The Muslim Council of Britain has called for more protection of mosques and Muslim community centres from repeated acts of vandalism and "targeted hostility". It has also published a handbook to ensure the safety of those institutions and the people who use them.
The call and handbook follow a record rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes in Britain .
On Thursday, 19 June, the council warned that mosques and community centres across the UK are "increasingly facing a recurring pattern of vandalism, intimidation, threats and targeted hostility".
It noted that while many centres have invested in CCTV systems and locks, "far fewer have a clear, shared plan" setting out how to respond during the critical first minutes after an incident and who is responsible for managing the response.
The council represents around 500 mosques and Muslim community centres across Britain. As the country's largest umbrella body for Islamic institutions, it maintains strong ties with state institutions, including the police and the Home Office.
The council says its mission is to " empower Muslim communities towards achieving a just, cohesive and successful British society".
According to the latest population data cited by the council, Britain is home to around 4 million Muslims, representing 6 per cent of the population. The figure reflects growth of more than 151 per cent over the past 25 years. Threats spilling over from online to real life In the handbook, titled "Security Preparedness Framework", the council states it seeks to help mosques, Islamic centres and those responsible for managing them prepare for "a growing threat of vandalism, intimidation, threats and targeted hostility" against Muslims and their institutions.
Among the most common threats listed are "hostile graffiti", "attempted arson", "abuse and intimidation" at the entrances to mosques and centres, "suspicious individuals loitering around buildings", "threats during busy prayer times", and "bomb threats or suspicious packages".
The handbook also warns of an increase in online hate speech, cautioning that it can develop into physical threats.
It therefore advises against allowing unfamiliar individuals to enter centres alone without being noticed.
The eight-page handbook sets out a 30-month plan.
Its recommendations include appointing a dedicated security officer, carrying out a comprehensive security assessment, identifying weaknesses in CCTV systems, and establishing clear lockdown procedures.
Among the recommendations the council strongly urges is encouraging mosques to "build stronger relationships" with neighbours, police, local councillors, local businesses and other faith groups.
The handbook also notes that such community links "can help ensure a faster and calmer response" if mosques or Islamic centres are involved in an incident. Record rise in hostility An imam at a mosque in northwest London described the advice as essential.
The imam, who asked to be identified as "Ghafour", told The New Arab that his experience shows that, thanks to "our commitment to building good relationships" with people in the local area, the mosque has been able to prevent some complaints calling for its closure.
The mosque is located in a residential area with residents from different religions, ethnicities and backgrounds.
The imam also backed the Muslim Council of Britain's recommendation that "a mosque with a good reputation and local respect is far less likely to be targeted and is better placed to receive support if any incident occurs".
In recent months, anti-Muslim hate crimes have risen by 33 per cent.
The Metropolitan Police said it recorded 179 incidents between April and May, describing the increase as "notable on a month-by-month basis".
The organisation Tell MAMA said it had received around 6,000 reports of anti-Muslim incidents.
According to a report published in February, the organisation, which monitors Islamophobia , said the figure was more than double the number recorded two years earlier.
The report also said that, for the first time since the organisation was established in 2012, more Muslim men than Muslim women were targeted in 2025.
In October last year, official statistics showed a significant increase in religious hate crimes targeting Muslims.
British police reported a 19 per cent rise across Britain between 2024 and 2025. A rticle translated from Arabic by Afrah Almatwari. To read the original, click here .