TELL MAMA

TELL MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) is a national project which records and measures Islamophobic incidents in the United Kingdom.
It was launched on February 21, 2012 by Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government and is co-ordinated by the interfaith organisation Faith Matters.
Aims
TELL MAMA aims to ensure that anti-Muslim incidents and attacks in the UK are mapped, measured and recorded, and support provided for victims, allowing individuals to report anti-Muslim incidents or attacks via SMS text message, Facebook, Twitter, and the group's own website. There is also a freephone helpline and online support available on weekdays. In November 2012 Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced a further £214,000 annual funding for the project, whilst Baroness Warsi will be writing to all Imams in the UK in an effort to encourage them to do more to tackle the problem of anti-Muslim attacks.
Findings
Between 2000 and 2012, Islamophobic incidents have been rising; 1 in 3 attackers reported to the project have had links to far-right organisations. Many victims have been Muslim women who visibly wear the hijab and or niqab head coverings. 490 cases were reported as of September 2012.
Of physical incidents reported, TELL MAMA boss Fiyaz Mughal said on that 70% were against hijab-wearing women and the majority of attackers were white males, aged 20-50.
Mughal, interviewed on Press TV in 2012 and writing for HOPE not hate, claimed that such incidents were becoming more violent and aggressive and that EDL sympathisers had been posting pictures of themselves holding pigs heads and trotters outside mosques, on social networking sites. Mughal also called on the Commonwealth of Nations to do more to combat Islamophobia.
A BBC report revealed that last year 2,000 hate crimes were recorded against different faiths in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, although police said it was unclear how many were against Muslims as separate figures were not recorded.
Types of abuse
TELL MAMA records abusive behaviour, including anti-Muslim comments made to an individual; anti-Muslim literature, include anti-Muslim leaflets circulated in communities; threats, whether verbal or written; damage and desecration of properties such as attacks against mosques, the property of Muslims, and against Muslim gravestones, and assaults ranging from spitting up to extreme violence.
Logging details
During recording of incidents, a detailed log of the numbers, types, locations and concentration of attacks are made. Other details collected include the gender of the victim and perpetrator. Such information helps develop a clearer picture why such attacks are taking place; the groups possibly linked or behind them; specific locations that have clusters of anti-Muslim attacks; and any other key details. An annual report outlining all of the findings will be published for the foreseeable future and the model is based on that used by the Community Security Trust, which supports victims of anti-Semitic incidents and which also maps, measures and records where such attacks take place.
Partner organisations
The project works with many organisations , including local police forces, the Metropolitan Police Service, Victim Support, Neighbourhood Watch, the National Association of Muslim Police, the Scottish Muslim Police Association, the Muslim Youth Helpline, ChildLine, the NSPCC, London Central Mosque, the Leeds Makkah Mosque, TELL MAMA also works with mosques to ensure they record incidents reported privately from within the Muslim community.
Reaction from the Muslim Community
Some within the UK's Muslim community have questioned TELL MAMA's links to Jewish organisations. Some far-right blogs have also attacked the organisation. Fiyaz Mughal has made it clear that his organisation stands firm with both Jewish, Sikh and other faith organisations against hatred and far-right extremism.
Fiyaz Mughal
TELL MAMA and Faith Matters were founded by social entrepreneur Fiyaz Mughal OBE. Mughal is a former adviser to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Interfaith and Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism. He was also prospective Liberal Democrat London Mayoral Candidate (2007) and a Liberal Democrat Councillor, campaigner and former Deputy President of the Party.

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