MEND is pleased to announce the release of a new and important briefing paper titled, No Race to the Bottom: Avoiding Further Curbs to Freedom of Speech Under Labour. The briefing argues that our democracy, and particularly freedom of speech, is being put at risk by government actors who...
In the hours following the burning of the Notre Dame on the 15th of April, one of the narratives that quickly amassed was that the fire was intentionally caused by Muslims, and ‘they’ were celebrating the destruction of the cathedral. Before official statements were made that the fire was not a...
The Islamophobia Response Unit (IRU) has received a number of recent reports of girls in schools not being allowed to wear a hijab. One recent example of this is a state-funded Catholic secondary school in Southwark, South London, refusing an 11-year-old Muslim girl a place at the school...
Misrepresentation of minorities within film and broadcasting is not a new concern, but it is essential to refresh the mental criteria of what is expected of Muslim representation on the screen to ensure a more positive and constructive presence. We are increasingly seeing Muslims on the television;...
There is often inconsistency in the language of political and media narratives regarding the term “terrorism”, with its application frequently appearing to rest upon who committed the atrocity. The police have been investigating two devices that were found on rail tracks in Cambridgeshire and...
The negative portrayal of Muslims in mainstream British media has emerged as an issue of increasing concern over recent years. A study from Lancaster University highlights that for every mention of ‘moderate’ Muslims in the media, there are 21 references to ‘extremist’ Muslims and...
The horrific massacre in Christchurch has undoubtedly left both Muslim communities and wider society shaken. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Arden, has demonstrated noble and effective leadership by immediately offering support to the Muslim communities in New...
The recent announcement by Facebook that 12 prominent and “dangerous” far-right groups and individuals have been banned from their platform on the grounds that they “spread hate” suggests social media companies are increasingly accepting the role they play in the dissemination of extremist...
This year, Muslim engagement and development (MEND) launched a campaign to celebrate Muslim women, their achievements, and contributions to society. There was a particular focus on introducing Muslims, in particular, young Muslim women, with relatable role models in a wide range of careers. As part...
“P**i-bashing” brings back traumatic memories for the generation who grew up in the UK during the 1970s and 80s. This was a time when the threat of the National Front was a habitual reality of terrorised immigrant communities. Renowned “skinheads” would shove dog excrement through...
Three national newspapers have issued apologies and corrections after publishing false claims against Lewisham Islamic Centre. The Daily Mail, The Daily Star and The Times falsely reported that the mosque’s scouts’ group was being suspended by The Scouts Association pending an investigation by...
