Saferworld statement on racist and Islamophobic riots in the UK

Over the past week, we have witnessed a violent escalation of racist, Islamophobic and xenophobic riots and rhetoric across the UK. Saferworld affirms our unconditional solidarity with all groups, communities and individuals affected, including many of our own staff, for whom recent days have been marked by unjustifiable hatred, fear and loss.   
  
Let us be clear: these events have not happened in isolation. This is the result of years of systemic and institutional racism, Islamophobia, and anti-immigration narratives and policies, which have become normalised by the media and political establishment.   
 
The Prevent Strategy, the Rwanda and Immigration Acts, and the Hostile Environment are among the numerous policies that have targeted Muslims, refugees, asylum seekers and people of colour, and are nothing but manifestations of structural racism, echoing and reproducing the hatred and violence we see on our streets and in our society today. Over the years we have also seen the shrinking of civic space, limiting the right to protest and criminalising activism, which has further restricted democratic freedoms, particularly for people of colour and other marginalised groups.   
 
Western governments have waged or armed devastating wars in Muslim-majority countries and have recently backed Israel’s brutal war against Palestinians. The failure to call out Israel’s actions, which have been rooted in the dehumanisation of Palestinians, has normalised anti-Muslim violence and has fuelled far-right extremists in the UK. At the same time governments and politicians have sought to scapegoat Muslims and those fleeing for safety from these and other violent conflicts, for political and economic failures.   
  
As the UK Government addresses the immediate and long-term security of its people, Saferworld’s longstanding experience in conflict prevention and peacebuilding highlights key concerns. The riots, and harmful actions that have followed, expose growing insecurity, particularly for people of colour. However, the formula that ‘more policing leads to more security’ is not substantiated by any evidence. In fact, the police have been found to be institutionally racist, with Black, Brown and Muslim communities statistically more likely to experience police violence and incarceration. This is compounded by an overreliance on punitive measures rather than investing in social services, education or community engagement and challenging an economic system that keeps people in poverty.   
 
Both policing and broader policy responses to the riots should look beyond immediate security measures. They should be designed jointly with affected communities to centre their experience, expertise and priorities. A comprehensive policy response should seek to investigate and closely understand the true underlying causes of these riots. Grounded in this understanding, policies should address the rise of far-right movements and rhetoric through strong anti-racist and anti-discrimination measures, empower communities and their social and economic well-being, and ensure equal access to human rights. Finally, politicians, journalists and others with a platform must stop gaslighting people of colour, and stop blaming immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and other marginalised groups for the failings of domestic and foreign policies that contribute to poverty, insecurity, conflict, violence, climate crises and migration within and beyond the UK. Policy-makers in the UK must recognise that in today’s interconnected world, policies and actions that foment instability and injustice overseas cannot be insulated from consequences at home.  
  
Amid these trends, it is important to acknowledge the remarkable resilience and long-standing resistance of communities facing hate, racism and injustice, both in the UK and globally. This week and throughout history, these communities and grassroot organisers have protected and supported one another, pushing back the tides of discrimination and resisting institutional racism and injustice. We are heartened by the outpouring of counter-protestors across the UK in recent days in many cities, far outnumbering those who mobilised in the name of hatred. We celebrate these efforts. Yet, we ask that each of us extend such expressions of our solidarity beyond this moment, as dismantling and challenging racism at all levels will require sustained effort, solidarity and action.