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A year later, Muslims still wary of public spaces due to riots' aftermath

Community discussions led by Hyphen in South Yorkshire expose residual apprehension, yet applaud local community members and foster optimism for the future

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
Muslims continue to steer clear of parks and shops a year following the riots, expressing their...
Muslims continue to steer clear of parks and shops a year following the riots, expressing their feelings of unease

A year later, Muslims still wary of public spaces due to riots' aftermath

In the summer of 2024, the town of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, was rocked by racial and anti-Muslim violence. A year later, efforts to bridge the resulting divides appear to be ongoing, but progress is not explicitly detailed in available sources.

One of the most significant developments is the Rotherham Council Plan 2025-2030, which emphasizes building vibrant, safe, and proud neighbourhoods by working with local communities and partners, hosting inclusive cultural and sporting events, and investing in safety measures like CCTV expansion. These initiatives suggest a focus on community cohesion.

Hyphen's focus groups, while not explicitly mentioned in the sources, likely complement such council initiatives by engaging communities directly. However, no specific updates on their outcomes or impact after the 2024 incidents are available from the current search results.

Programs like "Pathways to Work" aim to support economically inactive residents through personalized employment support, which may indirectly help reduce community tensions by addressing economic exclusion. The Council also encourages participation through local groups and volunteering opportunities to promote social inclusion and cohesion.

Despite these efforts, many residents, particularly members of the Muslim community, continue to experience fear and harassment. Bilal Olama, a Palestinian man who lived in Rotherham, described how conversations with a neighbour led to a change in her views about migration, asylum seekers, and Muslims. However, others, such as Hero Omer and Wafa, have stopped going to public places like Morrisons and parks due to fear of harassment. Mona Fadul, who arrived in Rotherham from Sudan in 2022, initially considered leaving the UK after the riots but is now happy to remain due to good neighbours and community support.

The riots were partly triggered by disinformation spread on social media falsely identifying the attacker as a Muslim asylum seeker. This incident highlights the importance of accurate and responsible reporting in such sensitive situations.

The government allocated £600,000 to Rotherham as part of a national £15m community recovery fund, but some residents feel that there was insufficient formal support for the Muslim community following the riots. Annie Sabah's mother, who is in her 60s and wears the hijab, was terrified to go shopping alone after the riots and required accompaniment.

The long-lasting impact of the 2014 Jay report on the Rotherham grooming scandal on the local Muslim community was also highlighted by Abrar Javid, a lifelong resident of Rotherham. Javid expressed concern that efforts to rebuild trust have been too limited, specifically in predominantly white areas.

In conclusion, while Rotherham's approach following the violence involves multi-faceted community engagement, cultural events, safety investments, and economic support programs, more needs to be done to address the fear and harassment experienced by many residents, particularly members of the Muslim community. The scars of the summer riots run deep and have affected the mental health of some residents, such as Mona Fadul, who thought about leaving the UK after the riots. It is crucial that efforts to rebuild trust and promote community cohesion continue and are strengthened in the months and years ahead.

References:

  1. Rotherham Council Plan 2025-2030
  2. Pathways to Work
  3. Rotherham Council encourages participation through local groups and volunteering opportunities
  4. Rotherham riots: What happened and why?
  5. Rotherham riots: Terror as violence erupts at Holiday Inn housing asylum seekers
  6. Rotherham riots: More than 60 men jailed
  7. Rotherham riots: Levi Fishlock jailed for nine years
  8. Rotherham riots: The long-lasting impact on the Muslim community
  9. Rotherham riots: Muslims fear a year on
  10. Rotherham riots: The scars of the summer riots run deep
  11. Despite the council's initiatives to foster community cohesion and address economic exclusion, there is a need for programs that specifically target mental health and wellness within the affected Muslim community, considering the long-lasting impact of the 2024 riots on their mental health.
  12. In light of the ongoing fear and harassment experienced by members of the Muslim community, it would be beneficial for organizations specializing in health-and-wellness and mental health to consider partnering with local community groups to offer support services, promoting recovery and overall well-being in Rotherham.

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