November 1^st marks the start of Islamophobia Awareness month (IAM). It is a month to recognise and celebrate the positive contributions of Muslims and raise awareness of how prevalent Islamophobia has become in society. The month long campaign, founded in 2012 by a group of Muslim organisations, takes place every November and every year the campaign increases in recognition throughout the UK. IAM’s vision is to see the IAM Campaign widely recognised and supported every year. They want to see a society that is understanding, inclusive, and free from Islamophobia in all of its forms.

Islamophobia is more than just verbal and physical attacks; it is rooted in racism and has become a normalised part of everyday life for Muslims all over the world. Islamophobia can take form in discrimination, stereotyping, exclusion and marginalisation. By actively supporting the campaign, we can help to break down barriers between Muslim and non-Muslim communities and challenge incorrect stereotypes about Muslims.

Every year, the campaign has a different theme, the theme for 2023 is #MuslimStories. The goal of this year’s campaign is to facilitate and create connections among individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Muslim and non-Muslims, using the power of storytelling. Everyone has a story to tell, and the campaign is encouraging everyone from every walk of life to take part, it could be an experience you’ve had or of someone you admire. Whether you are a Muslim or not, IAM wants you to get involved and make a positive change to tackle Islamophobia, challenge and change the negative narrative many Muslims face in the UK. By using the transformative power of storytelling to increase understanding and empathy in our community, we can all showcase the Muslim heroes that are amongst us at UCLan.

The campaign is also pushing for the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Groups) definition of Islamophobia, “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness’, to be adopted by councils and the Government. But why is this so important? To conceptualise Islamophobia as a type of racism, we come to understand that Muslims are victims of more than just overt expressions of religious hatred and abuse, but also subject to a system of discrimination, control, and socio-economic exclusion. In this way, the APPG definition can capture all the different forms of islamophobia that may otherwise go unnoticed. (source)

As a Union, we have a duty to safeguard students and create inclusive environments on campus. By participating in IAM, we are sending a clear message that any behaviour to damage these environments will not be tolerated. Across the UK, over 25% of female Muslim student’s have reported having to defend wearing a hijab/headscarf and niqab whilst on campus, making them feel unsafe, and In 2018, from a NUS Survey of nearly 600 Muslim students at UK universities, 1 in 5 Muslim students reported being the victims of verbal abuse. (source) 

IAM wants you to take part in the conversation and be part of the solution.

So, how can you get involved?

Here’s 5 ways you can make a difference this November.

1. Become a supporter - visit here and complete the form to become a supporter of the campaign
2. Social media – you can find the campaign on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, @islamophiam, you can also use the hashtag #IAM2023
3. Visit the virtual exhibition 
4. Human Library – this year’s flagship event. The Human Library is designed to share human stories and the lived experiences of Muslims in your spaces. To find out more about creating your own, visit here
5. Share your story in the comments!

UCLan Students' Union Advice Centre runs as a third-party reporting centre for hate crime, our advisors are trained to support you in reporting any hate crimes or incidents that happen to you or that you witness. Should you ever fall victim to a hate crime, hate incident or microaggression, it’s important you know that you can confidentially and annonymously report it to us.

We also work with the University assisting with the Report and Support programme available. As a registered student or staff member, you can access support from a wellbeing advisor should you need to report any harassment. 

If you need to speak to someone, please visit our support page or contact the University wellbeing team by emailing wellbeing@uclan.ac.uk or calling 01772 893020

Report and Suport Centre

Hate Crime Support - UCLan SU