MEND STATEMENT: POLICY EXCHANGE’S REPORT MISLEADS ON ISLAMOPHOBIA AND TARGETS MUSLIM ORGANISATIONS

MEND STATEMENT: POLICY EXCHANGE’S REPORT MISLEADS ON ISLAMOPHOBIA AND TARGETS MUSLIM ORGANISATIONS

MEND strongly rejects the misleading claims made in Policy Exchange’s recent report on Islamophobia and its criticisms of Muslim civil society organisations, including MEND.

The report is part of a broader pattern by Policy Exchange of targeting Muslim community organisations and misrepresenting their work. The organisation has a history of publishing inaccurate and biased material, including a BBC finding that it falsified evidence in a previous report on mosques allegedly promoting extremist literature.

The co-author of the new report, Andrew Gilligan, has repeatedly attacked Muslim organisations such as MEND and downplayed the reality of Islamophobia in the UK. His involvement should raise serious questions about the report’s credibility.

Policy Exchange has also criticised Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM), an independent organisation that oversees an annual campaign held each November to raise awareness of Islamophobia and celebrate the positive contributions of Muslims to British society.

IAM is an independent platform for education, dialogue and evidence-based advocacy on Islamophobia. MEND is well aware that IAM is an independent organisation that is not under the control of any one, or group, of organisations. Claims that it promotes “falsehoods” or a political agenda misrepresent its purpose and undermine efforts to tackle rising discrimination against Muslims in the UK.

Similarly, criticisms of MEND are unfounded. MEND works transparently to tackle discrimination, challenge Islamophobia and promote civic engagement. Allegations that it seeks to influence policy inappropriately or advance “extremist” agendas are baseless and misrepresent years of constructive advocacy.

A clear and consistent definition of Islamophobia is urgently needed. Hate crimes against Muslims are rising, structural discrimination persists and the far-right continues to legitimise prejudice. Attempts to delegitimise MEND, IAM or other grassroots Muslim organisations or initiatives are a malicious distraction from the urgent task of tackling Islamophobia and protecting communities from harm.

MEND remains committed to raising awareness of and tackling Islamophobia and ensuring that British Muslims are treated fairly and equally in society.