The service offers self-defence courses and classes to help Muslim women protect themselves in case of an attack or to increase their confidence when walking alone.
They believe that these skills are essential for empowering women and strengthening their ability to handle such situations.
Alongside this, they provide professional and confidential counselling for women of all backgrounds, conducted by female therapists.
They say they’ve recently seen a rise in attendees.
Tell Mama, a charity and leading organisation monitoring anti-Muslim hate crime, reported a significant increase in Islamophobic incidents in the UK between October 2023 and February 2024.
During this period, there were 2,010 recorded cases, compared to just 600 incidents in the same timeframe the previous year.
Of these 2,010 incidents, 576 occurred in London. The incidents included physical assaults, vandalism and threats, with Muslim women targeted in two out of every three recorded cases, according to the charity.
City News spoke to Hafza Gholum, a Muslim woman, who lives and studies in London. She says she used to enjoy going out with friends and trying new food spots, but after she was attacked coming home in January, she’s scared it might happen again.
She said: “Every time I leave the house my guard is up and I’m constantly looking over my shoulder.”
She believes being visibly Muslim makes her a target.
Rising hate crime figures
Since 7 October, the UK has seen a significant rise in reported hate incidents following the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Incidents recorded in London included assaults on Muslim women wearing hijabs in east London, written death threats to mosque worshippers, and online abuse.
A mosque in Acton, west London, was splashed with red paint last year. The Imam, Muhammad Zeeshan, told City News: “The community feel too afraid and scared to come to the mosque since it happened.”
Tell Mama says: “More politicians need to speak up and counter anti-Muslim hate.”
City News approached the Met Police for comment about the measures they have put in place to prevent the rise of Islamophobic attacks in London, but they have not yet responded.
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HeadlineEast London mosque offers self-defence classes amid reports of Islamophobic incidents
Short HeadlineSelf-defence classes offered to Muslim women
StandfirstMuslim women are targeted in two out of every three recorded cases, according to hate crime-monitoring charity.
East London Mosque in Whitechapel has established a service to combat Muslim women being targeted out in public.
The service offers self-defence courses and classes to help Muslim women protect themselves in case of an attack or to increase their confidence when walking alone.
They believe that these skills are essential for empowering women and strengthening their ability to handle such situations.
Alongside this, they provide professional and confidential counselling for women of all backgrounds, conducted by female therapists.
They say they’ve recently seen a rise in attendees.
Tell Mama, a charity and leading organisation monitoring anti-Muslim hate crime, reported a significant increase in Islamophobic incidents in the UK between October 2023 and February 2024.
During this period, there were 2,010 recorded cases, compared to just 600 incidents in the same timeframe the previous year.
Of these 2,010 incidents, 576 occurred in London. The incidents included physical assaults, vandalism and threats, with Muslim women targeted in two out of every three recorded cases, according to the charity.
City News spoke to Hafza Gholum, a Muslim woman, who lives and studies in London. She says she used to enjoy going out with friends and trying new food spots, but after she was attacked coming home in January, she’s scared it might happen again.
She said: “Every time I leave the house my guard is up and I’m constantly looking over my shoulder.”
She believes being visibly Muslim makes her a target.
Rising hate crime figures
Since 7 October, the UK has seen a significant rise in reported hate incidents following the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Incidents recorded in London included assaults on Muslim women wearing hijabs in east London, written death threats to mosque worshippers, and online abuse.
A mosque in Acton, west London, was splashed with red paint last year. The Imam, Muhammad Zeeshan, told City News: “The community feel too afraid and scared to come to the mosque since it happened.”
Tell Mama says: “More politicians need to speak up and counter anti-Muslim hate.”
City News approached the Met Police for comment about the measures they have put in place to prevent the rise of Islamophobic attacks in London, but they have not yet responded.