Muslim groups demand protection from anti-Iran protests targeting UK mosques and businesses
The organization argued that despite predictably hostile and violent anti-Iran protests, the government has failed to protect those being targeted
LONDON (MNTV) – Muslim civil rights organizations have called on the U.K. Home Secretary to take urgent action against violent protesters who claim to oppose the Iranian government but are instead targeting mosques, community centers, and Iranian-owned businesses across Britain.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission sent a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood highlighting organized attacks on Muslim institutions in London, Birmingham, and Manchester, with the Islamic Centre of England facing particularly severe aggression from what the group describes as highly charged mobs intent on causing damage.
The protesters appear to follow a coordinated pattern beginning with social media incitement and escalating to physical attacks involving weapons, according to the letter.
Recent incidents have included the use of Molotov cocktails. Iranian restaurants and businesses have faced intimidation to display loyalist flags on their premises, the organization said.
The IHRC expressed bewilderment at what it characterized as government indifference to protecting public safety and private property, noting that the targets are not Iranian government personnel or institutions but civilians residing in the U.K.
The letter drew a pointed contrast with restrictions placed on demonstrations supporting Palestinian rights over the past two and a half years, which authorities justified as protecting Jewish people and synagogues.
The organization argued that despite predictably hostile and violent anti-Iran protests, the government has failed to protect those being targeted.
The IHRC accused politicians across parties and media outlets of deliberately creating an environment of hate where anything perceived as pro-Iran becomes a legitimate target.
The letter cited MP David Taylor’s February 3 parliamentary call for military strikes against Tehran which would violate international law.
The letter warned that demonization and disinformation by the media and politicians are inciting violence against ordinary Muslims and their community institutions.
It referenced the 2017 case of Darren Osborne, who planned to attack the annual Al Quds Day protest in London but instead killed a Muslim man leaving Ramadan prayers at his local mosque, illustrating how inflammatory speech can lead to deadly consequences.
The IHRC, which holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, demanded that Mahmood instruct police to apply all lawful measures to protect people and community institutions targeted by anti-Iranian protesters.
The organization also urged the government to cease falsely linking Muslim community groups to the Iranian government, arguing such rhetoric makes hostility and violence against mosques and worshippers inevitable.
The letter included an appendix with open-source evidence from social media documenting the attacks, with photo and video material made available to authorities for inspection.
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