Is the UK Becoming Unsafe for Muslims? – Irfan Raja

The United Kingdom upholds a footprint of global influence in scientific discoveries, exemplary welfare systems, leading expertise in global health, prestigious universities, highly cited research, and cultural and diplomatic leverage in world affairs.   

Despite notable triumphs in science, education, and industry, the UK is changing fast. Now, “The UK’s higher education sector in turmoil”; its universities are in serious “crisis” and “failing” and facing a notable “fall in international students,” which “hits the UK economy.”

According to a Channel 4 News report, “More than one million young people are not in work or in education in the UK.” Unfortunately, today, the “UK is losing the industry that makes everything,” young people are “leaving to work abroad” because the UK is becoming an “ungovernable country.” 

This situation could be upturned. The real challenge is the fraying of the social fabric of British society. The society once took pride in its values; democracy, freedom of expression, liberty and tolerance have evidently become intolerant of Muslims and immigrants and are leaning toward the far right.  Recent far-right mobs triggered riots across Britain, which raised “the spectre of racism and evoke haunting memories,” and reminded ethnic minorities, especially Muslims and immigrants, that Britain is becoming an unsafe place for them.

The far-right muggers forgot that an estimated “1.5 million Indian troops fought to defend Britain. Of those, 400,000 were Muslim soldiers.” Today, generations of Muslim soldiers who fought for the glory of Great Britain are worried about their future in the UK. The record rise in “anti-Muslim hatred,” past and recent “riots,” growing attacks on “mosques,” racist abuse of “veiled women,” and bearded men, and unchecked “Islamophobia.

The British Media’s Framing of Muslims and Mosques: A constant challenge

Today’s state of affairs resembles Stanley Cohen’s concept of “Folk Devils and Moral Panics” (1972), which revealed how segments of British society, including the five Ps, namely the press, police, politicians, public bodies, and pressure groups, work closely to exaggerate and distort certain events to identify and finally declare a certain group as a threat to society. Cohen’s book was based on “mods and rockers” in Brighton (1964) who were identified, vilified, and portrayed as “mindlessly violent youth” in the tabloid press. Correspondingly, politicians, police, public bodies, and pressure groups launched coordinated campaigns to pressure the government to toughen laws to deal with them. In the end, they moved to India. Decades later, on 4 April 2004, The Independent’s investigative reporter, Robin Stummer, found it was “staged by the press” that “paid the lads a few shillings” for the photographs. 

Decades on, Cohen’s influential work still fits in the current presentation of the British Muslims. Today, British Muslims are “new folk devils,” and surprisingly, the press, politicians, police, public bodies, and pressure groups are aligned together in identifying, symbolising, and portraying British Muslims as an “existential threat” to secular British society.  

As a media expert, since 2005, I have been studying the British media and its reporting of Islam and Muslims. I would include two events: the 7/7 and the Manchester Arena bombings. In the days and months after the attacks, I observed the British press reaction, which was loaded with front-page headlines such as the Daily Mail’s “Soldiers in the Streets,” “Britain on lockdown,” and “sickening act of betrayal,” and phrases like “terror,” “massacre,” “savage,” and “pure evil.” In brief, right-wing politicians pushed the government for “draconian measures.” 

Evidently, the press reporting of the 7/7 and Manchester Arena bombings facilitated panic rather than helping communities to be united against a common enemy. Normally, when decades pass, the expectations of the British media are a change in its approach, mindset, and pattern in reporting Muslims. Sadly, nothing has changed. 

How come a mega terror plot involving 12 right-wing potential “terrorists” aiming to kill 15000 Muslims went underreported, with no calls for tougher laws, a Cobra meeting, soldiers in the streets, and media campaigns? The BBC headline, “Police given more time to question men over Islamic event threat,” sums up the British media’s approach.

Double standards and Muslims are unworthy victims. The noun “men” is used generically to hide the actual identities of those involved in a terror plot. Besides, “Islamic event threat” also camouflages right-wing thugs and their intentions. This British media pattern is well-documented and visible in every violent occurrence, including “riots,” “attacks on mosques,” and “racial abuse.” Recall, in the July 2024 riots, sections of the British media and right-wing politicians, including Nigel Farage, rushed to tag Muslims with the riots. Later, reality unfolded, and it was the Roma community protests. Same old media mindset: a Muslim rioter’s havoc.

The most recent incident involved a “far-right terror plot targeting a major Muslim gathering” organised by Tablighi Jamaat, a peaceful organisation preaching Islamic values aiming to strengthen social cohesion and coexistence. I have attended Tablighi Jamaat gatherings on Thursdays in Dewsbury, and I never got radicalised. Notably, the counter-terrorism police officers described it as a “potential threat” planned to kill nearly 15000 Muslims. 

Given the scale of the failed plot, it is utterly shocking to learn that the British press has largely ignored it. It’s all about “worthy victims” and “unworthy victims.” Evidently, Muslims are unwelcome in Europe. Think for a moment: if it were Jews or Christians gathering, how would the British and the global media have responded? Surely, front-page images, iconic headlines, urgent calls for a Cobra meeting, warnings, and tougher laws. Recall related events, including the stabbing of an elderly man. Of course, it’s condemnable, but the point is, why are human lives unequal?  The next day, the BBC analysed the British media response to this event as: “‘Terror on our streets’ and ‘UK antisemitism out of control,’” which pushed the British government for tougher laws. Unfortunately, the British media does not show the same spirit in reporting Muslims. 

What could Happen Next and how to Avoid It?

I recollected my PhD memories. On a particular day in 2014, I approached my mentor, Shamim Miah, and posed him a hard question: Will Britain expel Muslims? He smiled and said, No. Last week, I asked him again, and he replied, “It’s a real phenomenon. Muslims are already a precarious minority. Things will doubtless get much worse before they get any better.” I continued monitoring and analysing the Western media coverage of Islam and Muslims in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere. After Brexit, I wrote a piece in Daily Sabah, “Will British Muslims face expulsion in post-Brexit Britain?”

Now, I have finalised the title for my forthcoming book, The Risk of Mass Expulsion in Europe: Muslims, Media, and the Future of European Democracy. Am I exaggerating the matter? I consulted Muslim academics: Tahir Abbas and Tariq Modood believe Muslim expulsion from Britain would be an “exaggerated thought.” Similarly, Razaq Raj views it as a “myth and largely exaggerated fear,” and Abdul-Bashid Shaikh believes “Muslims’ expulsion is not a realistic proposition.” Given the rise of far-right movements, wars in the Middle East, and a subsequent surge in Islamophobia across Europe, it’s time for a serious debate and tough laws to protect Muslims, like the protection of Jews.