Gendered Islamophobia Report
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) publish the Gendered Islamophobia Report exploring abuse targeted at Muslim women.
23 February 2026
Professor Peter Hopkins and Dr Joel White from the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology alongside Dr Robin Finaly (University of Sunderland) provided written evidence to support the WEC’s examination of the impact on increasing tensions on women in Muslim communities across our country. They shared findings from two qualitive research projects to inform the committee of discrimination faced by Muslim women.
Following the first of the summer riots, the Women and Equalities Committee examined the impact on increasing tensions on women in Muslim communities across our country. The report is part of the Committee’s wider ongoing inquiry into Community Cohesion, and the committee found that rising online, verbal and physical abuse and discrimination faced by Muslim women is having a ‘deeply damaging impact on individual lives and a corrosive effect on community cohesion’.
Online abuse, particularly on social media platforms, is a growing concern, the report said, as it called on the Government to review whether the existing legislative framework, including the Online Safety Act, is fit for purpose in tackling it and whether penalties on those who breach regulations are tough enough.
WEC’s report focuses on anti-Muslim hate but said the same arguments can be made for racism, misogyny and anti-semitism, calling on the Government and Ofcom to take a far more robust approach to the regulation of online spaces.
The significant underreporting of hate incidents against Muslim women is a barrier to it being tackled, the report concluded, adding it is essential that the Government has data that accurately reflects the true scale of abuse, including whether victims are targeted due to their faith, ethnicity, or gender or a combination of both. The report welcomed the Government’s commitment to defining anti Muslim hatred, awaiting the outcome of the independent review.
Schools, the report said, have a vital role in tackling anti-Muslim abuse, adding the Government should ensure that schools have clear policies in place. This needs to include specific training for teachers so they are able to recognise and address anti-Muslim discrimination and abuse.
Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP Sarah Owen said: “As our report concluded, rising levels of online, verbal and physical abuse and discrimination faced by Muslim women in the UK is having a deeply damaging impact on individual lives and a corrosive effect on community cohesion. The Committee heard and received concerning evidence of such abuse and harassment occurring in everyday situations, including in shops, and on public transport and how this had become the norm for many women.