By: Dr. Zeeshan Hashim[1]; Musira Iqbal[2]

Muslim migrants in the UK face significant challenges to social and economic integration, exacerbated by the political tool of scapegoating. This practice deepens social divides and hinders productive policy discussions on migration. Recent events highlight this issue, demonstrating how misinformation and populist rhetoric can fuel prejudice and violence.

Between July 30 and August 7, 2024, the UK witnessed 29 anti-immigration protests and riots across 27 cities. These incidents were triggered by false information claiming an undocumented Muslim migrant asylum seeker had stabbed three girls in Southport. This misinformation, rapidly disseminated online, incited violent protests, attacks on mosques and migrant housing, and clashes with law enforcement. Over 1,280 arrests were made, with fast-tracked court cases intended to deter further unrest. While officials often dismiss such events as “far-right thuggery,” others argue they stem from deeper socio-economic grievances, political frustration, and anxieties surrounding immigration policies (Horwood, 2024).

The broader consequence of such misinformation extends beyond immediate violence. It reinforces harmful stereotypes associating religious identity (Muslims in this case) with specific ethnic or geographical backgrounds (South Asians in this case), fuelling public fear despite evidence contradicting these claims. This phenomenon is particularly evident in discussions surrounding child sexual exploitation.

Data from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) for the first three quarters of 2024, where ethnicity was recorded, shows that 83% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse were identified as white men, while only 2.7% were identified as Pakistani. Despite these statistics, right-wing political actors disproportionately target Pakistani migrants as the primary perpetrators of this crime in the UK. Focusing disproportionately on “Pakistani men” obscures the broader issue and contributes to the scapegoating of entire communities (News, 2025). This selective focus diverts attention from systemic issues, such as institutional failures and family environments, which are frequent contexts for such abuse. It allows populist figures like Nigel Farage to call for investigations into “gangs of Pakistani men raping young white girls,” further fueling prejudice. This rhetoric ignores the fact that the vast majority of child sexual exploitation occurs within families and other trusted settings, regardless of the perpetrator’s ethnicity or religion.

The Rotherham case, where Professor Jay identified 1,400 victims of child sexual abuse, exemplifies the consequences of ignoring systemic failures. In Rotherham, authorities failed to act, partly due to fears of being labelled “politically incorrect.” This inaction allowed a narrative to develop that manipulated public perception and shifted blame onto a specific group. Far-right parties have capitalized on widespread socio-economic hardship, transforming these struggles into “culture wars.” They offer simplistic solutions targeting cultural and social issues, such as ending immigration, reinstating traditional family values, and combating Islam, rather than addressing underlying systemic problems (Gabon, 2024).

The interplay between populism and religion creates a powerful dynamic, particularly concerning migration and national identity in the UK. Populist movements often exploit religion to construct “us vs. them” narratives, where religious identity becomes a marker of belonging. In the case of Muslim migrants, this rhetoric often portrays them as a threat to Christian civilization, widening social divides and fostering a sense of besieged identity among certain segments of the population (Shterin, 2018).

This, unfortunately, creates a cycle of cumulative extremism, where Islamic extremism and right-wing populism feed off each other (Eatwell, n.d.). The rise of anti-Muslim sentiment fuels far-right populist movements, which, in turn, can provoke radical responses from extremist elements within Muslim communities. This dangerous feedback loop hinders efforts to address the root causes of societal divisions and prevents meaningful, inclusive discourse on migration and national identity (Thompson, 2021).

This trend is not unique to the UK. Globally, populist movements have employed similar rhetoric. The US, for instance, has witnessed political discourse focused on deporting undocumented immigrants and banning Muslim immigration. Similarly, the Brexit campaign focused on ending the free movement of people from the EU.

While diversity strengthens society, xenophobia and populism undermine it. Countering this requires developing bottom-up counter-extremism policies and recognizing extremist threats as a cycle of escalating tensions between groups. While restricting media or political expression is untenable due to the importance of free speech, counter-terrorism efforts must shift away from creating “suspect communities” (Thompson, 2021). Instead, the focus should be on community building and addressing cumulative extremism. This is crucial for combating right-wing populist narratives that fuel radicalization and “homegrown” violence. Fostering inclusive, cohesive communities can mitigate the divisiveness promoted by populist ideologies and contribute to a safer, more united society. Challenging divisive narratives, protecting the rights of immigrant communities (including Muslims), and investing in integration programs are essential steps towards building a more just and harmonious society (Thompson, 2021).

References

Gabon, A. (2024, August 24). UK riots: How the far-right movement became mainstream. From Middle East Eye: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-riots-how-far-right-movement-became-mainstream

Horwood, C. ( 2024, October 3). Fake News-Driven Anti-Migrant Riots and Protests in the UK. From Mixed Migration Centre : https://mixedmigration.org/fake-news-populist-violence-uk-anti-migrant-riots/

News, P. ( 2025, January 10). Most grooming gang offences carried out by white men, police chiefs say. From The Inverness Courier: https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/national/most-grooming-gang-offences-carried-out-by-white-men-police-chiefs-say-124948/

Shterin, D. N. (2018, August 15). Religion and the rise of populism. Religion, State and Society, 46, 179. doi:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09637494.2018.1502911

Thompson, T. (2021). Is there a relationship between right-wing populism and radicalisation to Islamic extremism in the UK and, if so, what is the nature of this relationship? Pluto Journals, 39. From https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.13169/jglobfaul.8.1.0034

Thompson, T. (2021). Is there a relationship between right-wing populism and radicalisation to Islamic extremism in the UK and, if so, what is the nature of this relationship? Pluto Journals, 44. From https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.13169/jglobfaul.8.1.0034

Woods, N. (2016, December 09). Populism is spreading. This is what’s driving it. From World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2016/12/populism-is-spreading-this-is-whats-driving-it/

[1] Director of Research and Development at the Policy Research Institute for South Asia, London – UK; Lecturer of Economics at the University of Bedfordshire, Luton – UK; Research Scholar at the PRIME Institute, Islamabad – Pakistan. Email: Zeeshan.hashim@prisa.org.uk

[2] Research Fellow at the Policy Research Institute for South Asia, London – UK.