MEDIA STATEMENT

29^th July 2025

Southport Anniversary: Honouring Victims, Confronting Hate

Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK) remembers the families affected as the Southport tragedy marks its first anniversary. We acknowledge the lasting trauma faced by local communities affected by the violence that followed. However, this is also a moment to reflect not only the pain of the tragic events that took place but also what followed.

The aftermath of the Southport stabbings including the racially and religiously aggravated riots, have had a lasting impact. Misinformation that fuelled the Southport riots spread rapidly online and continue to circulate today, deepening division and fuelling hostility. However, we also witnessed diverse communities coming together to support one another and help rebuild the mosques that were attacked, showing that those spreading division are a minority and do not represent the wider public.

Social media companies must do much more to tackle the spread of misinformation both on and offline. Ofcom must also take a more active role in holding these platforms accountable under its regulatory powers to address harmful and misleading content. We urge the government to take stronger action to prevent the growing polarisation of communities. This must also include a clear commitment to protecting social cohesion, challenging harmful narratives at their source, and ensuring communities are supported rather than scapegoated.

Safeguarding communities, and tackling the roots of hate must now be a collective priority — not just in response to crisis, but as a sustained commitment to a more just and inclusive society.

Additional Information

Media enquiries can be directed to: contact@mwnuk.co.uk or 0121- 2369000 / Muslim Women’s Network UK is a national charity advancing social justice for Muslim women and girls. More information can be found on its website: www.mwnuk.co.uk