Double Standard: Quran Burned as 'Free Speech,' Gaza Protests Labelled 'Terrorism'

In a disturbing display of hypocrisy and blatant disregard for its Muslim communities, the United Kingdom is increasingly wielding the shield of "freedom of speech" to justify acts of profound religious hatred, such as the burning of the Holy Quran, while simultaneously moving to criminalise legitimate dissent against atrocities, labeling passionate protests against the genocide in Gaza as "terrorism." This stark double standard is not merely an oversight; it reveals a systemic bias that is eroding trust and fostering an environment where anti-Muslim sentiment thrives unchecked.

The Muslim community in the UK, already grappling with record levels of hate crime, now faces the chilling prospect of a "secretive" government process, led by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, to revive a definition of Islamophobia that critics warn could be a mere smokescreen for further curtailing freedom of expression for Muslims themselves, rather than protecting them.

The Hypocrisy Unmasked: Quran Burning vs. Gaza Solidarity

Recent events have laid bare the UK's deeply troubling inconsistencies regarding freedom of speech. While individuals are permitted to desecrate the Holy Quran – a profoundly offensive act to Muslims worldwide – under the guise of free expression, the very same government is cracking down on groups actively protesting against the horrific violence inflicted upon Palestinians in Gaza.

Just this week, the UK announced its intention to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws, making it a criminal offence to be a member or promote the group. This move places activists protesting London's support for Israel on par with internationally recognized terrorist organizations like Hamas, al-Qaeda, or ISIS. Members of Palestine Action, who have engaged in direct action against companies perceived to be supplying weapons to Israel, have described their actions as legitimate protest against an ongoing genocide. Yet, they face up to 14 years in jail. The banning decision came even as activists clashed violently with police after being denied the right to protest outside Parliament, forced to relocate to Trafalgar Square.

Contrast this with the treatment of individuals engaged in acts of pure religious hatred. In a recent case, Hamit Coskun, 50, was convicted of a religiously aggravated public order offence for burning a Quran outside the Turkish embassy in London, shouting "f*** Islam" and "Islam is a religion of terrorism." While a conviction was secured, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) highlighted the disturbing fact that the judge cited the violent reaction against Coskun as evidence of his "disorderly" conduct, raising fears of "blasphemy prosecutions" returning "through the back door." The Muslim Council of Britain unequivocally stated that "Burning the Quran – or any holy book – is wrong and against our values of mutual respect and tolerance for one another," noting such acts are often used to "incite hatred against Muslims."

The message from the establishment is chillingly clear: vilifying Islam and Muslims is permissible under "free speech," but challenging a government's complicity in mass atrocities is deemed "terrorism."

The "Secretive" Islamophobia Definition: A Betrayal of Trust?

Adding to the profound sense of betrayal within the Muslim community are the "secretive" plans championed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to define Islamophobia. The Free Speech Union (FSU), ironically, has threatened legal action, arguing that the process is designed to "rubber-stamp a controversial definition" and will have a "chilling" effect on free speech – a concern that, in this context, rings hollow for those directly targeted by anti-Muslim hate.

The proposed definition, closely aligned with that of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims, asserts that "Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness." While this definition is widely supported by Muslim organizations as a vital step to acknowledge their lived experiences of prejudice, its consultation process has been opaque. Lord Young of Acton, director of the FSU, complained that the consultation questions are "heavily weighted" towards a "predetermined outcome" and exclude groups critical of the definition's potential impact on free speech – though these groups often frame their concerns in ways that seem to minimise the harm faced by Muslims.

Dominic Grieve, chair of the working group, has acknowledged the difficulty in defining Islamophobia due to free expression concerns, yet also concedes that "perfectly law-abiding Muslims... are suffering discrimination and abuse." The secrecy surrounding the working group's advice, combined with the apparent exclusion of diverse Muslim voices and concerns from the consultation, risks undermining the legitimacy of any eventual definition and further eroding the trust of Muslim communities.

A Surge in Hate: The Realities of Anti-Muslim Prejudice

These institutional failings are not occurring in a vacuum. Anti-Muslim hate in the UK has surged to record levels. According to Tell MAMA, an organisation dedicated to tracking Islamophobia and anti-Muslim incidents, almost 6,000 reports were verified as anti-Muslim incidents in the past year alone, more than double the previous year's figures. This represents an alarming 165% increase in verified cases since 2022.

Between 2023 and 2024, Tell MAMA received 10,719 cases, with 9,604 verified as anti-Muslim hate, overwhelmingly reported by British Muslims. 2024 alone saw 6,313 cases, the highest recorded since the project's inception in 2011/2012. The data shows a 120% increase in street-based cases since 2022 and a 103% increase in targeted anti-Muslim hate towards people who are visibly Muslim between 2023 and 2024. Threatening behaviour has increased by a shocking 715% in street-based cases within the same period.

Recent incidents include a suspected race hate crime in York on June 22, 2025, where two Muslim men were assaulted with tennis rackets and sticks by a group of youths wearing balaclavas, subjected to racist abuse. Tell MAMA notes a "surge in rhetoric that falsely portrays Muslims as terrorists or terrorist sympathisers" since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the 2024 summer unrest in parts of the UK.

This alarming rise in hate crimes, coupled with the government's perceived inaction or, worse, complicity through its policies, paints a grim picture for Muslims in the UK. The selective application of "freedom of speech" to protect those who propagate hatred, while simultaneously stifling legitimate protest and neglecting the very real suffering of Muslim communities, deeply undermines the principles of justice and equality that Britain claims to uphold. It is a critical moment for the UK to address its double standards and genuinely commit to protecting all its citizens from hatred and discrimination.