Self-defence classes empower women in the face of far-right violence in UK | Islamophobia

On a London sports field, Maya Hassan watches proudly as about 30 women, most of them Muslim and from ethnic minorities, join a self-defence course she organised in response to a wave of riots that have seen brutal, racist attacks on Muslims and ethnic minorities.

The 28-year-old martial arts expert said she wanted to help women of colour learn how to cope with abuse and build bonds and trust after more than a week of riots targeting mosques, asylum seekers’ hotels and police.

“It gives you a little more confidence,” she said. “You know what to look for, how to be socially aware, how to spot things and how to get out of a really bad situation.”

Muslim and ethnic minority communities have expressed shock at the unrest which broke out after a false claim circulated online that the suspect in the stabbing deaths of three young girls in Southport, north-west England, was a Muslim migrant.

Martial arts instructor Stewart McGill said he has seen more women sign up for classes since the riots began. He has taught them how to defend themselves using tactics including kicks and improvised weapons such as belts.

One participant, 24-year-old Elza Annan, said she felt more confident.

“I certainly don’t want to have to use these techniques, but they are useful and beneficial to have … especially in light of recent events where far-right racists have come forward and targeted people of color,” she said.

Islamophobia on the rise

The riots mainly targeted migrants, Muslims and Asians, spreading fear among ethnic minorities and shining a light on Britain’s record on integration.

Tell MAMA UK, which monitors anti-Muslim incidents, said anti-Muslim hatred had been growing in the UK for some time and was particularly intense on October 7 last year when Israel launched its war in Gaza.

Since the start of the unrest, police have received more than 500 calls and online reports of anti-Muslim behaviour in the UK.

Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a think tank focusing on migration and identity, said that at its best, Britain is a “confident, multinational democracy”.

However, he added that successive governments lacked a strategy to integrate different communities.

While recent arrivals from Ukraine and Hong Kong received government support, this did not apply to everyone.

The asylum system was under particular pressure due to a huge backlog of applications, with some Britons fearing pressure on housing, healthcare and education.

“There is a lack of control in asylum and that can cause fear,” Katwala said.

The unrest has largely subsided since thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets to protect potential targets such as immigration advice centres, mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.

Hassan, who wears a hijab and is a Swiss citizen of Somali descent, moved to the UK in 2008, partly because she felt it was a more welcoming country to ethnic minorities than many parts of Europe. She is considering organising more activities.

A similar event has been planned for Manchester, in northern England, and activist group Three Hijabis held a large online conference with Muslim women this week to discuss the psychological effects of Islamophobic violence.

Shaista Aziz, the group’s director, said some women fear violence could lead to confrontation or abuse, prompting many to stay at home.

“Today I advised my sister, whom I love very much, to consider removing her hijab to ensure her safety while travelling through the Northeast…” she told the X programme during the riots.

“Across the country, British Muslims are having the same conversations.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has ordered extra protection for the Muslim community, described the rioters as “far-right thugs”. Almost 800 people have been arrested, some of them expedited by the courts and jailed.

Protests against racism will likely continue.

For 23-year-old Maki Omori, who identifies as nonbinary, the classes on Saturday will help prepare for the counterprotests.

“Thinking about how to defend myself was really scary,” Omori said. “I want to make sure that if something happens, I’m ready.”