Islamophobic grave desecration in Watford city of UK
Desecration of Muslim graves in Watford sparks outrage, charities call for Islamophobic attack recognition
WATFORD, UK (MNTV) – The desecration of Muslim graves at Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery in Watford has ignited anger across the community, with local charities and leaders demanding the incident be treated as an Islamophobic attack, rather than just an act of vandalism.
The incident, which involved the destruction of gravestones—some of which belonged to children—was condemned by Abbas Merali, the councillor for Moor Park and Eastbury.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Merali expressed his shock at the attack and its devastating impact on grieving families.
He described the actions as “shameful” and said the community was reeling from the deep emotional pain caused.
“These appalling actions have brought immense distress to families already in mourning,” Merali stated, adding that Hertfordshire Police are investigating the attack as a “serious and targeted act of vandalism.”
However, the An-Nisa Society, a Muslim charity, criticized the police and local authorities for not recognizing the Islamophobic nature of the attack.
They took to X (formerly Twitter) to argue that the vandalism was not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of anti-Muslim sentiment in the area.
“This is clearly not a simple act of vandalism—it is an Islamophobic attack that must be acknowledged as such,” the charity wrote.
The charity also pointed out a previous incident in 2023 where Brent’s mayor, Councillor Orleen Hylton, allegedly failed to intervene when a Muslim woman was verbally abused on a bus.
This, they suggested, demonstrated a pattern of downplaying Islamophobia within the local government.
Zara Mohammed, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, also condemned the desecration, labeling it as “disturbing” and “vile.”
She expressed her heartfelt sympathy for the families affected and called for the perpetrators to be swiftly apprehended.
“I can’t imagine the pain this will cause to families. I hope justice will be served quickly,” she said.
The incident follows a troubling rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes across the U.K.
According to experts, the U.K. Islamophobic assaults surged by 73% in 2024.
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