Source: Middle East Eye

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

London hospital reports midwife to Prevent after UK Lawyers for Israel complaint over Gaza posts Midwife was accused of antisemitism for social media posts and referred to the counterterrorism programme a year after she left her job at the hospital

August 20, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) A London hospital reported a former midwife to Prevent and the nursing regulator more than a year after she had left her job, following a complaint from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) over her social media posts describing Israel’s […]

Government & Politics

CAIR letter to Marco Rubio: We’re being targeted for Palestine advocacy MEE is the first to obtain the letter sent by the Muslim-American rights group, which asks the top diplomat to clarify recent remarks he made

August 15, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to clarify comments he made on a radio show earlier this week, where he appeared to threaten the domestic non-profit group with a terror designation […]

Citizenship

Tunisian group sues French-Tunisian imam for ‘high treason’ over visit to Israel Watchdog demands Hassen Chalghoumi loses citizenship after ‘undermining the prestige of the Tunisian state’

July 17, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) A Tunisian organisation has filed a legal complaint against French-Tunisian imam Hassen Chalghoumi and called for him to be stripped of his Tunisian citizenship following his recent visit to Israel in the midst of its onslaught on Gaza. Chalghoumi, the […]

Government & Politics

In Ilford North, Leanne Mohamad and the British left set their sights on Labour A new coalition, angry at Labour's response to Gaza and failure to challenge the rich, believes it can defeat MPs like Wes Streeting

July 16, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) It’s a hot Friday night at the City Gates Conference Centre in Ilford, where the suburbs of east London begin to creep towards the county of Essex. On stage, a young British-Palestinian woman is joined by two lions of […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK government blocked own Islamophobia advisers from consulting Muslim organisations Working group appointed to draw up new definition has not been allowed to engage with Muslim Council of Britain, but consulted public figures accused of Islamophobia

July 9, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) The British government blocked a working group it set up to advise on a possible definition of Islamophobia from consulting the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), while the group consulted prominent figures and organisations themselves accused of Islamophobia, Middle […]

Clerics & Preachers

Dutch imam suspended after meeting Isaac Herzog in delegation to Israel Bilal Mosque in Alkmaar cuts ties with preacher Youssef Msibih, who was among 15 Muslim figures from Europe on Israeli visit

July 8, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) A Dutch imam has been suspended from his mosque after meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog as part of a delegation of Muslim figures from Europe visiting Israel. Youssef Msibih, an imam at Bilal Mosque in the northern Dutch city […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Starmer has handled Gaza ‘badly,’ say four in five elected Labour Muslim representatives New survey by Labour Muslim Network shows two-thirds do not believe Muslim representatives are treated equally in the party

June 5, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) A major survey has revealed that 82 percent of Britain’s Muslim Labour MPs, councillors and mayors believe Prime Minister Keir Starmer has handled Israel’s war on Gaza “badly.” The poll of over 220 elected Muslim representatives by the Labour […]

Crime

Police to question Muslim Association of Britain chair over Palestine solidarity protest Raghad Altikriti said the police had summoned her for an interview over alleged public order offences during a January protest

April 15, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) The Metropolitan Police has summoned one of the key organisers of the UK’s Palestine solidarity protests over an alleged public order breach that took place at a rally earlier this year. Raghad Altikriti, who chairs the Muslim Association of […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK Islamophobia definition to protect right to ‘insult religions’ The new working group on Islamophobia signals the government is engaging with the British Muslim Network, but not the Muslim Council of Britain

March 24, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) The UK government has published more details about a working group set up to advise it on a possible definition of Islamophobia which would also protect the right to “insult” religious beliefs and practices. The membership of the working […]

Academics & Education

New Ofsted chair Hamid Patel said ‘Trojan Horse’ scandal alienated Muslims Patel said now-debunked allegations of a plot to [take over] Birmingham schools had left Muslim teachers fearful of 'establishment suspicion'

March 14, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) The new interim chair of Ofsted, the UK’s school regulator, has previously criticised the official narrative around the Birmingham “Trojan Horse” affair, saying the episode left some Muslims worried that expressing their faith would bring about “establishment suspicion.” The Trojan […]

Clothing

Furore in France over ad featuring Eiffel Tower in hijab Animated advert for modest clothing brand sparks controversy and Islamophobic criticism among social media users and far-right politicians

March 12, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) A new promotional video by a Dutch modest clothing brand featuring the Eiffel Tower draped in an Islamic headscarf has sparked a barrage of anti-Muslim criticism and commentary in France this week. The realistic animation by Merrachi, which caters […]

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

March 11, 2025   

(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

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

February 26, 2025 and   

(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 […]

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

February 4, 2025   

(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 […]

Academics & Education

France: Muslim private schools under threat of closure After French authorities ended the last association contract with a Muslim school, the community and its leaders denounce Islamophobic and discriminatory measures

February 3, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) More than 600 primary and secondary students at the Al Kindi private Muslim school group, located in the suburbs of Lyon, in central-eastern France, risk not returning to their school at the start of the next academic year. On […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Trump appointee: Palestinians are ‘fundamentally evil’ and not worthy of ‘any mercy’ Martin Oliner, a Trump-appointed member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, said the people of Gaza 'must pay a price for their actions'

February 2, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) A Trump-appointed board member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council launched a vitriolic attack on Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, saying they are “fundamentally evil” and not worthy of “any mercy.” In an editorial in the Jerusalem Post […]

Children & Teens

Former British PM Liz Truss claims ‘Islamism’ influenced Labour’s approach to sexual abuse Truss described pro-Gaza independents as 'Islamist MPs' and suggested Islamism was connected to 'climate change extremism'

January 12, 2025   

(Middle East Eye) Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss has claimed the Labour Party is influenced by “Islamism,” suggesting it is linked to a purported failure to tackle “grooming gangs.” She further accused Muslim independent MPs of being “Islamist MPs” and suggested […]

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

January 7, 2025   

(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

Trump pick for critical foreign policy role thinks Islam incompatible with the West Michael Anton will serve as director of policy planning at the State Department, a role that effectively sets the agenda for the secretary of state

December 24, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) A staunch anti-immigrant conservative who was a spokesperson for the White House during Donald Trump’s first year in office in 2017 is returning to government — this time, as director of policy planning at the US State Department, which […]

Demonstrations

French court hands activist five-month suspended sentence for ‘intifada in Paris’ call Pro-Palestine campaigner Elias d'Imzalene declares victory after charges 'could've resulted in 15-year jail sentence'

December 20, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) A prominent French pro-Palestine activist has been handed a five-month suspended jail sentence for calling for an “intifada in Paris” during a protest earlier this year. Following a trial that began on 23 October, Elias d’Imzalene was sentenced and […]

Government & Politics

Harris and Stein tied for Muslim-American vote in last poll before election day Ninety-five percent of Muslim Americans plan to vote in the 2024 presidential election, underscoring deep political engagement

November 1, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) A large group of Muslim Americans has split its vote evenly between Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, according to the final national poll on Muslim Americans released before the upcoming US presidential election on […]

Government & Politics

France’s interior minister says he ‘does not rule out’ banning the Muslim Brotherhood Right-winger Bruno Retailleau, appointed in September, also advocates for a new criminal offence to fight 'insidious' political Islam in the country

October 16, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) The new French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has declared that he is not ruling out classifying the Muslim Brotherhood as a “terrorist” group and banning it, while advocating for the establishment of a new criminal offence to fight political […]

Clerics & Preachers

Leading US imams and scholars urge Muslim voters to snub Kamala Harris over Gaza Dozens of Muslim scholars and faith leaders unite to send a powerful message to the Democrats

September 30, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) A group of leading Muslim American scholars and imams have signed a letter calling on Muslim voters to spurn Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election over US support for Israel’s war on Gaza. […]

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

September 23, 2024   

(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

US: Muslim groups urge voters to back Jill Stein, Cornel West or other pro-Palestine candidates While only a minor voting bloc, Muslims say endorsements show[ing] their anger over bipartisan support for Israel could sway the election

September 20, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of Muslim-American groups angry at US support for Israel’s devastating war on Gaza is asking Muslim voters to shun Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris in November’s presidential race and back either Jill Stein, Cornel West or other pro-Palestine […]

Government & Politics

Muslim voters evenly split between Jill Stein and Kamala Harris, new poll finds Poll shows 40 percent drop in Muslim support for Democrats, as they lean to third parties amid outrage over war in Gaza

August 29, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) A new poll conducted this week shows that the majority of Muslim voters in the United States are evenly split on who they plan to vote for as president in the upcoming November election, with roughly 60 percent planning […]

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'

July 12, 2024 and   

(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

UK election: What is The Muslim Vote — and why does it matter? The campaign backs a list of MPs for the election, and has been driven by Labour's early support for Israel’s war on Gaza

June 6, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) Launched in December 2023, The Muslim Vote (TMV) is a campaign in the UK supporting parliamentary candidates for the upcoming election in constituencies with a significant Muslim electorate. Much of its driving force has been the early support from the […]

Government & Politics

Biden campaign refuses invitation to address US Muslim voter advocacy groups Muslim voters say the campaign's refusal to engage 'reveals the disconnect' between Biden and voters, as Muslims hear from third-party candidates

April 26, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) US President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign team refused an invitation to address a symposium regarding the voter engagement of more than one million Muslim Americans in the country, according to a coalition of more than two dozen Muslim civic […]

Clerics & Preachers

Over 400 UK imams reject new extremism definition targeting Muslim groups Religious scholars accuse government of 'divisive tactics' and attempting to crack down on groups opposed to Israeli actions against Palestinians

March 22, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) Over 400 British imams and religious scholars have signed a letter rejecting a new UK government definition of extremism that targeted several British Muslim organisations. Last week, Communities Secretary Michael Gove announced a contentious new definition of extremism, though the […]

Government & Politics

‘Labour is 30,000 dead Gazans too late’: Muslim campaign aims to disrupt UK politics A new Muslim campaign is supporting independent candidates to run in the UK's upcoming election against MPs who have opposed a ceasefire

January 31, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) A new Muslim campaign supporting independent candidates to run in Britain’s general election has slammed the Labour Party’s concern over losing Muslim support as “30,000 dead Gazans too late.” The Guardian reported on Tuesday that Labour leader Keir Starmer’s […]

Government & Politics

UK withdraws interfaith charity funding over Muslim Council of Britain links The decision to stop funding the Inter Faith Network was due to the 'reputational risk' posed for government

January 25, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) The British government intends to stop funding an interfaith charity because one of its trustees is a member of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), which the British government refuses to engage with. Communities Secretary Michael Gove told the […]

Law Enforcement

Cage director banned from entering Switzerland to address meeting at UN Muhammad Rabbani held overnight after being stopped at Geneva Airport in latest incident which he says is a consequence of France adding his name to a European no-entry database

December 13, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Border authorities in Switzerland have stopped the director of a UK-based human rights group from entering the country to address a meeting at the United Nations office in Geneva “after a request from France.” Posting on social media on […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslims ‘unjustly placed on blacklists’ across Europe, rights groups warn Muslim leaders urge European governments to take action against Islamophobia in Europe at security and human rights conference in Poland

October 6, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Muslim civil society groups from Europe warned of the growing level of Islamophobia spreading across the continent at a major security and human rights conference in Poland. On Thursday, seven Muslim groups from Austria, France, Sweden, Spain, and the […]

Government & Politics

Cage director accuses France after being refused entry to Poland Muhammad Rabbani, who has accused the French government of Islamophobia, says border officers at Warsaw airport told him France had placed him on an EU no-entry list

October 3, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) The director of the UK-based advocacy group Cage has accused the French government of placing him on a European no-entry list after he was refused entry to Poland to attend a high-profile security conference in Warsaw. Border officers at […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Largest US body of lawyers adopts resolution combating Islamophobia The American Bar Association's resolution calls on Congress and UN to pass measures condemning anti-Muslim hate

August 9, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) The largest body of lawyers in the United States has passed a resolution condemning Islamophobia and calling on Congress and the United Nations to implement similar resolutions combating anti-Muslim sentiment. The American Bar Association (ABA)’s House of Delegates passed […]

Government & Politics

Belgium summons UAE ambassador over ‘Muslim Brotherhood smear campaign’ Emirati intelligence paid millions to Swiss company to create files on over 1,000 people in Europe, according to data leak

July 9, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Belgium summoned the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador in Brussels on Friday, following reports of the Gulf state’s alleged involvement in a smear campaign that sought to link at least 1,000 individuals in Europe to the Muslim Brotherhood. The […]

Academics & Education

US university condemned for removing pro-Palestine speech from YouTube Students and activists say commencement speech was removed for its pro-Palestinian content after some critiqued speech as being 'antisemitic'

May 23, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) On 12 May, the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law live-streamed its commencement ceremony where Fatima Mohammed was speaking. The student was draped in the famous Palestinian keffiyeh. But just hours after the graduation ceremony, the […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Netherlands: Muslims file UN complaint against parliament, citing discrimination Dutch parliamentary committee on unwanted foreign influence is accused of waging a 'witch-hunt' against the country's Muslim community

April 25, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of Muslim groups in the Netherlands has filed a complaint with the United Nations against a Dutch parliamentary committee tasked with investigating the influence of foreign funding on mosques and Islamic associations. The Ummah Project, a group […]

Government & Politics

Prevent review: Shawcross reforms risk ‘slide into authoritarianism,’ critics warn Coalition of civil society organisations, community leaders and rights groups urge the British government to withdraw Shawcross report

March 21, 2023 and   

(Middle East Eye) The UK is facing a “slide into dangerous authoritarianism” if the government proceeds with the recommendations of a contentious review of Prevent, critics of the counter-terrorism strategy have warned. In a joint letter issued on Tuesday, a coalition of […]

Citizenship

Shamima Begum: Labour’s Starmer says court was right to reject citizenship appeal Opposition leader says judgment was 'the right decision,' having previously described removal of Begum's citizenship in 2019 as 'the wrong decision'

February 23, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Labour leader Keir Starmer on Thursday said he supported a court ruling dismissing an appeal by Shamima Begum challenging the UK government over the removal of her British citizenship. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) on Wednesday rejected Begum’s […]

Government & Politics

Prevent review: Treat Hamas and Islamic State supporters the same, says Shawcross Counter-extremism reviewer says supporters of proscribed Palestinian movement should face full force of counter-terrorism powers

February 8, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Supporters of Hamas should be treated the same as supporters of the Islamic State group and subjected to the full force of the law, a contentious review of the UK government’s Prevent counter-extremism strategy has recommended. William Shawcross’s review, […]

Government & Politics

US Muslim rights group calls on Biden to suspend use of ‘terror’ watchlist No-fly list leak reveals more than one million entries, mostly comprised of Muslim and Arab names, according to rights group

January 25, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Following a massive leak of the US government’s no-fly list, a leading Muslim rights group is calling on the Biden administration to stop the use of the “terrorist” watchlist the government has been utilising for decades, saying that the […]

Government & Politics

Jack Letts’s mother hails ‘rights victory’ as Canadians to be repatriated from Syria Sally Lane, mother of British-Canadian man detained in Syrian camp, exclusively tells MEE that judgement will have 'global implications'

January 21, 2023 and   

(Middle East Eye) The mother of Jack Letts, a British-Canadian man held among suspected Islamic State group (IS) fighters in prison in northeast Syria, has hailed Canada’s decision to repatriate him along with 22 other of its citizens. Speaking to Middle East Eye, Sally […]