ENGLAND — Police in the South West are investigating after racially aggravated graffiti was sprayed onto a mosque building on Main Road in the Pinhoe area of Exeter overnight between January 30 and January 31, in an incident recorded as a hate crime. (Source – Devon and Cornwall Police, February 3, 2026)

Officers said the graffiti has since been removed and appealed for anyone with information that could help identify the person responsible to contact police on 101 or via the force website, quoting reference number 50260025852. (Source – Devon and Cornwall Police, February 3, 2026)

In a public statement, police said there is “no place for racism” in the city and that work is continuing to identify the suspect. (Source – Devon and Cornwall Police, February 3, 2026)

While police did not disclose the content of the graffiti, the targeting of a place of worship is likely to raise community safety concerns among Exeter’s Muslims, including families who attend prayers and community activities at local Islamic centres. (Source – UK Parliament Women and Equalities Committee, January 2026)

Police appeal highlights community safety and reporting

Local authorities and community safety guidance note that hate incidents can include graffiti and property damage, and encourage reporting so patterns can be identified and support offered to those affected. (Source – Exeter City Council, October 13, 2025)

Nationally, government statistics for England and Wales have shown an increase in religious hate crime offences targeted at Muslims in the most recently published year-ending figures, underscoring broader concern among Muslim communities about hostility in public spaces. (Source – UK Home Office, October 9, 2025)

Separately, anti-hate monitoring group Tell MAMA reported record levels of anti-Muslim hate cases in 2024, with monitoring and media reporting linking spikes in abuse to major news events and online misinformation trends. (Source – Tell MAMA, February 19, 2025; Reuters, February 19, 2025)

Police have not announced any arrest or charge in the Exeter graffiti case, and the investigation remains ongoing. (Source – Devon and Cornwall Police, February 3, 2026)

Islamic and Ethical Context

For many Muslims, seeing a mosque defaced is not only criminal damage but a symbolic attempt to intimidate a community’s right to worship and belong. Islamic ethics emphasise justice, restraint, and the equal dignity of all people; The Quran’s condemnation of prejudice and wrongdoing frames racism as a moral harm, not a “difference of opinion.” Hadith Books also record the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) warning against tribalism and arrogance, while The Seerah describes how early Muslims faced harassment yet pursued accountability through lawful, principled means.

In practical terms, community leaders often encourage Muslims to document incidents safely, report to police, and seek support—both to pursue justice and to reduce the risk of repeat offending around places of worship.