In the company of a number of Westminster Parliamentarians and community stakeholders, I had the privilege participating in a panel to launch the Runnymede Trust’s latest report, Islamophobia: The Intensification of Racism Against Muslim Communities in the UK. This report offers a timely and sobering account of the growing structural racism faced by Muslim.  Some examples include:

  • One in three Muslim students reports experiencing Islamophobic abuse.
  • Nearly half a million more Muslims now live in the UK’s most deprived areas compared to 2011.
  • Muslims are eight times more likely than non-Muslims to be referred to Prevent in the NHS.
  • Shockingly, Muslims make up 18% of the prison population despite constituting only 6% of the general population.

These stark statistics are compounded by harmful narratives perpetuated in public discourse. Polling reveals that terms such as "terror" and "terrorist" are the words most associated with Muslims, overshadowing neutral or positive associations like "mosque," "Quran," or "prayer."

This stereotyping is not confined to the far-right fringes but is echoed in mainstream media. For instance, The Sun once infamously asked, “What will we do about the Muslim problem?”—language that invokes some of the darkest moments in history. Such narratives cast Muslims as "outsiders," fuelling the very divisions they claim to critique.

Islamophobia and Democratic Participation

In my contribution to the report, I explore the complexities of political engagement within Muslim communities. The 2024 general election, hailed as a landmark for representation due to the rise in Black and ethnic minority MPs, was also overshadowed by damaging portrayals of Muslim voters.

Muslims were characterised as voting en bloc, guided by a singular, sectarian agenda. This misrepresents the diversity of opinion within the Muslim electorate and diminishes their legitimate democratic participation. Muslim voters, like others, prioritise issues such as the NHS, the cost of living, and the economy—domestic concerns that align with broader voter trends.

However, even as Muslim communities strive to engage democratically, they face a paradox: participation risks vilification, while silence risks invisibility. Activists raising concerns about international relations or foreign policy are often unfairly labelled as extremists. This chilling effect stifles legitimate political discourse and underscores the Islamophobia underpinning assessments of Muslim political activity.

A Path Forward

One of the key messages of this report is that the Muslim electorate, far from being a monolithic bloc, reflects the pluralism of Britain itself. This is not a story of "sectarian Islamist politics," as some commentators suggest, but one of evolving democratic participation.

To counter Islamophobia, we must move beyond the reductive stereotypes that cast Muslims as either aggressors or victims. Instead, we must address the systemic inequalities that persist and promote alternative narratives—ones that recognise the richness and diversity of Muslim life in Britain.

Building resilience within Muslim civil society is a crucial part of the solution. Developing inclusive media, fostering political pluralism, and creating safe spaces for democratic dissent are essential steps. Civil society organisations can exemplify this by steering conversations towards broader representation rather than retreating from public life.

Conclusion

As we reflect on the findings of this report, we must consider what they say not about Muslim communities, but about the UK as a whole. The real challenge is not in questioning the loyalty of British Muslims, but in holding our institutions accountable to all parts of the electorate.

The Runnymede Trust’s report is a powerful call to action. Islamophobia is not a problem for Muslims alone—it is a societal issue that demands our collective attention. Now is the time to confront the uncomfortable truths about racism in Britain and work towards a more inclusive future for all.

Islamophobia: the intensification of racism against Muslim communities in the UK, is available on the Runnymede Trust website. 

First published: 22 November 2024

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