An organization has been launched to serve as a bridge between Muslim communities and UK policy-makers. The British Muslim Network seeks to fills a void of 17 years after successive governments failed to engage with the Muslim Council of Britain, which was founded for the same purpose.

The British Muslim Network (BMN) was launched in London when 60 people began by taking part in round-table discussions on social mobility, storytelling, Islamophobia, philanthropy, community infrastructure and health and wellbeing.

The discussions were followed by a large reception with about 300 people, speeches from government officials including the health secretary, Wes Streeting; the deputy Commons Speaker, Nusrat Ghani; faith minister Lord Khan; and a former faith minister, Baroness Warsi.

Mr. Streeting acknowledged that governments had let down Muslim communities in the past and insisted on the importance of tackling anti-Muslim hate crimes and Islamophobia.

He said it was important that “the government gets this relationship right, to acknowledge with humility that successive governments have not got this relationship right“.

He said he “acknowledged … that the Labour party hasn’t always got this right, particularly in recent years” and added that he was committed “to underscore my commitment to defending the space for Muslims across our country“.

The BMN seeks to convene expert panels to share information on the views and practices of Muslim communities to policy-makers. Its co-chairs are Akeela Ahmed and Imam Qari Asim.

Imam Asim, who leads the Makkah Mosque in Leeds and was once a government adviser on Islamophobia, told the Religion Media Centre: “It was really uplifting to see such a diverse group of people, from different faith backgrounds to civil society, to organizations, as well as the diversity of the Muslim community, being reflected in this room. We contribute so much to society but sadly we are mostly seen through the lens of extremism.

“That’s painful. We see young people feeling frustrated and alienated. They’re not feeling welcomed in their own neighborhoods. So BMN wants to bring a range of voices, to hear their perspectives and to bring their own insight to share with think tanks, policy-makers and the government. We believe those pillars of society can benefit from this young talent.”

Speaking on the policy of disengagement, Imam Asim said Muslims were not “asking for special treatment” but rather “equal citizenship”.

The launch has been plagued with comparisons to the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and suspicions that it is seeking to undermine the organization, or create a split between “good” and “bad” Muslims.

However, all people affiliated with the group have insisted that is not the case. “BMN is going to be one of the voices among many other voices in this country, highlighting and showcasing the contributions, therefore it does not intend to replace any organization,” Imam Asim added.

“We believe in collaboration. Our faith encourages us to collaborate. We have been in conversation with many organizations, including the MCB. It’s about working together to defeat the defeatist mentality that is unfortunately rising in the minds of young people because of the way they’re treated in this country.”

Baroness Warsi pointed to the urgency of the work, stating that the engagement was important for democracy. “Courage is important. These times require you to be so,” she said. “We are not just talking about protecting British Muslims and creating a society where British Muslims feel like they have equal worth and value. We’re fighting to protect inclusive liberal democracies. That is where we are at now.“

Akeela Ahmed, who previously chaired the government’s working group on anti-Muslim hatred, agreed with the sentiment pointing to the “global backdrop” of the launch. “The far right is becoming more prominent again in Europe and in the UK as well,” she said. “We wanted to step up because we understand that there are huge challenges, external challenges that we all need to work to address.”

Nusrat Ghani, a Conservative MP, reflected on her own experience as she said that “earlier experiences of racism were down to the color of our skin,” whereas now “it is down to our faith”.

Professor Mike Clarke, chairman of the Together Coalition, which was set up to foster social cohesion after the murder of the Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016, also backed the initiative.

“With the recent and shocking events of the riots last summer, we recognized the need to give expression to voices that need to be heard to have a diverse and inclusive society,” he told the Religion Media Centre. “We’ve been very proud to support that.”

Many commented on the energy and dynamism in the room throughout the evening, including Professor Clarke, who added: “My overwhelming sense is that there’s a lot of love and goodwill in this room, and I find that very inspiring.”

Addressing criticism about the Together Coalition’s involvement in the group’s setting up he said: “Frankly, I don’t think there are enough voices being heard. If the people here feel there is a need to create more opportunities for those voices to be heard, then it’s important to do that.”

The British Muslim Network intends to operate on the basis of the “Three C’s”: connecting, celebrating and collaborating.

• Connecting relates to “bringing people of different backgrounds together”.
• Celebrating pertains to honoring the “positivity within the British Muslim community”.
• Collaboration refers to organizations working together as well as inclusion of the “multiplicity of voices” within the demographic.

Members of the group’s advisory board include Sumayah Saadi, owner of the Sumayah modest fashion brand; Abdurahman Sayed, chief executive of London’s Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre; and Dr. Hina Shahid, who chairs the Muslim Doctors Association.

The network will include public figures from politics, media, business, entertainment and sport, as well as imams, lawyers, doctors and academics.

Some joined a panel which concluded the event including Shabna Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust, and entrepreneur Jennifer Ogunyemi.

Many labelled the event an important one in British Muslim history. Mr. Streeting said: “This has to be a catalyzing moment that mobilizes grassroots communities right across the country to make sure that people feel able to be heard and genuinely listened to.

“But more than that [they must be] able to shape their communities, to shape our country and to do this together across the divides of difference and diversity uniting around what we have in common.”

Events will be held for Muslim communities to speak to each other and common concerns will be shared with the government to bring change.

Source: Religion Media Centre

Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, is proud to announce the Government of Canada’s first-ever publication on Islamophobia – the Canadian Guide to Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a More Inclusive Canada. Developed with extensive input from experts on Islamophobia, members of Canadian Muslim communities, civil society organizations, and government partners, this new guide serves as a comprehensive resource for combatting Islamophobia across Canada.

This guide intends to raise awareness on Islamophobia, explain its various manifestations and provides practical strategies for Canadians to counter Islamophobia in their lives. The Guide supports the objectives of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2024-2028 and the Action Plan on Combating Hate, to strengthen social cohesion and build a more inclusive society.

The Guide provides a contemporary perspective on Islamophobia, exploring its adverse impacts on individuals and communities, and how these impacts can be compounded for people with intersecting identities. It spotlights the diversity of Canadian Muslims, addresses common misconceptions and challenges harmful myths.

Empowering Canadians to Recognize and Dismantle Islamophobia

The Canadian Guide to Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a More Inclusive Canada aims to familiarize, empower and equip the public including educators, employers, law enforcement, students, decision-makers, community leaders in their journey towards addressing Islamophobia. The Guide provides practical recommendations to enable Canadians to counter anti-Muslim discrimination by:

• Raising Awareness and Understanding: Educating people about Islamophobia, challenging stereotypes, and promoting religious literacy.
• Supporting Communities: Sharing resources, being allies, and reporting Islamophobic incidents.
• Underscoring Institutional Change: Implementing training programs, creating clear and safe reporting systems, and auditing workplace cultures for inclusivity.
• Providing Resources: Ensuring that those affected by Islamophobia have access to support networks and inclusive leadership.

For more information and to access the Canadian Guide to Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a More Inclusive Canada, please visit: The Canadian Guide to Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a more inclusive Canada – Canada.ca

Quotes

“I am proud to introduce a new reference tool to combat Islamophobia in Canada. Establishing a shared framework for action is essential, and this educational guide will help us drive meaningful change at the national level. This is an important step in our collective efforts to ensure that Canadian Muslims can live with dignity and respect, free from harassment and discrimination. Together, let’s build a Canada where everyone belongs.”

– Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia

“This guide is an important contribution to understanding the specific experiences of Muslims in Canada, amidst a broader rise of hate and intolerance in Canada. Identifying and combatting racism, hate, and discrimination is key to protecting fundamental human rights and building a Canada where everyone is valued and respected and has access to equal opportunities, free from discrimination.”

– Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, Interim Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission

“This Guide is a vital resource to help all Canadians better understand Islamophobia and its harmful impacts in the workplace and society. Islamophobia continues to be a significant barrier to equity and inclusion. This resource will help ensure that Muslim workers are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace for everyone, and contributing to greater community inclusion and safety for all.”

– Bea Bruske, Canadian Labour Congress President

“Islamophobia is on the rise in Canada. Our members have experienced discrimination in schools and workplaces or support clients who have faced disproportionate harm from anti-Muslim hate and discrimination in all areas of life. This Guide comes at a pivotal moment—it’s more important than ever for Canadians to understand this widespread form of racism and take action to address it.”

– Husein Panju, Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association

Quick Facts

The Guide supports Canada’s broader efforts to build an inclusive society, contributing to the objectives of the Anti-Racism Strategy 2024-2028 and the Action Plan on Combating Hate. Budget 2024 increased funding to bolster the capacity of the Office of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia ($7.3M over 6 years and $1.1M ongoing) to meet its mandate commitments.

Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s first ever Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia was appointed in January 2023, to provide guidance and support to the Government of Canada on policies and programs impacting Canadian Muslim communities, raise public awareness on Islamophobia and work with diverse stakeholders to develop community-informed solutions to challenges facing Canada’s Muslim communities.

Budget 2024 provides funding of $273.6 million over six years, starting in 2024-2025, and $29.3 million thereafter, for Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate, to support community outreach and law enforcement reform, combat radicalization, and increase assistance to victims of discrimination and violence.

Source: Canada Newswire

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Wednesday, January 29, hailed a new resolution in the New York State Senate that officially recognized Feb. 1, 2025, as World Hijab Day.

The resolution, introduced by Senator Roxanne Persaud, aims to “encourage religious tolerance, cultural understanding and international solidarity.”

“World Hijab Day, in its 12^th year, is a platform to promote understanding, dismantle stereotypes, and celebrate the empowerment of women who choose to wear the hijab,” CAIR said in a statement.

Noting that “this resolution reflects New York’s celebration of cultural and religious diversity,” CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said, “World Hijab Day is an important opportunity to amplify the voices of hijab-wearing women and to combat the prejudice and discrimination they often face.”

“We are deeply grateful to Senator Roxanne J. Persaud for her advocacy and support of this resolution,” Nasher added.

World Hijab Day was founded by Nazma Khan in 2013 as a platform to foster religious tolerance and cultural understanding, according to its website. Since its inception, it has been observed worldwide, allowing women of different backgrounds to experience wearing a hijab for a day.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Omar Suleiman has called on Elon Musk to stop blowing political “dog whistles of Islamophobia” and invited the world’s richest man for a conversation if Musk is unintentionally spreading anti-Muslim narrative on his social media platform.

Suleiman, a globally renowned imam, theologian, human rights activist and president of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, on Tuesday charged Musk of sharing “dangerous” and “dishonest” tweets about Islam.

“When one of your Teslas kills someone while self-driving or explodes on fire and the media charges your vehicles as unsafe, you point out sampling bias, share all kinds of statistics, and allege that the media is either accidentally or deliberately misrepresenting statistics to promote a vindictive agenda,” Suleiman wrote on his X handle, tagging Musk, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX space tech firm and Tesla automotive company.

“Yet, for the past week, you have blown every conceivable dog whistle of Islamophobia, by highlighting a select group of (horrifying) incidents supposedly in the name of Islam. Your barrage of tweets aimed at Islam have been as dangerous as they are dishonest about a faith practiced by over 2 billion people.”

Suleiman expressed readiness to engage with Musk if the latter “genuinely” wants a clarification.

“If you don’t know you are doing this and genuinely want clarification, I and many others easily accessible to you are willing to have a conversation. If this is a deliberate smear campaign, then you are indeed every bit the hypocrite you once condemned,” Suleiman wrote.

Musk ignores white British men

Musk, who is set to serve Donald Trump’s new administration as an outside adviser, has waded into UK’s political affairs.

He has sparked a massive row about gangs of men who groomed and raped girls in England over several decades, focusing on the Muslim and Pakistani heritage of some of those involved in the crimes while ignoring the majority of white British who had been involved in those crimes.

The cases have been used by far-right politicians to link child abuse to immigration, and to accuse opponents of cover-ups.

The billionaire Tesla CEO has taken an erratic interest in British politics since the center-left Labour Party was elected in July. Musk has used his social network, X, to call for a new election and demanded UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer be imprisoned.

On Monday he posted an online poll for millions of his followers on the suggestion: “America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government.”

Musk’s allegations are in contrast to the studies of England, Scotland and Wales conducted by the previous UK government that have already dispelled the myth of “Asian grooming gangs” popularized by the British far-right and others.

According to research sponsored by the British Home Office in 2020, the majority of child sexual abuse gangs are made up of white men under the age of 30.

“There is no credible evidence that any one ethnic group is over-represented,” the research added.

At the time, Nazir Afzal, the ex-chief crown prosecutor in North West England, who brought prosecutions over the Rochdale grooming gangs, welcomed the report.

“It confirms that white men remain the most common offenders, which is something rarely mentioned by right-wing commentators,” he had said.

In February 2024, the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse think tank analyzed ethnicity data from defendants and found that despite making up 9 percent of the population, men of Asian descent, in general, were involved in 7 percent of the cases of child sexual abuse, whereas white men, who make up 83 percent of the population, were involved in 88 percent of such cases.

Source: TRT World

Roughly one in every two Muslim college students in the US state of California have experienced harassment or discrimination, according to a recently published survey.

The report from the California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying (CPHB) includes responses from 720 students at 87 public and private colleges and universities across California, which found a 10 percent spike in Islamophobia faced by students since 2020.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led cross-border attack, as well as Israel’s onslaught on besieged Gaza, have exacerbated Islamophobia on campuses as well as “anti-Palestinian hate, and anti-Arab racism, leaving Muslim students feeling targeted and unsupported,” CAIR said in a statement.

Student-led anti-war protests that erupted nationwide on campuses in the wake of the escalating death toll have been repeatedly met with an effort to stamp them out or otherwise curtail the demonstrations.

“This past year has been extremely traumatizing for college students of varying ethnicities within the Islamic faith—all because they valiantly chose to stand up and humanize the plight of Palestinians, who have suffered from over 75 years of oppression, dehumanization, and war,” CPHB Director Osman Khan said in a statement.

“These students should not have to suffer physical reprisals, nor fear possible academic and future employment repercussions, for simply practicing their constitutionally protected rights of petition, assembly, and speech,” he added.

‘Not a global institution’

University of Southern California student Summer said many Muslim students have felt isolated within their college communities, particularly those who have lost friends and family in Israel’s war, which has claimed the lives of more than 43,000 Palestinians.

“Some students, while in class, have received (the) devastating news of losing loved ones in Gaza. They not only mourn their families but also face the silence and lack of empathy from their own community. Where are the statements of solidarity, safe spaces for healing, or meaningful support from the administration for those grieving innocent lives?” she asked rhetorically.

“We cannot claim to be a global institution of higher learning while neglecting the global realities of our students. We cannot say we stand for justice when we turn a blind eye to injustice within our own campus,” she added.

Source: TRT World

On Oct. 17, a man approached a group of pro-Palestinian protesters, calling them terrorists outside of Coffman Union. The incident was caught on video, posted to the Students for Justice for Palestine’s Instagram page and reposted on Al Jazeera’s Instagram page. “All you f—ing Muslim terrorists,” the man in the video said.

On Oct. 22, one day after the Morrill Hall takeover, a man in a crowd of a pro-Palestinian protest in front of Coffman Union yelled calling speakers and them terrorists. “Every time a speaker stopped talking, the man yelled terrorists,” Abouhekel said. Abouhekel did not report the incident to University administration or the University of Minnesota Police Department.

University of Minnesota spokesperson Jake Ricker said the safety of students, faculty and staff is the University’s top priority. “Acts of harassment, intimidation or bias — including these two incidents — are entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Ricker said. “We have and will respond promptly and fully to any reports of this behavior on campus.”

Fourth-year student Shahd Abouhekel took the Oct. 17 video. “I feared for my safety and feared this guy would like physically attack us,” Abouhekel said. “He kept saying, “You guys are terrorists, all of you are terrorists, effing Muslims.’” Abouhekel did not report the incident to the University of Minnesota Police Department but said she sent a direct email to Heather McGinnis, senior assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs, reporting the incident.

McGinnis responded to Abouhekel’s email and provided links for reporting bias concerns and additional resources for support.

“I told them the rundown of what happened, and they decided to turn a blind eye,” Abouhekel said.

Abouhekel said the University’s response raises concerns for the Muslim community.“ There has been a rise of Islamophobia in the past year, and especially the past few months,” Abouhekel said. “The University decided to just not bring it to light, and they don’t want to address it, and they’re just ignoring it.”

President of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) Ibraheem Fannoun said he wants to see more accountability from the University. “When they hear about these things, they don’t do anything about it,” Fannoun said. “The administration is making a big show of listening, but not taking action.”

Abouhekel said being called a terrorist is nothing new to her, and she has faced discrimination for wearing the hijab at the University this semester. “I was sitting with my friend and we were studying, and the student comes next to us and throws a crumpled piece of paper at me,” Abouhekel said. “We open it up and it says, ‘Your hijab is a disgrace to women.’”

Fourth-year student and President of the Undergraduate Student Government Rahma Ali said she does not feel safe on campus. “It’s not easy being a Muslim woman,” Ali said. “It’s not easy being a woman, and on top of that, a Black hijabi woman too.”

Ali said the issue goes beyond being called a terrorist. Islamophobia affects both the individual it is targeted towards and the community as a whole, negatively contributing to one’s mental health and identity, she added.

There have been issues with verbal harassment against Muslim women in the University community, especially since the Oct. 7 attacks, Fannoun said.

According to Fannoun, Islamophobia on campus has increased since the Oct. 7 attacks due to a misunderstanding of pro-Palestinian messaging.

“People see it as a show of hatred toward other groups,” Fannoun said. “It’s not accurate, and because of that, we see Islamophobia from other student organizations and even random individuals on campus.” Fannoun said his primary goal as MSA president is to prioritize his community and encourage people to do their research on Islam and Muslims.

“Look for somebody Muslim in your classes,” Fannoun said. “Ask them, and tell them to ask those who know, at the end of the day supporting Palestine is something we believe in and our religion is part of our beliefs.”

Source: The Minnesota Daily

By  Nadia Ahmad

As a visibly Muslim woman and tenured law professor, I’ve faced my share of discrimination. However, nothing prepared me for the chilling reality I encountered at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

While I was serving as co-chair of the DNC’s Interfaith Council and on the executive committee of the DNC’s Women’s Caucus, I became a victim of a violent assault at the convention. This attack laid bare the pervasive nature of Islamophobia in our society, but what followed was even more disturbing.

The complete institutional failure following my assault—manifested in the Democratic Party’s silence, my academic institutions’ indifference, the legal system’s impotence and the overall lack of support for a victim of political violence—revealed a disturbing truth: Even in spaces that champion diversity and inclusion, Muslim voices remain expendable.

As I stood in the bustling convention hall at the United Center in Chicago, holding a cloth banner that read “Stop Arming Israel,” I never imagined that my act of peaceful protest would end in violence. Yet, within moments, three white men wielding campaign signs with wooden planks inside repeatedly struck me on the head. The physical pain was immediate, but the emotional aftermath—a concussion, trauma and a profound sense of betrayal—would linger far longer.

While some organizations swiftly issued statements condemning the attack as political violence and demanding justice, the universities I am affiliated with remained silent. This institutional indifference underscores a larger problem: The disconnect between well-intentioned diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and the lived realities of Muslim faculty and staff, particularly those who are visibly Muslim, Black, Latino/a or from other minority groups.

In my years navigating academia, I’ve witnessed firsthand how corporatized, apolitical DEI programs fall short for those of us at the margins. They tend to focus on secular and liberal perspectives, emphasizing concepts like religious practices and holidays. While these are important, they fail to address the daily microaggressions and systemic biases that shape our experiences.

As one of the few tenured, visibly Muslim women in legal academia, I face an average of 500 micro- and macroaggressions annually. The mental toll of deciding which handful of incidents to address is exhausting, constantly pulling my focus from teaching, research and service. This burden of representation and advocacy weighs heavily on visibly Muslim women in academia. We’re often tokenized, expected to be the voice for all Muslims, which places an unfair burden on individuals and perpetuates the myth of a monolithic Muslim experience.

Moreover, current DEI approaches often prioritize male and Arab voices, inadvertently sidelining the perspectives of women, Black Muslims, Latino/a Muslims, Indigenous and other minority groups within the Muslim community. A panel on Islamophobia might discuss the impacts of fasting during Ramadan and the need for prayer spaces, but neglect to address the foreign policy landscape or the systemic racism and unique challenges faced by Black or Latino/a Muslims in academia.

The personal toll of traversing these spaces is immense. The constant code-switching, the exhaustion of being valued for expertise in one’s field while simultaneously unsupported when speaking about personal experiences with discrimination—it all breeds cynicism and burnout. My assault at the DNC and the subsequent lack of support from institutions I once believed in have profoundly impacted my sense of safety and belonging in academic and political spaces.

When I’ve complained about disparities and inequities, I am often met with shoulder shrugs and labeled a troublemaker. It is difficult for me to serve as a council member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice while watching students being arrested, harassed and assaulted on university campuses like Yale University, Barnard College, the University of California, Berkeley, and Northwestern University, institutions run by people I once admired and trusted. The American Bar Association can do nothing but create a Task Force to Combat Islamophobia and hold webinars, doing nothing in response to the campus free speech issues other than talk about them.

Yet, we must channel this pain into constructive action. Based on my experiences, here are some recommendations for institutions looking to create more inclusive and effective anti-Islamophobia initiatives.

1. Audit policies and practices for Islamophobia
Review hiring and promotion practices for subtle and overt biases. Examine whether Muslim faculty are less likely to receive tenure due to research areas perceived as “controversial” or due to stereotypes about Muslim scholarship. Revise policies that marginalize Muslim faculty and fail to promote them.

2. Broaden representation in leadership and curriculum
Actively recruit Muslim faculty and staff, especially visible Muslim women, and include them in leadership roles. Establish fellowships specifically for Muslim scholars to contribute to curriculum development and other initiatives.

3. Apply an intersectional lens to DEI programs
Design DEI programming that addresses the unique challenges faced by visibly Muslim women, Black, Latino/a and Indigenous Muslims. Host panels that discuss both racial and religious discrimination and include speakers who can address anti-Blackness within Muslim communities as well as Islamophobia as state policy.

4. Diversify anti-Islamophobia training leadership
Engage trainers from different Muslim backgrounds to lead DEI workshops. Ensure participation from all university levels to promote a comprehensive understanding of diverse Muslim experiences, and include bystander intervention training.

5. Implement robust reporting and accountability mechanisms
Establish confidential reporting for Islamophobic incidents with guaranteed follow-up. Ensure that any report of Islamophobia results in a clear process with potential outcomes such as mandated sensitivity training, formal apologies or, in severe cases, suspension. Publicize these measures to build trust within the Muslim community and ensure transparency.

Institutional leaders must step up in setting the tone for how Islamophobia is addressed on campus. They must make public, unequivocal statements condemning Islamophobia and supporting Muslim members of the academic community. They need to stop criminalizing antiwar protesters and brutalizing their own students. Allocating significant resources to anti-Islamophobia initiatives, including funding for Muslim student organizations and research on Islamophobia in academia, is crucial.

Regular policy reviews are essential to ensure protection for Muslim students and faculty from discrimination, with clear consequences for Islamophobic behavior. Promoting Muslim-led interfaith dialogue and developing robust crisis response protocols are also critical steps. As we strive for progress, it’s important to note that the burden of education and advocacy does not fall solely on the shoulders of Muslim academics. Allies in positions of power must step up, speak out and take concrete actions to create truly inclusive academic spaces.

My experience of assault at the DNC and the subsequent lack of institutional support is a harrowing reminder of how far we still have to go. It underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to combating Islamophobia that goes beyond superficial diversity initiatives and addresses the deep-seated biases in our institutions. Only by working together—Muslim and non-Muslim, faculty, staff, and administration— can we create academic environments that are truly inclusive and free from the scourge of Islamophobia. The path forward is clear, but it requires courage, commitment and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. Are we ready to take that step?

Source: Inside Higher Ed

The UK has seen a significant surge in anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia in the year following the Israeli war on Gaza, according to a report released by a leading hate crime monitoring group.

Tell MAMA, a noted NGO that tracks hate crimes in Britain, recorded 4,971 incidents of anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia between Oct. 7, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024. The findings were revealed in a report on Monday.

Iman Atta, the organization’s director, described the alarming rise as unprecedented in the group’s history.

Since Oct. 7, Middle Eastern communities, regardless of faith, as well as visibly Muslim individuals, particularly women, have been increasingly targeted for their perceived support of Palestinian rights, Atta said.

These communities have endured verbal abuse, with people being called “terrorists,” and “Nazis,” in addition to facing threats, violence, and discrimination in public spaces, she added.

This growing hostility has not only threatened their sense of security but has also affected their social mobility, careers, and education, undermining their fundamental rights.

Abusive and threatening behavior

The report revealed that nearly two-thirds (63%) of the incidents involved abusive behavior, while 27% were categorized as threatening behavior.

Most of these cases were reported in major urban canters such as London, the Northwest, Yorkshire, and the Midlands.

The increase in anti-Muslim sentiment has left many questioning their safety and sense of belonging in the UK, especially amid rising far-right violence and incidents like the horrific stabbings in Southport.

Tell MAMA also emphasized that hate crimes remain severely underreported, with many victims becoming to daily abuse and choosing not to report incidents to the police.

The report warned that this rise in anti-Muslim hatred poses serious long-term risks to the economic and social well-being of Muslim communities in the UK, threatening community cohesion.

The NGO called on politicians, the media, and public institutions to take urgent action to address these challenges, counter harmful stereotypes, and prevent the normalization of narratives that link Muslim communities to violence and criminality.

Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on Gaza, which has killed nearly 42,000 people, mostly women, and children, following a Hamas blitz last October.

The conflict spread to Lebanon with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 1,251 people and injured over 3,000 others since Sept. 23.

Source: TRT World

The head of the Muslim Council of Britain has called for an explanation and a review of the government’s policy of non-engagement with the body after her appeals for contact during the summer riots were ignored.

Zara Mohammed, who was elected more than three years ago as the MCB’s youngest and first female secretary general, said there had been a “quite shocking” lack of contact with the new government at a time when mobs were targeting Muslims and mosques.

The MCB had been “heavily engaged” with Labour’s shadow cabinet when the party was in opposition, including a meeting in 2021 between Mohammed and Keir Starmer where they discussed “the importance of engaging with Muslim communities”, she said.

Downing Street then ignored attempts to discuss the dangers being posed to Muslim people during the riots, Mohammed said, even as Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, and senior police officers held talks with her in Belfast.

Mohammed, 33, whose tenure as MCB leader will end in January, said she hoped ministers would now review the government’s “baffling” approach to the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella group, which has more than 500 affiliated members including mosques, schools and charitable associations.

She said: “There’s been no official communication from government since the election, and when the riots happened, I guess that’s where we would have expected.

“We appreciated that, with any new government, they’ve got to settle in, and there’s got to be some time to work out [things]. There’s a lot of things going on in the country, economic downturns, we appreciate that.

“But I think what was really disappointing, and perhaps for many in the Muslim community, quite shocking, was no formal or meaningful engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain during a time when mosques and Muslims were being targeted by the far right in a terrifying way.”

The Conservative government had a policy of non-engagement with the MCB and in a statement to parliament on 1 August the Labour communities minister Alex Norris disclosed that there had “been no change to HMG [his majesty’s government] policy and there are no plans for ministers to meet with the Muslim Council of Britain”.

The new government has not expanded on its approach but the reason given to parliament by Rishi Sunak’s administration for its policy of non-engagement was that “previous MCB leaders have taken positions that contradict our fundamental values and these have not been explicitly retracted”.

That statement was a reference to a row dating back to 2009 when the then MCB deputy secretary general, Daud Abdullah, signed a document known as the Istanbul declaration, which advocated attacks on the Royal Navy if it tried to stop arms for Hamas being smuggled into Gaza.

The then Labour government said it would have nothing more to do with the MCB unless Abdullah stepped down. He did resign and the MCB said the views expressed did not represent those of the body, leading to a re-engagement in the last year of Gordon Brown’s government.

Liberal Democrat ministers in the coalition government elected in 2010 also engaged with the MCB. Penny Mordaunt, when she was the Conservative paymaster general, had a meeting with Mohammed in 2021 but was heavily criticised in parts of the media, including the Daily Mail.

Mohammed said the MCB had since been “locked out”, although she added that policy had not been consistent, with the body providing a reference service for the appointment of Muslim chaplains by the Ministry of Defence until it was highlighted in a Daily Telegraph article last year.

Last week the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, told the Commons that the government was “actively considering” its approach to tackling Islamophobia.

Mohammed said she was “optimistic” that the government would “get its act together”.

She said: “I think what I’m hopeful of is that the government will review the former position and will look at offering a position of clarity as to why [they are not engaging], and having a conversation with us to see, you know, what are the challenges; what are the blocks in 2024, not in 2009.

“Ultimately, talking to a national body is critical when it comes to national representative issues. That’s why we exist, because those mosques sign up to be an umbrella where we’ve had big political issues to talk about.

“We never claim to be the only voice for British Muslims. We claim to represent our bodies. But just as other faith communities have representative bodies, of course, we have one, and of course we want to vocalize on the policy issues, on national representation.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “The government engages regularly with faith communities. During the recent disorder, the minister for faith spoke to representatives of Muslim communities through numerous roundtables and visits to places of worship.”

Source: The Guardian

Some 80 Muslim organizations and community leaders called the UK government to take tangible steps to address rising Islamophobia in the country.

In a statement, the organizations and community leaders, organized under the Islamophobia Action Group, drew attention to the normalization of Islamophobia, which recently fueled riots in some cities, and urged the government to officially adopt the All-Party Parliamentary Group (AAPG) definition of Islamophobia “to send a clear message that Islamophobia will not be tolerated.”

The statement also called on the government to initiate an independent investigation that would focus on the role of social media platforms, mainstream media, and political narratives in disseminating hate and Islamophobia.

“The government must engage directly with legitimate, democratically elected representatives of Muslim communities, particularly the Muslim Council of Britain, to ensure that Muslim voices are heard and addressed,” it added.

Commenting on the issue, a spokesperson for the Islamophobia Action Group said: “This is a critical moment to address the root causes of hate and to protect our society.”

Source: Anadolu Agency