Islamophobia Awareness Exhibition
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ISLAMOPHOBIA
AWARENESS MONTH
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
E X H I MEDIA B NEGATIVITY I T I O N
VISIT THE WEBSITE AND BECOME
A SUPPORTER AT
An exhibition by MEND www.mend.org.uk
ISLAMOPHOBIA-AWARENESS.ORG
@ISLAMOPHOBIAAM
ISLAM THE FAITH
THE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS
Islam, Christianity and
Judaism are known as the
Abrahamic faiths because they
trace their common
roots to Abraham.
They are the world’s major
monotheistic religions
centred on the belief in
One God.
The Holy Book of the Muslims, the Qur’ān contains
references to many prophets that are mentioned
in the sacred books of Christianity and Judaism,
including Adam, Noah, Moses, David, Solomon and
Jesus (peace be upon them all).
The Qur’ān refers to Christians and Jews as
‘Ahl-e-kitāb’ or People of the Book and makes various
references to the Holy Scriptures given to Moses (the
Torah) and Jesus (the Bible), reinforcing the common
thread of all these religions: monotheism.
Other common beliefs between the religions include
a belief in Angels, the Devil, Heaven and Hell, the Day
of Judgement, and bearing witness to faith through
acts of prayer, charity, love and compassion for
others.
Common rituals include eating religiously slaughtered
meat, called Halal in Islam and Kosher in Judaism;
fasting, during Lent, Ramadan, and on Yom Kippur
(Day of Atonement); circumcision (in Islam and
Judaism) and modesty in dress (a practice adhered to
by some Christians, Jews and Muslims).
MUSLIMS CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
HISTORY OF
MUSLIMS IN
BRITAIN
Muslim Community- Religious
studies in Butetown, Cardiff, 1943
19th Century
18th Century
One of the earliest Muslims to settle in
Britain was Sake Dean Mohammed who
came to the UK in 1784. He opened a
Coffee House in London, and later an
‘Indian Vapour Bath and Shampooing
Establishment’ in Brighton, at a time when
the concept of bathing was relatively
unknown. He eventually became
‘Shampooing Surgeon’ to his Majesty
George V.
Lascar sailors increasingly visited British
ports in the 19th Century, with some
settling to establish the first Muslim
communities in Manchester, Cardiff,
Liverpool and the East End of London.
Most came from colonies of the British
Empire, such as British India.
As the Muslim community grew, they
developed institutions to meet their
cultural, educational and spiritual needs.
The first purpose-built mosque in Britain
was the Shahjehan mosque in Woking
in 1889, built by Dr Gottlieb Leitner, a
Hungarian man of Jewish descent. It is
still in use today.
20th Century
At the beginning of the 20th Century
there were approximately 10,000 Muslims
in Britain.
Abdullah Quilliam was born in 1856 and
brought up as a Wesleyan Methodist. He
converted to Islam after a trip to North
Africa. He established the first mosque in
1889 in Liverpool. A respected scholar, he
subsequently set up a Muslim college.
The Muslim community of London initially
comprised of Lascars or seaman from
South Asia and the Arab world. The
first mosque in London was established
in 1910, and was the forerunner to the
biggest mosque in the UK today – the
East London Mosque.
The majority of Muslims in Britain today
originate from economic migration in
the 1950’s and 1960’s from the Indian
subcontinent, and from Uganda and
Kenya in the 1970’s.
Sake Dean Mohammed who
came to the UK in 1784.
MUSLIMS CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
WHY BEST DID OF BRITISH MUSLIMS
COME TO THE UK?
WW1 to WW2
Many Muslim countries were part of the British Empire
in the 20th Century, with the Queen as Head of State.
These included India, the Middle East, South East Asia
and substantial parts of Africa.
1
As loyal subjects of the British Empire approximately
400,000 Muslim soldiers fought in World War I and
approximately 1 million Muslim soldiers fought in the
Indian Army in World War II. In total, more than 4 million
Muslims from around the world either fought or served
as labourers during the War. [6]
2
400,000
Muslim soldiers fought in
World War One
Post War Immigration
3
Following the end of the war in 1945, the UK needed a
large influx of immigrant labour to rebuild the country.
The British Government thus actively encouraged and
welcomed immigrants from its former colonies and the
Commonwealth to come and work in the textile mills,
transport industry and NHS.
Most immigrants were single men, who worked long
hours in difficult conditions and sent money ‘back
home’. Eventually they decided to make Britain their
home and brought over their families.
4
1. Naik Shahmed Khan, recipient of the Victoria Cross for service in World War 1
2. Mr Kaid Sala shopkeeper, Butetown, Cardiff 1943
3. Officers of the 10th Baluch Regiment, Burma 1945
4. British Railway workers, London 1968
5. Clothing manufacturers, Brick Lane, East End London 1978
5
6. Sheikh, R. Forgotten Muslim soldiers of World War One ‘Silence’ Far Right. BBC News.
Retrieved January 25 2022.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
MUSLIM TALENT POOL
3.1 Million
13,500
The Muslim population has grown from
2.7 million to 3.1 million which now makes
up 5.6% of England’s population. 1
£31 Billion
British Muslims contribute
£31 billion to the UK economy with
a spending power of £20.05 billion 2
13,500 businesses in London
creating more than 70,000 jobs.
114,500
114,548 (6%) Muslims are in higher
managerial or administrative
positions. 4
Green Pound
The ‘Green Pound’ of Muslim
spending could save the British
economy after Brexit, connecting the
UK with remunerative consumer
markets across the world. 3
29,200 Muslim staff
9,200 of Muslim staff are
in specialist positions
such as doctors. 5
1. Sharfman, A. (2019, December 4). Research report on population
estimates by ethnic group and religion. Research report on
population estimates by ethnic group and religion - Office for
National Statistics.
2. UK, T. H. P. (2013, October 29). British Muslims add over £31
billion to UK economy. HuffPost UK.
3. Mawji, H. (2019, August 16). Opinion: The ‘green pound’ of
Muslim spending could save the British economy after Brexit.
The Independent.
4. Stevenson, J. (n.d.). The social mobility challenges faced by
young Muslims - gov.uk.
5. NHS. (n.d.). NHS choices.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
COVID COMMUNITY
WORK
1
MUSLIM AID,
GLASGOW
Glasgow Muslim Aid set up food
distribution throughout the month
of Ramadan when they provided
over 200 hot meals per night to
asylum seekers, destitute
individuals and those in need.
1
2
THE PERIOD POVERTY
PROJECT, MANCHESTER
Addressing the struggle to
purchase sanitary products within
the BAME/ Muslim communities,
this project led by Ghazala
Tehseen distributed free menstrual
products to community hubs and
food banks.
4
2
6
3
7
5
8
3
HIMMAH FOODBANK,
NOTTINGHAM
As people struggled with lockdown
and food poverty, the charity Himmah
in Nottingham continued to support
many families through the Covid-19
crisis via its food bank, helped by
additional Muslim volunteers.
4
RABBANIAH ISLAMIC
CULTURAL CENTRE, CARDIFF
Rabbaniah Islamic Cultural Centre
delivered hundreds of food parcels,
including baby milk and nappies,
to low income families who were
struggling in the pandemic and
also raised £5,000 from volunteer
donations.
5
SOUTH WOMEN’S AID
NETWORK (SWAN),
LONDON
As vulnerable people struggled to
buy food during the pandemic, SWAN
delivered food parcels to the homes of
vulnerable people, making the lives of
many South Londoners a little easier
and fostering a sense of community.
Just some of the thousands of local Covid-19
support efforts made by the Muslim community.
6
HUDDERSFIELD COMMUNITY
FIRST, HUDDERSFIELD
Huddersfield Community First
supported their community with
deliveries of food, medicine, and
other supplies to local people in need.
7
NHS WELLNESS BOX PROJECT,
LONDON
As NHS staff worked round the clock
to control Covid-19 in its early stages,
Samiha Sabur and Dr Abu Ali put together
gift boxes consisting of essential items
such as energy bars, hand creams and
toothpaste. They were delivered to
numerous hospitals in Central London.
8
MUSLIM BURIAL FUND,
LONDON
Muslim Burial Fund supplied PPE
clothing and helped to bury over 40
people in difficult circumstances,
considering the Covid-19 pandemic
restrictions on attending funerals,
social distancing rules and the
possibility of forced cremations.
They also buried revert Muslims who had
less social support from family and friends.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
COVID-19
Muslim Contributions to the NHS
Credit Alamy Stock Photo
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Muslim health workers provided
exceptional services to the NHS, many of whom volunteered on the
frontlines and sacrificed their lives to save others.
Recent NHS data reveals: 1
44.3% of the NHS medical staff are
from a BAME background.
Muslim doctors formed over 21% of
the approximately 60,000 doctors
who declared a religious belief.
Main Image: In July 2020, Dr Farzana Hussain (GP of the year
2019) was one of twelve NHS staff to have been photographed
by Ian Rankin to celebrate the NHS’s 72nd anniversary. 2
Muslim NHS Staff Who Died Fighting Covid
For a community that makes up
under 5% of the national population,
Muslims are unquestionably
over-represented within specialist
occupations in the NHS.
First Row: Dr Adel El Tayar (63), Dr Habib Zaidi (76) and
Amged El Hawrani (55) were amongst the first doctors to die at
the start of the pandemic in March 2020, with some returning
from retirement. Second Row: Nurse Areema Nasreen (36),
Dr Alfa Sa’adu (68) and Professor Mohamed Sami Shousha (79)
1. NHS Digital, NHS Workforce. GOV.UK Ethnicity facts and figures,
26th January 2021.
2. Farah, I. Muslima doctor face of UK National Health Service for
72nd Anniversary. Halalop. 6th July 2020.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
MUSLIM INVESTMENT
IN THE UK
Britain has become the home of Islamic Finance in the West.
Aside from the UK treasury issuing the first ever Sukuk (Islamic Bond) by a
western government to the tune of £200m, scores of landmark British sites
have been purchased via Islamic finance structures or sovereign wealth
funds of Muslim nations. In addition Muslim nations have invested in many
of our well known sporting and business institutions.
The Qatari’s own a 95% investment share in
the Shard.
Malaysia’s £400 million investment in
the Battersea Power Station property
development.
Olympic Village owned by Qatari Investment
Authority (QIA).
London Gateway on the Thames – one of
Europe’s biggest ports being built by DP World.
United Arab Emirates investment in the new
Arsenal Stadium.
The Etihad investment in Manchester City
football club.
Canary Wharf complex bought by a
consortium led by the Qatari Investment
Authority.
Purchase of a 10% share in the company that
owns British Airways by Qatari Investment
Authority.
Islamic investors have also financed
Thames Water.
The Qatari Investment Authority (QIA) is
reportedly the biggest shareholder of
Barclays Bank.
Qatar not only owns Harrods, the London
landmark, but also over a quarter of
Sainsbury’s and a 20% slice of Camden
Market.
All references for the above are contained in the MEND Muslim Manifesto 2015.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BRITISH MUSLIMS
& CHARITABLE
GIVING
JEWS
£270
MUSLIMS
£371
ATHEISTS
£116
ROMAN
CATHOLICS
£178
PROTESTANTS
£202
487%
JustGiving: In 2017, donations to
charities rose by 487% during
Ramadan compared to the previous
month. 1
120 Million
MCF (Muslim Charities Forum) estimated
that in 2018 the UK’s 3.5 million Muslims
donated more than £120m to global
charitable causes during Ramadan, at a
rate of £46 every second. 2
Muslims are Britain’s
top charity givers
Muslims ‘Give most to charity’,
ahead of Christians, Jews and
Atheists, poll finds.
Fact
Muslims are duty bound to donate 2.5% of their net disposable
income annually to the poor and needy. This is known as Zakat.
1. Madden, I. Why Muslims donate so much to charity, particularly
during Ramadan. HuffPost UK. 17th May 2018.
2. Guardian News & Media. ‘If we don’t give, people don’t eat’:
Yemen Focus of UK Ramadan Giving. The Guardian. 15th April
2021.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BRITISH MUSLIMS
& PATRIOTISM
83%
of BRITONS generally
felt a ‘strong sense of
belonging’ in the UK. 1 86%
of BRITISH MUSLIMS felt
a ‘strong sense of
belonging’ in the UK. 1
‘95% of British Muslims
feel a loyalty to the UK’
Credit Alamy Stock Photo
1. C4 survey and documentary reveals what British Muslims really think. C4 survey and documentary reveals What
British Muslims Really Think | Channel 4. (2016, April 11).
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BEST OF BRITISH
SIR MOHAMED FARAH CBE
Mo Farah is a British long-distance runner. His ten global championship gold
medals make him the most successful male track distance runner ever, and he
is the most successful British track athlete in modern Olympic Games history.
It took just one glance from his school PE teacher to spot his potential, leading
the young Somali-born child to become a multiple Olympic, World and European
Champion athlete and a dedicated family man. Trafficked as a child into the UK
and abused at the hands of strangers, Mo Farah became widely known as
Britain’s greatest ever athlete.
His 10 global titles include the ‘double double’ of gold medals over 5000m
and 10,000m at all the Olympic games he has competed in so far. Being
the most successful individual in the history of the European Athletics
Championships and securing his legacy as the greatest runner of all
times at the Rio Olympics, Mo Farah further secured his tenth Gold and
second Silver medals at global championships. He dedicated his gold
medal victories to his four children.
As a Muslim he has frequently spoken of the importance of Islam to
his identity and success. He commented, “You’ve got to believe
in God. Everything happens for a reason. I think the way I
am, the way I’m chilled out, has a lot to do with being
Muslim and having faith. I normally pray before
a race, I read a Du’a (Islamic supplication),
think about how hard I’ve worked and
just go for it.”
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BEST OF BRITISH
Raffia Arshad
Raffia Arshad became the first hijab-wearing UK
deputy district judge for the Midlands in 2020,
paving the way for Muslim women to succeed in
the law.
It all started at the age of 11 for the barrister who dreamt
of the career but questioned whether “people who
looked like me” could be a welcomed part of the world.
Thirty years later, the mother-of-three recognizes her
appointment as a win for not just Muslim women, but for
all women.
Originally from Burton-upon-Trent, Judge Arshad
practised family law for more than 17 years before her
new appointment. She hopes to be a trailblazer and
break stereotypes of how a judge should be perceived,
especially with her family advising her to remove the
hijab, Judge Arshad wanted to attain recognition purely
based on merit early on in her career.
With her family fearing she would experience
discrimination, she did not want to alter her identity or
abandon her faith, so she refused to remove the hijab.
Judge Arshad was the first person in her family to attend
university and wanted to encourage others to aim high,
no matter what their profession.
She is currently a member of St Mary’s Chambers
in Nottingham, where the joint heads have said her
appointment was based purely on merit. “Don’t worry
about what you look like, don’t worry about not fitting
into the mould, break that mould and achieve what you
need to.”
Moeen Ali
Moeen Munir Ali, born in 1987 and brought up in
Birmingham, is an English international cricketer.
He represents England in all formats of the game
and in 2020 captained the T20 side, becoming
the first ever cricketer of Asian descent to do so.
Moeen is a left-handed batsman and right-arm off-spin
bowler who played county cricket for Warwickshire before
moving to Worcestershire after the 2006 season. He
won Warwickshire’s NBC Denis Compton Award in both
2004 and 2009. His off-spin is marked by a strongly spun
off-break and a well-concealed arm ball. He was named
one of the Cricketers of the Year in the 2015 Wisden
Cricketers’ Almanack. He was part of the England team
that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup and in 2022 was
awarded the OBE for services to cricket.
Moeen has said that his faith and British identity are things
he holds dear, “Islam means everything to me and I feel
very proud when people ask me where I’m from. I can
raise my head and say I’m very happy I was brought up in
a country where I was very fortunate.
Growing up in the UK has given me a lot of opportunities.
I probably wouldn’t be in this situation if I hadn’t been
born here or raised here.”
Moeen’s grandmother was white, which makes him of
mixed descent, “I don’t see colour as an issue. I see
everybody as being the creation of God. We’re all
brothers and sisters in humanity.”
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BEST OF BRITISH
Naz Shah
Naseem ‘Naz’ Shah is an award-winning activist,
who was elected as the Labour Party MP for
Bradford West in 2015.
Naz Shah established herself as a straight-talking “brave”
political leader in the Labour party, serving as the Shadow
Minister for Equalities between 2018 to 2020 and then
for Community Cohesion. Naz made her maiden speech
in Parliament on July 7th. In this speech Naz raised the
issue of child poverty as a result of harsh reductions in
welfare and local government funding, an issue she has
continued to raise over her time in Parliament.
Having experienced extreme adversity from an early
age, such as being forced to marry at the age of 15, Naz
naturally champions women’s rights in her parliamentary
role. Naz’s passions are community development and
leadership and her work on the parliamentary inquiry into
extremism has established Naz as a recognised voice
promoting dialogue around the “Prevent” agenda and
challenging Islamophobia.
Prior to being elected to Parliament, Naz was chair of
a mental health charity, and has previously worked as
a carer for disabled people, as an NHS Commisioner
and a director for a regional association supporting
local councils. Naz is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary
Groups on Islamic Finance and Muslim women and is
Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on British
Muslims; Hajj and Umrah; Race and Community; Religion
in the Media; and Bangladesh.
Magid Magid
Magid Magid also is known as Magid Mah, is a
British-Somali activist and politician who has
served as the Lord Mayor of Sheffield from May
2018 to May 2019.
Former child refugee, Somali-born Magid was the first
Black British Muslim to become Sheffield’s Lord Mayor
and an elected councillor, breaking through barriers
in numerous ways or as he likes to call it “causing
disruption”. Born in Somalia, Magid came as a child
refugee to Britain in 1994. He grew up in Burngreave,
Sheffield, and studied aquatic zoology at the University
of Hull where he was elected president of Hull University
Union. He worked in digital marketing and was elected as
a Green Party councillor on Sheffield City Council in 2016.
With the rise of rightist rhetoric and fear, Magid wanted
to pursue a political career after joining the Green party
and wanted to become a representative for young Black
British Muslims. As a race and climate justice activist,
Magid became a member of the European Parliament,
representing Yorkshire and Humber and is the author of
‘The Art of Disruption: A manifesto for real change’.
Magid co-chairs a refugee charity, ‘City of Sanctuary
Sheffield,’ which aims to create a safe space for refugees
seeking sanctuary. Magid was named one of TIME’s rising
stars, One Young Politician of the Year and European
Young Leader in 2019.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BEST OF BRITISH
Zarah Sultana
Zarah Sultana is a British Labour Party
politician who is a Member of Parliament for
Coventry South.
Zarah is a young force to be reckoned with; from
challenging bigots in parliament to calling for action
on climate change, her uncompromising trailblazing
speeches have gained worldwide attention. Bringing a
new dynamic to politics, she relentlessly campaigns for
justice and equality for all, rattling the elite and being a
voice for young people and Muslims across the nation.
The daughter of an immigrant from Kashmir, Zarah’s
passion for change stems from growing up in the
West Midlands, during an era where race riots
and deprivation were prevalent. Her awareness of
differential treatment between white and non-white
students grew in sixth form, suggesting that the
unfortunate reality is that where a person comes from
dictates their opportunities.
Her keen interest in social inequalities enabled her
to study International Relations at the University of
Birmingham. Since her appointment, Zarah has been
a strong advocate for calling out Islamophobia within
parliament and across the public - sharing hateful
messages sent by various individuals to her email and
social media accounts. She stands in solidarity with
other fellow Muslim politicians experiencing similar or
worse forms of Islamophobic abuse.
Azeem Rafiq
Azeem Rafiq is a British Asian cricketer who
played professionally in England for Yorkshire
County Cricket Club.
The Pakistani-born off-spinner from Barnsley rose to fame
becoming the first-ever Asian cricketer and the youngest
player in the county of Yorkshire’s history to captain in
a senior match and go unbeaten in six T20 matches.
Showing potential to become a fully-fledged all-rounder,
Azeem Rafiq’s first-class debut performance in cricket
started at the age of 17, captaining the under 15’s and then
the under 19’s.
Yet, all the highs came with significant lows; experiencing
personal tragedies, losing contracts and undergoing
institutional racism, bullying and Islamophobia at the
Yorkshire cricket club. In 2020, Azeem testified against
the harassment he experienced, taking legal action
against the club and demanding justice for what he had
to endure as a non-white sportsman. He believes he
lost his career to racism and Islamophobia. Nonetheless,
his campaign has encouraged other players to come
forward with their personal accounts of experiencing
Islamophobia within sports.
During the covid-19 lockdown, Azeem set up a tea shop
called ‘Matki Chai’, operating from a shipping container
in Rotherham and wanted to do his bit to support the
NHS. Azeem and his family also delivered food items
such as fruits and chocolates to staff working in the A&E
department at Barnsley hospital and then raised money
selling curries on a Saturday night for Barnsley Hospice.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BEST OF BRITISH
Anas Sarwar MSP
Succeeding his father Mohammed Sarwar, the
first-ever Muslim MP in the UK, Anas Sarwar
became the first Muslim to lead a political party.
Born in Glasgow in 1983, he studied dentistry at the
University of Glasgow and worked as a dentist in
the NHS in Paisley for five years prior to becoming a
parliamentarian. Anas was first elected as an MP for
Glasgow Central in 2010 and was elected as deputy
leader of Scottish Labour just one year later. In 2016
he was elected to the Scottish Parliament and became
leader of Scottish Labour in 2021.
As the leader of the Scottish Labour Party and MSP of
Glasgow, his passion and drive to make a difference is
partly due to his first-hand experiences of racism and
abuse in his childhood and then having faced multiple
threats during his career as a dentist. Driving to be a force
for change, Anas established the Scottish Parliament’s
Cross-Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia and led the
campaign against hatred and intolerance.
With profound contributions to making a political stance
against Islamophobia, his work is not limited to this. Anas
has also worked to tackle the staffing crisis in the health
service, campaigned to end the NHS pay cap and has
been actively involved in many charitable projects.
Aisha Janki Akinola
Aisha is an aspiring architect with a passion for
sustainable design and climate justice.
She comes from a small town called “Ede” in Osun State,
Nigeria and has always held a passion for arts and design,
which led to her studying architecture at the University of
Edinburgh.
Aisha won a fully-funded scholarship to study architecture,
but her experience as a Black Muslim woman, living alone
and noticing the lack of support given to mental health
motivated her to do much more. Aisha got involved with
the BlackEd movement and ran a series of social media
campaigns against racial harassment and hate crimes on
campus.
From dealing with the mental struggles of Covid-19
lockdown to being denied welfare support as a Black
Muslim student, the arduous journey to becoming an
aspiring architect did not stop Aisha Janki Akinola from
challenging such adversity and stereotypes with discipline
and determination.
At the university, she is involved with various forums
such as the Nigerian Society, Islamic Society and African
Caribbean Society. This is because she loves diversity
and wanted to show the community at Edinburgh what
being a Nigerian, a Muslim and an African means.
She also secured a role as the Sabbatical Officer for
Edinburgh University Student Vice President of Welfare
as the lead on students’ welfare and wellbeing, including
issues on equality, diversity and inclusion.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BEST OF BRITISH
Sultana Tafadar
Ranked in the Legal 500, Sultana is a
high-profile human rights, international law and
criminal justice barrister, practicing at
No 5 Chambers.
Born and raised in Luton to immigrant Bangladeshi
parents, Sultana Tafadar became the first hijab-wearing
barrister to be appointed Queen’s Counsel (QC), an elite
group consisting of around 2000 lawyers, less than 2%
of the legal profession. Her lifelong dream of wanting to
change the world for the better became a reality after
excelling in multiple areas of law. Sultana was inspired
by the American civil rights movement, thus wanting to
become an activist lawyer.
Whilst growing up, racial discrimination toward BAME
people was prevalent, and she believed she could be
an advocate for change in the future. She has proven
that there should be no barriers to success as a Muslim
woman despite facing several challenges as a hijabwearing
BAME woman in this field.
Sultana is currently on a legal campaign against France’s
hijab ban; a ban that denies one’s right to religious
freedom and instigates sexual discrimination. With a
series of submissions in place to the UN, Sultana takes
a high-profile role in advising states on human rights
and international laws as well as providing consultancy
to multi-national corporations on equality, diversity and
inclusion.
Dr. Rimla Akhtar
In 2014 Dr Akhtar became the first Muslim
and Asian woman on the FA Council as their
Inclusion Advisory Board member.
She was awarded an MBE in 2015 for her contribution
to equality and diversity in sport. Her strategic and
boardroom positions extend to her appointments as
an Independent Director of the Sports Ground Safety
Authority, Independent Director and Trustee of Kick It
Out, and Council member of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of Scotland.
She is a developer, communicator and strategist best
known for her work as an Inclusion and Diversity specialist
in sport, which led to her being ranked 15th in the 2015 list
of ‘The Independent’s Most Influential Women in Sport’.
With over 17 years of experience in the sports industry, her
work has proved influential across the United Kingdom,
the Middle East and Asia. Her accolades include two
honorary doctorates awarded in 2017 and the Sky Sports
and Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year Community
Award in 2013.
Whilst maintaining a successful career in the
city at leading global professional services firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rimla also captained Britain
in Futsal competitions and is the founder of the leading
global sport development consultancy ‘RimJhim
Consulting’. As Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sport
Foundation, she has pioneered incredible work in
women’s sports nationally and across the world.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BEST OF BRITISH
Ali Abdi
Ali Abdi from Wales is well-known for his active
leadership and development expertise in
empowering BAME communities across Wales.
He was awarded the British Empire Medal for the 2019
Honours list and Race Council Cymru’s National lead for
the BAME National Youth Forum. He was also recognised
in the ‘2018 Black History Month Wales of 100 African
Caribbean and African Welsh people.’
Ali is well-known for his outstanding contributions to
the development of young people; through mentorship,
widening access to study and employment at Cardiff
University, and encouraging communities to take action
for greater equality and inclusion.
He has helped facilitate various projects to tackle
poverty, unemployment and under-representation in
the workforce, notably through The Community Jobs
Compact, which builds relationships between local
employers and businesses.
With a passion for sports and driven to make sports
accessible for young people from BAME communities,
Ali has also coordinated with many Sports National
Governing Bodies and BAME organisations to create
sports-tailored activities and programmes to address
health inequalities.
Jason Mohammad
Jason Mohammad was born to a Welsh mother
and Pakistani father and is one of the BBC’s most
ubiquitous broadcasters.
He is the main presenter for Final Score and occasional
host of Match of The Day 2 and has contributed to the
corporation’s coverage of a wide range of sports.
Growing up as a practising Muslim in the 80s, Jason
Mohammad experienced Islamophobia from an early
age; from being spat on to being called a p*** or ‘Muzzie,’
resulting in fear, reluctance and developing deep
emotional scars.
His dream of becoming a journalist led him to suppress
his faith, thus making him unwilling to talk about Islam
for many years. However, a turning point came when
Jason wanted to follow his father’s footsteps and made a
pilgrimage to Mecca.
Aired in a documentary on Welsh-language TV, he
described it as a ‘spiritual awakening’ and felt he should
have always been more open about his faith. With all
the abuse footballers and presenters like him receive
on the pitch, Jason stands with those against racism and
Islamophobia leading him to speak and campaign within
Wales’ Islamic community.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
BEST OF BRITISH
SHEIKH NURU MOHAMMED
Hailing from Ghana, Sheikh Nuru Mohammed
became the first Muslim leader in the UK
to have his mosque used as a COVID-19
vaccination centre.
As the Imam and head of Al-Abbas Islamic Centre
in Birmingham, where 1 in 5 people are Muslims,
Sheikh Mohammed felt a moral obligation to
support his community.
Being based in one of the most diverse cities in
Europe, the mosque had people from various
backgrounds attending the vaccination clinic,
which initiated inter-faith and inter-cultural
communications.
‘The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)
reminded the Ummah [World Muslim Community]
that God will continue to assist His servants and
show them mercy as long as they continue to
help others. Hence our faith is not complete until
we show love to others. Offering our services to
humanity is a service to God, they go
hand-in-hand.’
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
#AdoptTheDefinition
Why is a definition of
Islamophobia necessary?
What people see
Hate Crime
Verbal Attacks
Physical Attacks
What people don’t see
Discrimination
Stereotypes
Exclusion
Islamophobia is one of
the principal barriers
to the participation of
Muslims in public, economic, political,
and social spheres of life.
Without a definition of Islamophobia,
policymakers cannot identify how Islamophobia
manifests itself and functions and therefore,
devise meaningful strategies to tackle it.
The APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group
on Islamophobia) produced a report in 2018
called ‘Islamophobia Defined’ which defined
Islamophobia as follows:
“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a
type of racism that targets expressions of
Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” 1
Muslims are racialised through Islamophobic
tropes stereotyping them as a homogenous
group, and thus Islamophobia manifests and
functions in the same way as other forms of
racism.
Hate crime, harassment, and abuse in public
places are just the most visible and overt forms
of Islamophobia. In reality, there are many other
‘covert’ forms of ‘Structural Islamophobia’ that
operate in wider society and manifest in areas
such as education, employment, politics and
policing.
Marginalisation
#AdoptTheDefinition
We urge all local councils nationwide
to adopt the APPG definition of
Islamophobia, in conjunction with the
explanatory guidelines the Coalition
Against Islamophobia have produced.
1. Source: All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, “Islamophobia Defined: The inquiry into a working definition of Islamophobia”, 2018,
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
BRITISH BEST OF PUBLIC BRITISH
ATTITUDES
30%
30% of Britons now regard
Islam as a threat to the UK.
47%
47% of Conservative voters
believe Islam is incompatible
with the British way of life.
37%
37% of Britons believe there
are ‘no-go zones’ in the UK.
(Apparently where Sharia law is practised and
non-Muslims could not enter, with 58%
of Conservative party members agreeing.) 1
1. 2022. Hopenothate.org.uk.
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
MEDIA NEGATIVITY
& LIES
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
DISTORTED MEDIA
COVERAGE
1 in 5 Brit Muslims’
Sympathy for Jihadis
Muslims Tell us How to
Run Our Schools
9 Year-old Schoolboy is
Jihadi Extremist
CIA Given Details of
British Muslim Students
The X Fatwa
Hundreds More
Muslims Choose Jihad
Than Army
Muslim Schools Ban
Our Culture
Muslim Only Public
Loos
Britain Goes Halal
Veil Case Teacher Cost
Us £250,000
Muslim Convert
Beheads Woman in
Garden
How to Spot the Jihadi
Next Door
Ramadan a Ding Dong
Muslims tell British go
to Hell
Ban the Veil
An Elderly Jewish Lady
& Her Muslim
Neighbours who Cared
Al Qaeda Corrie Threat
Halal Secret of Pizza
Express
BBC Puts Muslims
Before You
Muslim Plot to Kill Pope
Jihadist Killers on our
Streets
Islam Poses Threat to
West Poll
For every 1 ‘moderate’ Muslim mentioned,
21 examples of ‘extremist’ Muslims are
mentioned in the British press.
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
JOURNALIST &
ACADEMIC VIEWS
“What mental images are
most readily generated, when
mention is made of Muslim
political engagement in the UK?
If the content of our news cycles is anything
to go by, the chances are that ‘community
leader’, ‘angry mob’ and ‘death threat’ will
feature highly.” 1
Dr Khadijah Elshayyal
Post doctoral research fellow at The University of
Edinburgh and author of ‘Muslim Identity Politics: Islam,
Activism and Equality in Britain.’
“We need to learn a lesson
from the fake moral panic
over the Batley parents.
With influence comes
responsibility. Influential columnists should
display intellectual integrity, and at the very
least ask themselves whether they got it
wrong.” 2
John Holmwood
Professor of Sociology at Nottingham University and
co-Author of ‘The Trojan Horse Affair’ on media
reaction to the case of Batley Grammar School teacher,
depicting a blasphemous cartoon image of the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH).
“An anti-Islamophobia
approach must include the
depoliticisation of differences
and the acceptance of diversity.
Similar to anti-racist campaigners, this
strategy advocates not for a post-racial
society, but a post-racist one.” 3
PETER OBORNE
Dr Ismail Adam Patel
Founder and Chair of non-profit NGO ‘Friends of
Al Aqsa’ and author of ‘The Muslim Problem: From
the British Empire to Islamophobia.’
“I believe that by mocking
the term Islamophobia, he
was mocking thousands of
Muslims who have to suffer violence,
mockery and discrimination in their daily
lives. That’s not acceptable.” 4
Peter Oborne
British Journalist and Broadcaster Peter Oborne
discussing Trevor Phillips, former Chair of the Equality
and Human Rights Commission who was suspended
for Islamophobia.
1. Fellow, D. K. E. A. (2021, September 14). Rethinking muslim
representation - 20 years after 9/11. CAGE.
2. Holmwood, J. (n.d.). Batley cartoon row: As Muslim parents are
vindicated, the media is Silent. Middle East Eye.
3. Ismail Patel is the author of “The Muslim Problem: From the
British Empire to Islamophobia”. He is also Visiting Research
Fellow at the University of Leeds and the Chair of the UK
based NGO Friends of Al-Aqsa. (n.d.). Is Islam fundamentally
incompatible with Britishness? Middle East Eye.
4. Peter Oborne won best commentary/blogging in both 2022 and
2017. (n.d.). Trevor Phillips Row: Islamophobia is no laughing
matter. Middle East Eye.
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
THEM & US
Volunteers from over 250 mosques across the UK
supporting the Great British Spring Clean campaign
Articles frequently represent British Muslims as a singular
group in profound opposition to British culture and values.
Instead of presenting the commonalities between British values and the Muslim faith, many
broadsheets, tabloids, and even television and film, use narratives that portray Muslims
as extremist, antagonistic and subversive. Media discourses overwhelmingly externalise
Muslims and display Islamic culture as impinging on the West and Britain. Muslims and Islam
are often portrayed as an ‘alien presence’ rather than as part and parcel of contemporary
British society.
Muslims tell British
“Go to Hell”
Cameron tells UK Muslims:
Be more British
Al-Qaeda Corrie
Threat
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
ISLAMOPHOBIC
HATE CRIMES
Aftermath of the 2017 Finsbury Park Mosque attack,
perpetrated by Darren Osborne
Credit James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock
In the year ending March
2022, nearly 3,500 hate
crimes were against Muslims.
This comprised 42% of all
religious hate crimes. 1
In one year, 143,920
derogatory and anti-Islamic
tweets were sent from the UK
amounting to 393 tweets a day.
After the Manchester
Arena attacks in 2017, 300
counselling sessions were
provided across the UK
after the NSPCC reported
an increase in helpline
calls for racial and religious
based bullying or hate crime.
Likewise, the number of
Childline calls doubled after
the Westminster attacks.
1,665 Islamophobic offences
were recorded by the
Metropolitan Police Service in
one year.
For every one neutral or
positive reference to a Muslim,
there are twenty one examples
of ‘extremist’ Muslims
mentioned within British media.
50% of women feel they have
been deprived of progression
opportunities due to
discrimination, with wearing a
hijab being the main reason. 2
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Youtube and TikTok failed
to remove nearly 90% of
Islamophobic content on their
platforms.
530 posts with 25 million
views contained dehumanising
content of Muslims via racist
caricatures, conspiracies and
false claims. 3
ISLAMOPHOBIC
SOCIAL MEDIA
HASHTAGS
#Islamiscancer
#raghead
#deathtoislam
#killallmuslims
#stopislam
#diepainfullymuslims
#Islamistheproblem
1. Home Office (2022). Hate crime, England and Wales,
2021 to 2022
2. Islamophobia by numbers. Islamophobia Awareness Month.
(n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2022,
3. Smith, A. (2022, April 28). Facebook and Twitter ‘failed to
remove’ nearly 90 per cent of islamophobic posts. The
Independent.
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
RISE OF THE FAR RIGHT
One of the major factors in the rise of
Islamophobia has been the increasing
militancy of far right social movements and
political parties, such as Britain First, the
English Defence League and Pegida UK.
This has mirrored the rise of far right political groups
across Europe, including Front National Party in
France, the Freedom Party in the Netherlands and the
Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany, fanning fears
of the ‘Islamisation of Europe.’ British far right groups
have promoted an increasingly overt anti-Muslim
narrative with anti-Muslim prejudice at the core of their
right wing ideology.
They have held countless demonstrations across the
UK in recent years, with significant costs to the taxpayer,
business and more worryingly, local communities.
Punish a Muslim
Day Letter
Jailed for 12 years, white
supremacist, David Purnham who
called himself ‘Muslim Slayer’, sent
a series of malicious letters for
Muslims to be butchered.
The Islamophobic campaign
sparked an increase in hate crime.
37 offline incidents “directly
referenced” Parnham’s letters,
giving rise to national debates over
Muslims and Islam. 1
1. Independent Digital News and Media. (2019, September 4). White supremacist behind ‘punish a muslim day’ jailed for 12 years. The Independent.
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
TARGETING
MUSLIM WOMEN
Between October 2020-21, 62% of all
hate crime reports to the Islamophobia
Response Unit were made by women. 1
Whether online, on the street, or in the workplace;
Muslim women, especially those who are ‘visibly
Muslim’, tend to be at the forefront of Islamophobic
abuse. Women who wear the hijab (headscarf) or
niqab (face veil) are more likely to be targeted and
misrepresented in the media.
Muslim women are ‘othered’ through
misrepresentative choice of media imagery. 2
Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister,
mocked Muslim women wearing the niqab,
and compared them to “letterboxes” and
“bank robbers” 3
Of 38 Islamophobic incidents reported,
22 were directed at Muslim women who
wore the niqab, or face veil. 4
Muslim women are more likely to be the
target of verbal and physical hate crime in
public and online. 5
Zaynab Hussein
“Proud” of trying to kill a “paki,” Paul Moore, 21 ran over and
attempted to kill a Muslim woman Zaynab Hussein, who was on the
way home after dropping off her children at school in Leicester.
She suffered multiple injuries and mental health difficulties after this
horrifying Islamophobic attack. He was sentenced to 20 years in
prison for attempted murder. 6
CASE
STUDY
1. Islamophobia Response Unit (2022) personal communication
2. MCB. (n.d.). Centre for Media Monitoring - committees.
parliament.uk. State of media reporting on Islam and Muslims.
3. BBC. (2018, August 6). Boris Johnson faces criticism over Burka
‘letter box’ jibe. BBC News.
4. The Guardian. (2019, September 1). Boris Johnson’s burqa
comments ‘led to surge in anti-Muslim attacks’. The Guardian.
5. Independent. (2021, December 1). ‘there is no safe space to
be myself’: The Muslim women targeted for their beliefs. The
Independent.
6. BBC. (2018, March 27). Paul Moore jailed for Leicester Hate Crime
Car Attack. BBC News.
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
A MATTER OF
LIFE OR DEATH
The rising tide of Islamophobia in the UK can have
tragic consequences. It is not always about verbal or physical
abuse, or offensive graffiti and the desecration of graves.
In some cases it leads to the ultimate crime, murder.
Makram Ali
Finsbury Park terror attack. One man, Makram Ali died, and nine others
were injured when a van was driven into a crowd of people near a
North London mosque on 19 June 2017. Darren Osborne was jailed for a
minimum of 43 years in February 2018 for murdering Mr Ali and trying to
murder others in the attack.
Mohammed Saleem
An 82-year old man who was fatally stabbed whilst walking home from
a mosque in Birmingham in 2013. He was killed by Pavlo Lapshyn, a 25
year old far right sympathiser from the Ukraine who also planted bombs
near mosques in the West Midlands. His motive: “to spark a race war”.
At the time the West Midlands Police Deputy Chief Constable, Dave
Thompson commented on the lack of media coverage suggesting it
failed to properly publicise appeals about Muslim mosque bombings
out of possible religious bias. “Our circulation of the picture of alleged
suspects in the Mosque attacks drew very little coverage; that was
frustrating at a time we needed public help.”
Muhsin Ahmed
An 81 year old man who was savagely beaten by two men in 2015 on
his way to his mosque in Rotherham. The men stamped so viciously on
his head, the footprint was clearly visible. He died in hospital from his
injuries days later. Dale Jones was sentenced to life imprisonment for
murder and Damien Hunt to 14 years in jail for manslaughter.
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
INSTITUTIONAL
BEST OF BRITISH
ISLAMOPHOBIA
Research published in the Ethnic and Racial
Studies Journal, found that there is a penalty
for Muslim and Black groups within British
labour markets.
Population surveys and
modelling revealed discrimination
towards Muslims and to those
perceived to be Muslim. 1
Economic inactivity was highest
among Muslim women, over
half of whom were economically
inactive. 2
The social mobility report on
‘The Social Mobility Challenges
Faced by Young Muslims’
concluded that young Muslims
were disadvantaged by a lack of
appropriate advice, guidance and
informal networks to progress in
the labour market, compounded
by potential discrimination at the
recruitment stage. 3
Only 6% of Muslims are
in higher managerial or
administrative positions,
compared to 10% of the
overall UK population.
Only 20% of the Muslim
population is in full-time
employment, compared to
more than 35% of the overall
population in England and
Wales. 4
Between 2012-2018,
Muslims had the lowest
employment rate of all
religious groups. 5
Eric Kitson
hang um all
first then ask
questions
later...
8 October 2012 at 20.33
7 out of 10 UK Muslims
experienced ISLAMOPHOBIA
in the workplace. 6
Savanta ComRes survey
WOULD WE TOLERATE THIS AGAINST ANY OTHER MINORITY?
1. 2022. Tandfonline.Com.
2. Religion, Education And Work In England And Wales - Office For
National Statistics. 2022. Ons.Gov.Uk.
3. Social Mobility Commission (2017). The Social Mobility Challenges
Faced by Young Muslims.
4. Muslims Are Less Likely To Succeed At Work Because Of
Islamophobia, Report Finds. 2022. Metro.
5. Religion, Education And Work In England And Wales - Office For
National Statistics. 2022. Ons.Gov.Uk.
6. Staff, The. 2022. “7 Out Of 10 Working UK Muslims Experience
Islamophobia: Poll”. The New Arab.
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
DECOLONISING
BEST OF BRITISH
EDUCATION
What does it mean to
decolonise education?
In its simplest form, it means to learn history
from a non-colonial and unbiased view. 1
Students and academics are demanding
a more diverse and balanced approach to
learning history by reflecting on the injustices
perpetrated by colonialism, reflecting on the
impact of this on present-day racism, ceasing
the glorification of enlightenment philosophers
and recognising the contributions of BAME
people.
Why is it important to
decolonise education?
There are significant issues within the higher
education sector:
BAME students and staff members
are subjected to racism and racial
microaggressions in the higher education
sector. An inquiry by the Equality and
Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
found that about a quarter of minority
ethnic students had experienced racial
harassment since the start of their
course, but universities are in denial of
the scale of the problem. 2
BAME staff are underrepresented
with fewer than 1% of the professors
employed at UK universities being black
in comparison to 93% who are white.
There is an overall pay gap of 9%
between white and BAME academic staff,
where black academic staff are paid 14%
less than white academic staff. 3
There is also an ethnic gap in student
attainment levels. Black students have
the largest gap in attainment level
(17.4%) when compared to their white
counterparts. 4
65% of students who are Muslim gained
firsts and upper second-class degrees
as undergraduates, compared with more
than 76% of all other students.
1. Decolonising The School Curriculum. UK Parliament Week 2020
| The Political Studies Association (PSA)”. 2022. Decolonising
The School Curriculum. UK Parliament Week 2020 | The Political
Studies Association (PSA).
2. Universities Failing To Address Thousands Of Racist Incidents.
2022. The Guardian.
3. Black Academic Staff Face Double Whammy In Promotion And
Pay Stakes. 2022. Ucu.Org.Uk.
4. 2022. Officeforstudents.Org.Uk.
MUSLIM ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTRIBUTION IN BRITAIN TO BRITAIN
ISLAMOPHOBIA BEST OF BRITISHIN
THE WORKPLACE
The Muslim Penalty - UK Muslims are
more likely to be unemployed than
their white British counterparts.
According to evidence found in
research published in the Ethnic
and Racial Studies Journal, there
is a penalty for being both Muslim
and also Black within British labour
markets.
Evidence from population surverys
and modelling reveals discrimination
towards Muslims and to those
perceived to be Muslim to be an
overwhelming barrier to being
employed. 1
Economic inactivity was highest
among Muslim women, over half of
whom were economically inactive. 2
A Savanta ComRes survey reveals
7 out of 10 UK Muslims experienced
Islamophobia in the workplace
with 58% of Black Muslims having
experienced discrimination at the
recruitment stage. 3
British Muslims are hindered
from reaching their full potential
in the workplace due to
Islamophobia. The Social Mobility
Commission found predominantly
young Bangladeshi and Pakistani
Muslims have higher educational
attainment, but this does not
translate into success in the
workplace.
Only 6% of Muslims are in higher
managerial or administrative
positions, compared to 10% of the
overall UK population.
Only 20% of the Muslim population
is in full-time employment,
compared to more than 35% of the
overall population in England and
Wales. 4
Between 2012-2018, Muslims had
the lowest employment rate of all
religious groups. 5
1. 2022. Tandfonline.Com.
2. Religion, Education And Work In England And Wales - Office For
National Statistics. 2022. Ons.Gov.Uk.
3. Staff, The. 2022. “7 Out Of 10 Working UK Muslims Experience
Islamophobia: Poll”.
4. Social Mobility Commission 2017. The Social Mobility Challenges
faced by Young Muslims.
5. Religion, Education And Work In England And Wales - Office
For National Statistics. 2022.
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
AIRPORT DETENTIONS
& RELIGIOUS PROFILING
Schedule 7 of the Terrorism
Act 2000 allows a ‘examining
officer’ at a port to stop,
interrogate, search and detain
you for up to 6 hours if they
believe you may be involved in
an act of terrorism.
A study by the University of
Cambridge in 2014 showed
nearly 90% of those stopped
under Schedule 7 were
Muslim. 1
Of the 2604 persons subject
to Schedule 7 in the year to
March 2022. 2
34% identified as ‘Asian or
Asian British’
90%
of those stopped
under Schedule 7
were Muslim 1
32% identified as ‘Chinese
or Other’
20% identified as ‘White’
9% identified as ’Black or
Black British’
So you are still more likely to be
stopped if you are Asian than
any other ethnic category.
1. Cage. (2019). https://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CAGE-Schedule-7-report.pdf. 2. Operation Of Police Powers Under The Terrorism Act 2000 And Subsequent Legislation: Arrests,
Outcomes, And Stop And Search, Great Britain, Quarterly Update To March 2022.
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
DOES SCHEDULE 7
WORK?
From 2009 to 2019 approximately
41,900 people were stopped,
but only 30 were convicted,
this is a conviction rate of only
0.007%. 1
This means over 99.99% of
people stopped were innocent.
Is this fair and proportionate?
Questions asked of people
under Schedule 7 include:
• Do you pray?
• Do you fast?
• Have you been to Makkah?
What have these questions got
to do with terrorism?
1. Cage. (2019) https://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CAGE-Schedule-7-report.pdf.
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
EXPERIENCE OF
BLACK MUSLIMS
‘A minority within a minority’
With Islamophobia on the rise, the unfortunate reality is that
black Muslims experience both racial and religious discrimination,
not only in wider society but within Muslim communities.
Despite a rich history of Black Muslims
playing a pivotal role in Islam from the time of
its birth, there is a perception that Islam stems
from those of South-Asian and Arab heritage,
resulting in Black Muslims contributions to the
advancement of Islam being watered-down
throughout history.
A minority within a minority
There is a growing number of Muslims from
African and Afro-Caribbean backgrounds, but
Black Muslim communities comprise about
10% of the UK’s Muslim population. 1
Islamophobia against Black
Muslims
58% of Black Muslims experienced
discrimination at the recruitment stage
compared with 37% of non-Black
Muslims. 2
Muslim male job applicants originating
from the Middle East and Africa
“experience a double burden” of faith
and ethnicity. 3
Black Muslim women can face a
triple burden
“As a Black person, you are oppressed,
you have racism...and then as a Muslim
you have Islamophobia against you, you
have people with certain agendas against
you. As a woman there is patriarchy,
people who hate you, misogyny.”
Aisha, a 23 year old Black Muslim woman
sharing her experience living in the UK. 4
Racism within UK Muslim
communities
After the horrific murder of George Floyd
in America, as well as many other innocent
Black victims of police brutality, the events
sparked global outrage, triggering a powerful
movement to challenge institutional racism.
This further sparked conversations about
racism within Muslim communities and their
perception of Black people.
A study conducted by the Muslim
Census revealed:
82% have witnessed anti-black racism
from their own family and friends.
73% have never heard directly from
a black Muslim about the issues they
face.
31% admitted themselves to previously
or presently holding anti-black
prejudice. 5
Moreover, a study by the Black
Muslim Forum revealed:
63% of Black Muslims felt they did not
belong in the UK Muslim community.
54% felt they did not belong to their
local Mosque.
84% felt they did not belong in Islamic
societies at their university.
This indicates a collective intragroup
experience of racism faced by Black
Muslims . 6 It is clear that a lot of work
needs to be done. Anti-blackness must be
addressed within our homes and localised
Muslim communities.
There must be an active effort
to speak out against such issues
across wider society.
1. ”Black Muslims Are Almost Invisible In Britain, But Now We’re Carving Out A Space | Na’Ima B Robert”. 2022.
The Guardian.
2. Staff, The. 2022. “7 Out Of 10 Working UK Muslims Experience Islamophobia: Poll”. The New Arab.
3. 2022. Tandfonline.Com. “Does the Muslim penalty in the British labour market dissipate after accounting for so-called
‘sociocultural attitudes’?”.
4. Nurein, Sheymaa Ali, and Humera Iqbal. 2021. “Identifying A Space For Young Black Muslim Women In Contemporary
Britain”. Ethnicities 21 (3): 433-453.
5. 2020 Muslim Census. “A study into Anti-Blackness amongst young Muslims within the UK”.
6. 2022. “They Had The Audacity To Ask Me If I Was Muslim, When They Saw Me – A Black Woman In Niqab” – Report On
The Experiences Of Black British Muslims”. Black Muslim Forum.
ISLAMOPHOBIA IN BRITAIN
STEREOTYPING
MUSLIMS
The photography typically reflects the visual imagery and themes
used on Islam and Muslims in newspapers and broadcast media.
The predominance of such images and a discourse which emphasises ‘conflict’,
‘violence’ and Islam’s ‘cultural incompatibility’ reproduces prejudiced attitudes
towards Islam in public debates on immigration, multiculturalism and national
identity.
In reality the people depicted above represent only a tiny fraction of Britain’s
muslim community of several million.
We invite you to reflect and probe your own attitudes toward Islam and Muslims
beyond the imagery and descriptions provided by mainstream media sources.
QUESTION?
Do you see Muslims as a
singular, homogeneous group
of people?
QUESTION?
Do you think the people above
fairly represent the Muslim
community?
Sources: Morey, P and Yaqin, A. Framing Muslims: Stereotyping and Representation after 9/11. Harvard University Press (2011). Reel Bad Arabs [film], directed by Jack
Shaheen. Media Education Foundation (2007).
SCOTTISH MUSLIMS
CPG INQUIRY
& ISLAMOPHOBIA
Islamophobic Graffiti,
Cumbernauld Mosque
Saracen is a term used in
the Middle Ages to refer
to Muslims. ‘Deus’ vult’
is a Latin Christian motto
meaning ‘God wills’.
80% 75% 79%
Over 80% of Muslims in
Scotland said they had
directly experienced
Islamophobia
75% of Muslims said
Islamophobia is a regular
or everyday issue in
Scottish society
79% of Muslim
respondents said that
Islamophobia is getting
worse
The Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party
Group (CPG) on Tackling Islamophobia
produced the first-ever inquiry into
Islamophobia in Scotland in February
2020.
This showed the harrowing extent of
Islamophobia across the country.
A series of recommendations emerged from this report, including
the following;
The Scottish Government should aim to adopt a formal
definition of Islamophobia.
All political parties in Scotland, at all levels, should
proactively adopt a ‘no tolerance’ approach to Islamophobia.
Integrating an understanding of Islamophobia into Scotland’s
education curriculum.
Recruiting more police officers from diverse communities,
including Muslim officers, into Police Scotland. 1
“We pride ourselves on being a
welcome and tolerant country, but
it’s clear how much more work we
have to do.
There are people in Scotland who
feel scared to leave their homes
for fear of verbal of physical
attack, withdrawing from public
services with devastating knockon
consequences on their health
and education and feel they are
outsiders in their own country.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas
Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow and
Chair of the CPG on Tackling
Islamophobia (2018-2021). 2
1. Hopkins, P. (2021). Scotland’s Islamophobia: Report of the inquiry
into Islamophobia in Scotland by the Cross-Party Group on
Tackling Islamophobia.
2. Islamophobia Public Inquiry. Anas Sarwar. (22 September 2021),
Retrieved 26 October 2021.
SCOTTISH MUSLIMS
THE LABOUR
MARKET
37%
37% of Muslims in
Scotland reported being
abused at work. 1
One of the startling findings of the CPG for Tackling Islamophobia’s recent
inquiry, was an increasing marginalisation of Muslims in the workplace.
Leading to long-lasting impacts, including higher unemployment levels, underemployment
and mental health problems amongst Muslim communities.
Muslims feel they are forced to work “10 times as
hard” as their white counterparts in order to achieve
equivalent levels of success. 2
In recent years, numerous studies in this area
pointed to a combination of Islamophobia, racism and
discrimination.
These studies found:
Only 6% of Muslims in the workplace are
in higher managerial, administrative and
professional occupations, compared to 10% of
the overall population. 3
More than 2 in 5 Pakistani and Bangladeshi
workers work in these lower-skilled occupations,
compared to only 1 in 4 white workers.
Muslim women often face a triple penalty in the
employment sphere due to being women, being
from an ethnic minority background and being
Muslim.
Another study found that 1 in 4 employers admit
to being reluctant to hire Muslim women.
1 in 8 Pakistani women have been illegally asked
about marriage and family aspirations in job
interviews, compared to 1 in 30 white women. 5
Research in 2021 found that visibly Muslim
women wearing the hijab (headscarf) were 40%
less likely to obtain a job that similar Muslim
women that were not. 6
CVs submitted under a non-Muslim name
were three times more likely to be offered an
interview than those with a Muslim name. 4
1. “’Tip Of The Iceberg’: Thousands Of Racist Incidents
Reported In Scottish Schools”, 2021.
2. “Islamophobia in Edinburgh Schools”, 2017.
3. “Teaching In A Diverse Scotland: Increasing And Retaining
Minority Ethnic Teachers - Gov.Scot”, 2018.
4. Zack Adesina and Oana Marocico, “Is It Easier to Get a Job If
You’re Adam or Mohamed?” BBC News, 6th February, 2017.
5. Siobhan Fenton, “6 Charts Which Show the Employment Barriers
Faced by British Muslims,” The Independent, 11th August, 2016.
6. Ahmed, Sofia & Gorey, Kevin. (2021). Employment discrimination
faced by Muslim women wearing the hijab: exploratory metaanalysis.
Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work.
SCOTTISH MUSLIMS
HATE CRIME
Scottish Muslim communities are in need of adequate laws to protect
them from the manifestations of Islamophobia, as data reveals racial
crime remains the most commonly reported hate crime.
In 2021-22, The Crown Office &
Prosecutor Fiscal Service found:
3,107 charges relating to race crime
were reported in 2021-22.
2019-20 saw an increase of
4% compared to 2018-19.
32% lower than the peak in such charges
in 2011-12, when 4,547 were reported.
Religiously motivated hate crime:
There were 512 religiously aggravated
charges reported in 2021-22, 16% lower
than in 2020-21. 1
2019-20 saw an increase of 24%
compared to 2018-19. 2
Scotland Hate Crime Case
Neo-Nazi Connor Ward was convicted in 2018
for planning terror attacks against mosques
in Aberdeen. The police found an array of
weapons at Ward’s house, including ball
bearings that could be used in pipe bombs;
rocket tubes capable of firing projectiles; a stun
gun; knuckle dusters; knives and deactivated
bullets. 3
CREDIT SCOTTISH SUN
1. 2022. Copfs.Gov.Uk. 2. The Crown Office & Prosecutor Fiscal Service, “Hate Crime in
Scotland, 2019-20,” COPFS, 12 June, 2020.
3. “Man Jailed For Planning Mosque Attacks”, BBC News, 2018.
SCOTTISH MUSLIMS
EDUCATION
There were at least 2251 instances of racism in Scottish schools
in the three academic years prior to September 2020. 1
15% of high school respondents and 26% of
primary school respondents had encountered
physical Islamophobia.
57% of children who reported an incident to a
teacher experienced a negative outcome. 2
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)’s 2018
survey of their BAME members found that 71% of
respondents had experienced racism in their capacity
as a teacher or lecturer.
Examples of racism included:
Learners using racist or Islamophobic
language - 56%
Learners showing racist or Islamophobic
attitudes - 46%
Colleagues showing racist or Islamophobic
attitudes - 44%
Being overlooked for promotion - 43%
Colleagues using racist or Islamophobic
language - 26%
ONE RESPONDENT REPORTED:
“I was told whilst under my desk fixing boxes, if I was praying to Mecca! Again by the same member
of staff I was told that once Scotland was independent, that me
and all my kind would be chucked out of the country.” 3
1. “’Tip Of The Iceberg’: Thousands Of Racist Incidents
Reported In Scottish Schools”, 2021.
2. “Islamophobia in Edinburgh Schools”, 2017. 3. “Teaching In A Diverse Scotland: Increasing & Retaining Minority
Ethnic Teachers - Gov.Scot”, 2018.
SCOTTISH MUSLIMS
POLICING
ONLY
1.4%
OF OFFICERS ARE FROM
BAME BACKGROUNDS
Credit Alamy Stock Photo
Like the UK as a whole, Scotland’s criminal
justice system is also subject to institutional
racism and discriminatory practices.
African, Caribbean and Black communities
experience incarceration rates of 7.6% per
1,000 people compared to the 3.8% per 1,000
people experienced by white people. (Scottish
Government data, 2019-20)
At the same time, as observed within research
commissioned by the Public Petitions Committee,
“although numbers of Muslims in Scottish jails are
small, they represent another disproportionately
imprisoned group.” 1
Across England, Wales and Scotland; 93% of court
judges, 89% of tribunal judges and 83% of tribunal
non-legal members are white. 2
In respect of BAME Individuals working
in Police Scotland:
253 out of 17,693 officers in Scotland (1.4%)
are from BAME backgrounds.
There are no BAME officers amongst Police
Scotland’s executive team of senior officers.
Socio-economic challenges faced by
BAME individuals include:
14% of Scottish Muslims live in the top 10% of
the most deprived areas.
Research finds living in deprived
neighbourhoods has a negative effect on
multiple aspects of life, including general
well-being, education, employment and
crime. 3
1. “Offender Demographics and Sentencing Patterns In Scotland
and the UK”. Parliament.Scot, 2010.
2. “Judges and Non-legal Members of the Judiciary,” GOV.UK
Ethnicity Facts and Figures, 6th November, 2020.
3. “Communities in Recession: The impact on deprived
neighbourhoods”, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
SCOTTISH MUSLIMS
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
George McIntyre
COUNCIL CANDIDATE FOR
BONNYRIGG WARD IN MIDLOTHIAN
MEND’s 2019 report From “Letterboxes”
to “Ragheads” identified over 100
examples of Islamophobia within the
Conservative Party, 1 there were several
instances of Islamophobia found within
the Scottish context.
McIntyre passed vetting procedures
to stand as a Conservative candidate
and was still actively involved with
Conservative Party campaigns, despite
this Facebook comment in 2013 and
being initially suspended for his views. 2
3
SADLY ISLAMOPHOBIA CAN BE FOUND WITHIN OTHER MAINSTREAM PARTIES
Craig Melville
COUNCIL CANDIDATE FOR BENBECULA AND NORTH UIST
Craig Melville stood trial at Dundee Sherriff Court
for allegedly sending Islamophobic messages
to a colleague following the Paris attacks in
2015 in which he described Islam as a “horrible
disease” and stated that “If I had a gun I’d
shoot a Muslim but I’m not brave enough.” 4
Scottish Labour Party
The meme was posted on the Argyll and Bute
Labour account days after Anas Sarwar MSP,
questioned the party’s commitment to tackling
Islamophobia.
This is a post
originating from
the Scottish Labour
Party’s Facebook
account. 5
1. MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development). “From
‘Letterboxes’ to ‘Ragheads’: Over 100 Examples of Islamophobia
in the Conservative Party”, 2019.
2. Andy Philip, “Senior Tory Miles Briggs caught chapping doors
with banned bigot”, Daily Record, February 2018.
3. “Second Conservative Party Midlothian candidate in online
comment controversy”, Edinburgh Evening News, March 2017.
4. STV News, “Councillor ‘sent Islamophobic Messages’ to Former
Lover,” STV News Archive,10th January, 2018.
5. David Clegg, “Labour in New Racism Row as Facebook Account
Blames Islam for Terror Attacks,” Daily Record, 9th May, 2019.
SCOTTISH MUSLIMS
DEMOGRAPHICS
Credit Bonnie Blu Home of Islamic Tarten
From 2001 to 2011, the Muslim population
increased by 80% over 10 years, with Muslims
making up 1.45% of the population of Scotland.
According to the 2011 Census
2.8 million Muslims reside in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland.
Approximately 76,000 Muslims live in
Scotland.
Parliamentary regions
With a Muslim presence in 8 parliamentary
regions, Glasgow, Lothian and North East
Scotland have the largest concentration of
Muslims and account for 75% of the total Muslim
population of Scotland.
Glasgow – 43.6%
Lothian – 19.0%
North East Scotland – 11.8%
There are 13 electoral wards with a Muslim
population of 5% or more. 11 of these wards
are in Glasgow or East Renfrewshire, and the
remaining two are in the city of Dundee.
The wards with the highest
percentage of Muslim
residents are:
Pollokshields (27.8%)
Southside Central (15.7%)
This suggests that there has been a steady
growth of the Muslim population in all the major
cities as a result of high birth rate and increasing
immigration since 2001.
1. Scottish Muslims in Numbers - University of Edinburgh. (n.d.).
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO BRITAIN
ISLAMOPHOBIA
AWARENESS MONTH
Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM) was co-founded by Muslim
organisations with other British organisations in 2012 to deconstruct and
challenge the stereotypes about Islam and Muslims.
The month-long campaign aims to work with Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC), Local Council,
in particular the lead on Hate crime or Community safety, Journalists and local Media, Councillors and
local MPs, Mosques, Universities, Schools, Community organisations and others to raise awareness of
the scourge of Islamophobia and encourage better reporting of incidents to the police.
Keep up to date with the latest information on IAM!
ISLAMOPHOBIA-AWARENESS.ORG
@ISLAMOPHOBIAAM