Anti-Muslim hate has become increasingly visible across Western countries, driven by political rhetoric, viral misinformation, and the spillover of global conflicts.
While Muslim communities have long faced discrimination, recent years have seen a notable rise in online hate campaigns and misleading content targeting Muslims, often intertwined with broader anti-immigrant sentiment.
Viral claims portraying Muslims as security threats, alongside inflammatory political discourse linking Islam to violence, have helped foster a climate of fear, suspicion, and social exclusion.
This blog examines the most prominent forms of misinformation and anti-Muslim narratives that circulated in Western countries and were fact-checked by Misbar in 2025.
Misleading Claims of Church Attacks by Muslims
One of the most prominent anti-Muslim hate claims in 2025 involved allegations that churches were being attacked by Muslims or migrants, often broadly linking such incidents to Islam as a whole.
In 2025, Misbar fact-checked more than 10 videos that were misattributed as showing churches being attacked or taken over by Muslims. In reality, these videos depicted unrelated incidents or were outdated and misleading.
One notable example involved a video widely circulated on social media, claiming to show Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral on fire following alleged threats by “jihadists.”
Misbar investigated the video and found the claim to be misleading. The footage does not show a recent fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral caused by a jihadist attack.
The video dates back to 2019, when a fire actually engulfed parts of the cathedral. The same video was originally shared on X on April 15, 2019, reporting on that historical incident.
Viral Claim of Islamist Takeover at Westminster Abbey
Another viral claim targeted Westminster Abbey in London, U.K., alleging that the historic church had been “taken over” after the Pakistani flag replaced the British flag.
The video caption claimed that the church had been “conquered without a single shot,” while some users linked the incident to London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, a Muslim of Pakistani descent, implying that Islamists had taken control of the site amid rising anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.K.
Misbar’s investigation found that the circulating video was originally posted on March 22, 2024, by the Pakistan High Commission in London.
The Commission clarified that Westminster Abbey had raised the Pakistani flag as part of a special service marking Pakistan Day, and no takeover or attack occurred.
Misleading Video Shared as Recent Footage from Westminster Abbey
Social media users circulated a video claiming to show Muslims praying inside Westminster Abbey in the U.K., framing it as evidence of an Islamist “takeover” of a Christian landmark.
One account shared the video on X with the caption: “This is Islam; they choose to pray in a deeply symbolic manner to claim Westminster Abbey for Allah. Christians are being wiped off the map. Texas has 450k Muslims, 400 mosques/Islamic centers, & Islamists build Sharia cities.”
Misbar investigated the viral claim and found it to be misleading. The video is not recent and does not reflect current events at Westminster Abbey. It was first published on YouTube on October 6, 2012, by a user named Steve Riley.
The footage dates back to a period of global protests that followed the release of the trailer for the anti-Islamic film “Innocence of Muslims” in early July 2012.
The video has since been repeatedly resurfaced and misrepresented to fuel anti-Muslim narratives.
Misleading Claims of Muslims Protesting for Sharia Law
Another anti-Muslim narrative in 2025 involved claims that Muslims were protesting to demand Sharia law or to oppose governments in countries such as Germany, the U.K., and Australia.
Social media users circulated a clip claiming to show Muslims in Sydney, Australia, marching to demand Sharia law.
Misbar investigated the claim and found it misleading: The video actually shows Shia Muslims participating in Ashura, a religious commemoration.
The footage was originally published in July 2025 by a Facebook page called Imam Ali Centre Sydney, with the caption: “Ashura Juloos Sydney #Ashura2025 #Muharram1447.”
Outdated Footage Falsely Depicted as Sharia Protests in London
In another example, footage widely circulated online showed men shouting “Sharia for UK, Sharia for UK,” allegedly depicting recent protests in London and suggesting that a group of Muslims was calling for the implementation of Sharia law in the United Kingdom.
Misbar’s investigation found that the footage is outdated and does not show recent events in London.
The video has been circulating since at least 2015 and was uploaded to a YouTube channel named “True Face of Islam” on February 14, 2015, with the caption: “Sharia for UK!” but without additional context.
AI-Generated Video Falsely Shows Islamic Prayer in U.K. School
A viral claim circulated suggesting that a Muslim teacher was leading British schoolchildren in Islamic prayers as part of the curriculum.
Social media users, including accounts known for spreading anti-Muslim narratives, shared the clip with captions implying that British schools had begun incorporating Islamic worship into teaching.
Misbar’s investigation found the claim to be false. The video does not depict a real classroom incident or actual students being taught Salat (Islamic prayer).
Analysis revealed that the clip was AI-generated, with clear signs of digital manipulation, including unnatural student movements and inconsistent visuals.
Anti-Muslim Misinformation Amid Mamdani’s Election
Muslim hate in the West was once again fueled by certain events, such as the victory of Zohran Mamdani as a New York City Council member.
Amid Mamdani’s victory, a Muslim immigrant from Uganda, social media users circulated misleading claims and videos, attempting to amplify anti-Muslim narratives and portray his success as a threat.
Users shared a statement falsely attributed to ISIS, claiming that the group had praised Mamdani’s victory. An X user posted the claim, which reached 1.7 million views, writing: “This is all you need to know about jihadi Mamdani. ISIS is openly supporting and calling for his victory already.”
Misbar conducted a detailed reverse image search and found no credible media reports confirming that ISIS issued any statement about Zohran Mamdani’s election.
The design of the fabricated statement did not match the official style of Amaq News Agency, ISIS’s affiliated media outlet, despite showing its logo in the top right corner of the X post.
By comparing the viral image with previous authentic Amaq statements, Misbar identified clear discrepancies confirming that the claim was false.
Old Video of Muslims Praying in NYC Misrepresented
Social media trolls circulated a video claiming to show Muslims taking over Times Square in New York following Zohran Mamdani’s election.
A known spreader of Islamophobic content shared the footage with the caption: “Meanwhile in New York, only a few days after Zohran Mamdani’s election win as mayor, NYC Times Square gets completely taken over. New York is about to turn into London.”
Misbar investigated the viral video and found that it was originally published on March 2, 2025, during Ramadan, and was later reshared after Mamdani’s win with a misleading caption.
The footage depicts hundreds of Muslims from diverse backgrounds gathering in Times Square to perform Taraweeh prayers, which are special nightly prayers offered during the holy month of Ramadan after breaking the fast.
The event was organized by Muslim social media influencer SQ, in collaboration with Muslims Giving Back and Droplets of Mercy, and marked the third consecutive year of Taraweeh prayers in Times Square.
Anti-Muslim Misinformation Circulates After Bondi Attack
Most recently, following the Bondi Beach attack in Australia, the incident was exploited to fuel anti-Muslim sentiment.
Social media users circulated a video claiming to show Muslims in Sydney celebrating the attack, describing it as a “day of courage.”
Misbar’s reverse image search found that the video was originally published by ABC News in October 2023. According to ABC, the rally, led by Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun, took place on October 8, 2023, one day after the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
At the rally, dozens of people gathered to express support for Palestinians, chanting slogans such as “Occupation is the crime” and “Palestine will be free.” Some participants carried signs reading “Stand for the oppressed” and “Stop persecuting Muslims.” The event drew strong criticism from Australian political leaders.
It is also worth noting that the man who stopped the Bondi attacker was a Syrian Muslim named Ahmed Al-Ahmed, highlighting the misleading nature of claims suggesting Muslim celebration of the attack.
Ashura Prayer Images Falsely Linked to Bondi Incident
Social media users circulated two images of men praying, falsely claiming they showed “radical Islamists” gathering in Melbourne three days after the Bondi Beach attack.
The posts were shared alongside calls to deport Muslims from Australia.
Once again, Misbar’s investigation found the claim to be misleading. The images show Shia Muslims performing Ashura prayers in Melbourne, Australia, and are unrelated to the Bondi attack.
The footage was shared on TikTok on July 7, 2025, where it was clearly identified as part of an Ashura procession, a religious commemoration observed annually by Shia Muslims.
Read More
Top Israeli Disinformation Narratives Investigated by Misbar in 2025
The 5 Most Popular Stories on Ahmed Al-Sharaa Fact-Checked by Misbar in 2025
Read More
Most Read
Report a Claim
Alert the Misbar team about false news, rumors or stories that need verification, or request clarification.
Follow us on social media
