Crime

Baroness Warsi endorses government pulling funding from Islamophobia monitor Tell Mama has been accused of lacking credibility and under-reporting hate crimes by over 90 percent

(Middle East Eye) Former Conservative chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has endorsed the Labour government’s decision to pull funding from an Islamophobia reporting service accused of severely under-reporting hate crimes. Tell Mama, which is funded by the communities ministry, was founded in 2012. […]

Government & Politics

Backlash grows over surge in illegal boats crossing English Channel under Keir Starmer Among those [who] made the dangerous journey is a controversial Palestinian social media influencer

(National-UAE) Small boat crossings to the UK have risen sharply, with numbers already significantly ahead of the same point in previous years, data shows. According to the latest Home Office data, 174 migrants were picked up on three small boats in the […]

Government & Politics

Muslim Council of Britain denies endorsing British Muslim Network Sayeeda Warsi told launch event that the MCB was among community organisations which had expressed support for the new network

(Middle East Eye) The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has distanced itself from the British Muslim Network (BMN) after Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a former government minister, suggested that the new organisation had the MCB’s support at a launch event on Tuesday. Addressing remarks made by […]

Clerics & Preachers

Labour MP leads calls for anti-Israel hate preacher to be banned from UK visit Preacher Mohamed Hoblos is scheduled to be speaking at a new mosque in Middlesbrough on February 23

(Jewish News) The government “will look carefully” into calls from MPs and community leaders to prevent an extremist preacher who has expressed support for Hamas from appearing at a new mosque in Middlesbrough. MP Luke Myer told the Commons he is “very concerned” […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Former JNF UK [trustee’s] Charity Commission disqualification order quashed Tribunal overturns two-and-half-year ban on Gary Mond, citing 'right to freedom of expression'

(Jewish News) A Charity Commission disqualification order against National Jewish Assembly chair Gary Mond has been quashed after a tribunal ruled in favour of his right to free speech. Mond was disqualified from acting as a charity trustee or senior manager for […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslim council urges UK government to adopt Islamophobia definition Government plans to establish a council to advise on drawing up an official definition for anti-Muslim discrimination

(Middle East Eye) The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has urged the UK government to adopt the contentious definition of Islamophobia proposed in 2018 by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Muslims in comments made to Middle East Eye. Earlier, it emerged that […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Angela Rayner to create Islamophobia council as major free speech row looms — ‘Trojan horse for a blasphemy law!’ 'Time and again this Labour government displays an Orwellian disregard for freedom of speech,' Robert Jenrick has warned

(GB News) Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to create a “council on Islamophobia” to draw up an official definition of the term. The 16-member council is said to provide advice to ministers on tackling Islamophobia, [and] ex-Tory Attorney General Dominic […]

Banks & Banking

Muslim charities still being debanked despite Farage furore The Muslim charities group called for bank staff to undergo antiracism training as Islamophobia is suspected as one reason for account closures and halted payments. The Labour government committed to change the law to 'enhance consumer protections.'

(Sky News) Muslim charities say they are still having their bank accounts closed without warning or explanation and face difficulties opening an account despite the political backlash after Nigel Farage’s high-profile debanking. It means charities face obstacles in carrying out their work, […]

Children & Teens

Kemi Badenoch defends blaming ‘peasants’ from ‘sub-communities’ for grooming gangs abuse The Conservative leader doubled down on her remarks about 'peasants' from foreign countries being to blame for the grooming gangs scandal in an interview on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

(Sky News) Kemi Badenoch has defended blaming “peasants” from “sub-communities” in foreign countries for the grooming gangs crisis. Speaking to Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, she insisted she would not be “shy” when talking about the scandal, which saw a […]

Government & Politics

New lobby group for British Muslims ‘won’t compete with Muslim Council of Britain’ Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrat figures have all expressed willingness to engage with the group

(Hyphen) A new body that hopes to lobby the government on issues affecting Muslims across areas including education, healthcare and the criminal justice system is set to launch next month — and insists it won’t seek to rival the Muslim Council of […]

Children & Teens

Kemi Badenoch slams ‘peasants from sub-communities’ for predatory grooming gangs abuse The leader of the opposition sat down with GB News national reporter Charlie Peters to discuss the grooming gangs scandal

(GB News) Kemi Badenoch has said that “peasants” from “sub-communities” within some countries are behind the grooming gangs abuse that has scarred Britain. In an exclusive interview with GB News, the Tory leader reaffirmed her call for a public national inquiry into […]

Government & Politics

Ousted MP Khalid Mahmood claims ‘patriarchy’ forced MCB leader out The Muslim Council of Britain is holding an election because Zara Mohammed, the current secretary-general, has reached her two-term limit

(Middle East Eye) Khalid Mahmood, a former Labour MP who lost his seat at the July general election to a pro-Palestinian independent, has claimed that the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) ousted its leader because of “patriarchy.” MCB’s secretary-general, Zara Mohammed, is […]

Government & Politics

More than 150,000 migrants have crossed Channel to UK in small boats since 2018 On Christmas Day, more than 450 migrants arrived in the UK on 11 small boats, and a further 400 people made the journey on Boxing Day.

(Sky News) More than 150,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats since 2018. The government began recording the number of people who have made the dangerous journey almost seven years ago, on 1 January […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK Muslim group asks Tories to remove shadow justice secretary for ‘admiring’ far-right 'Ms (Kemi) Badenoch cannot allow what appears to be support for such Islamophobic and extreme content from a member of her shadow cabinet,' says head of Muslim Council of Britain

(Anadolu) The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) on Tuesday called on the main opposition Conservative Party to remove Robert Jenrick from his position as shadow justice secretary over leaked messages showing his admiration for a far-right social media account. The MCB issued […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK government urged to overhaul Prevent and counter-extremism policies Letter from civil society groups also calls on Labour to suspend Michael Gove's proposed definition of extremism

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of leading civil society organisations has urged the UK Labour government to overhaul counter-extremism policies including the controversial Prevent programme, Middle East Eye can exclusively report. In a letter sent to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the organisations also […]

Government & Politics

Independent MP recorded telling Muslim male voters they had ‘duty’ to vote for him Iqbal Mohamed, who won in Dewsbury & Batley, denies breaching strict rules on improper religious interference at the general election

(Jewish News) A newly elected Muslim independent MP has been recorded telling people to “follow the teachings of the prophet” and vote for him, days before the general election. Iqbal Mohamed, who won in Dewsbury & Batley, and faced claims that his […]

Academics & Education

School serves ‘halal only’ lunches as local council faces demands for urgent answers A mother was left bemused after her daughter’s secondary school refused to provide non-halal meat options

(GB News) A local council is being quizzed by a leading Conservative politician after a secondary school started offering “halal only” lunches. Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies approached the Vale of Glamorgan Council after a constituent flagged Cowbridge Comprehensive School only […]

Government & Politics

New Muslim group ‘supported by Labour’ aims to challenge MCB’s leadership Former army imam among prominent figures involved in new network which seeks to engage with Keir Starmer's government and 'influence public policy'

(Middle East Eye) The Labour Party is supporting the creation of a new Muslim leadership group intended to become the primary point of engagement between Keir Starmer’s government and Muslim communities in the UK, Middle East Eye can exclusively reveal. A draft […]

Government & Politics

Geert Wilders to ‘Post’: Mass immigration, lack of integration cause antisemitism In his first interview with Israeli media since his coalition's formation, Geert Wilders spoke to the Jerusalem Post about his support for Israel.

(Jerusalem Post) To stop rising antisemitism in the Netherlands and Europe political leaders must put an end to open border mass immigration and reverse the cultural relativist failure to foster integration, Dutch Party for Freedom founder and leader Geert Wilders told the […]

Government & Politics

New MP who said election win was ‘for Gaza’ is brother of Islamist group founder Exclusive: Shockat Adam, who defeated former Labour shadow minister Jon Ashworth in Leicester South, is brother of Ismail Patel, who 'saluted' Hamas' attacks on 7 October

(Jewish News) A newly elected MP who dedicated his victory to “the people of Gaza” is the brother of the founder of the hardline Islamist group Friends of Al Aqsa, it can be revealed. Shockat Adam was the surprise winner in Leicester […]

Government & Politics

Pro-Gaza candidates capture seats from Labour as Muslim heartlands revolt Keir Starmer's party suffers startling loss of support in once-safe constituencies despite national landslide win

(National-UAE) Pro-Palestinian candidates scored shock wins in the UK general election, as Britain’s new Labour government suffered a startling loss of support in heavily Muslim areas. Independent candidate Shockat Adam declared “this is for Gaza” as he unseated Labour front-bencher Jonathan Ashworth […]

Demographics

Pro-Palestine campaigner sets sights on unseating Labour frontbench MP Shabana Mahmood Solicitor Akhmed Yakoob focused on Gaza to secure election upset against potential UK justice secretary

(National-UAE) Outsider Akhmed Yakoob believes “this election is mine to lose” as he looks to unseat the most senior frontbench Muslim Labour MP in the July 4 UK general election. Shabana Mahmood stands to become the UK’s justice secretary if her party […]

Government & Politics

Rochdale loyalties tested by Galloway’s Labour challenge on Gaza policy Flamboyant MP tells the National his by-election victory was a signal that British Muslims could provide a significant general election upset

(National-UAE) Rochdale, says its current MP George Galloway, will be remembered as the place where Britain’s Muslims saw that there was a new way of finding a political voice. His view, although bound with self-interest, was certainly borne out during the National’s […]