not be tolerated in British society.
  2. Request a full review of the policing response to the march, including the handling of reported hate speech, religiously aggravated abuse, and publicorder offences.
  3. Strengthen national guidance to police forces on identifying and responding consistently to anti-Muslim hate crime and Islamophobic incitement during protests and demonstrations.
  4. Commission a national review into the rise of anti-Muslim hatred, including the role of extremist rhetoric, social media amplification, and coordinated online hostility.
  5. Increase protections for mosques and Muslim institutions, including enhanced security funding, community reassurance measures, and rapid-response mechanisms following major hate incidents.
  6. Support educational and community cohesion initiatives that challenge misinformation, racism, and religious hatred while promoting shared British values of mutual respect and inclusion.
  7. Engage directly with British Muslim organisations and community leaders to rebuild trust and ensure affected communities are heard within national policy making and policing discussions.

    RCM fully supports the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. However, these freedoms must never become a shield for inciting hatred, intimidation, or hostility against protected religious or ethnic communities. British Muslims contribute positively to every aspect of national life and deserve to feel safe, respected, and equally protected under the law. At a time of rising community tensions, national leadership and clear action are essential to prevent further division and reassure communities that hate crime and Islamophobia will be treated with the seriousness they deserve.

    We would welcome the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Home Office to discuss these concerns further and explore constructive ways to strengthen community safety, cohesion, and public confidence.

    We look forward to your response.
    Yours sincerely,
    Tahir Mahmood
    Chair, Rochdale Council of Mosque