UK’s Tory government pressed to adopt definition of Islamophobia as UN marks inaugural day to combat it

A cross-party group of British MPs has, on March 15, seized the newly UN-designated International Day to Combat Islamophobia to urge the Conservative government to enact their working definition to combat it.

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Editorial: No right not to be offended, Muslims told

Muslims have no right not to be offended, insists Home Secretary Suella Braverman following the desecration of a copy of the Qur’an

Editorial: Tories cheerleading banishment of desperate asylum seekers

Desperate to reclaim the huge lead Labour has held in opinion polls, the government is playing the tried and tested refugee demonization card

Editorial: Anti-Islam group must be purged from Parliament

Demonstrating how entrenched Islamophobia has become in British society, not only has there been no outcry in the upper chamber about the existence of this pernicious group, but there has been scant media coverage as well.

Editorial: Police harassment jeopardises essential community support

Covert police tactics bordering on harassment cannot undermine the fine principles of consent and community support underpinning UK policing.

Ramadan messages from political leaders

Ramadan messages from Leader of Labour Party, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Leader of the Scottish National Party, the First Minister of Wales and the Mayor of London, exclusively to The Muslim News

COMMENT: Ramadan, month of reflection and devotion to God

Ramadan is a time to increase one's patience, devotion to God and generosity towards others, especially the less fortunate.

Ramadan Radio Listing

The following is a list of Ramadan radio stations (licenced by OFCOM as both community and short-term) that will begin broadcasting at the start of Ramadan.

Mosques urged ditch single-use plastic during Ramadan

Mosques across England have been urged to reduce single-use plastic as part of a nationwide Ramadan project, with the potential to save 500 tonnes of waste each year.

Muslims urged to boycott Israeli dates during Ramadan

Muslims cross the world are being encouraged to boycott Israeli dates this Ramadan to ensure they are not breaking their fasts with the “taste of apartheid.”

My Path to Westminster: Inspiring young Muslims to enter parliament

One hundred young aspiring politicians and activists convened in London with seven Muslim MPs and peers, including former Chancellor Sajid Javid last month as part of an inaugural event designed to increase Muslim political participation.

Donations to British Muslim charities expected to soar to £4.4bn by 2050

The annual income of Muslim charities in the UK is projected to rise by a staggering six fold to reach over £4 billion, due largely to the divinely ordained obligations of Islam

London primary pupils to receive free school meals

Free school meals will be offered to all primary school pupils across London for a year under plans by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan

MCB spokesman wins defamation case

The Director for Media Monitoring at the Muslim Council of Britain has welcomed a High Court defamation verdict against author and commentator Ed Husain, who founded the controversial and now-defunct Quilliam Foundation.

Gaza children’s artwork removed from London hospital

A London hospital removed artwork created by Palestinian schoolchildren from Gaza last month, following lobbying from a pro-Israel NGO.

UK Government “endorsing” far-right threats to asylum seekers

The UK government has neglected the threat posed by the far-right while implicitly “endorsing” the violence faced by asylum seekers, according to prominent refugee advocacy groups.

EXCLUSIVE: Muslim teen jailed for five hours for possessing 4cm Zulfiqar pendant

The family of a Muslim teen arrested and held in custody for almost five hours for being in possession of a pinky-sized Zulfiqar [sword] shaped pendant has said they are considering taking legal action against Greater Manchester Police.

Damage to the Qur’an recorded as ‘hate incident’

West Yorkshire Police have reportedly spoken to a pupil after an incident at Kettlethorpe High School in Wakefield last month in which a copy of the Qur’an was dropped by a boy described as having autism.

Secret anti-Islam group operated out of Lords for over a decade

An anti-Islam American organisation run by evangelical philanthropists linked to Orthodox Christian groups and accused of collaborating with far-right activists has been operating secretively out of the House of Lords for over a decade, according to a cache of leaked documents.

Muslims face difficulties accessing palliative healthcare

British Muslims face difficulties accessing palliative and end-of-life care, according to a joint report by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), end-of-life charity Marie Curie, the University of Leeds, and the University College London

Corrections officers sued for allegedly pepper spraying Muslim inmates as they prayed

A lawsuit was filed against several officials in Missouri, US, on March 2, for allegedly pepper-spraying Muslim inmates while they prayed

Canada’s intelligence watchdog opens Islamophobia investigation of tax agency

Canada’s intelligence watchdog declared on March 14 that it will investigate claims that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) had a systemic Islamophobic bias when auditing the country’s largest Muslim charity and grassroots NGO.

India tops list of global internet shutdowns

India imposed the highest number of internet shutdowns in the world last year for the fifth consecutive year, according to advocacy group, Access Now.

Yemenis sue US defence contractors for aiding war crimes

US defence contractors are facing a lawsuit filed on March 2 by seven Yemeni nationals accusing them of “aiding and abetting war crimes and extrajudicial killings”.

UK Government challenged in judicial review over Saudi arms sales contributing to Yemen abuses

Anti-arms trade campaigners have launched a judicial review of the UK’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia, warning that the weapons are exacerbating a major humanitarian crisis in war-torn Yemen.

‘Catastrophic’ cuts in food aid for Rohingya refugees ‘stain on the conscience’ says UN rights expert

A UN special rapporteur has urged countries to reverse “the shameful, catastrophic cuts” to food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

ENVIRONMENT: Profile of Climate activist Nisreen Elsaim

In honour of Women’s History Month, The Muslim News interviewed 26-year-old Sudanese climate activist Nisreen Elsaim, chair of the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.

HEALTH: Further COVID boosters in Spring for elderly and vulnerable

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised the government that another booster COVID vaccination for over-75s, care home residents, and immunocompromised people should be offered this spring.

Sport: 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics

The 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, held in Kazakhstan from February 10 to 12, were the tenth edition of the Asian indoor athletics competition.

Sport: Three Championship clubs sign Muslim Athlete Charter

Millwall, Luton Town, and Swansea City signed the Muslim Athlete Charter, which has already been signed by over a third of the 92 professional football clubs pledging to “actively support” Muslim players, reports the BBC.

Book review: Stereotypes on Islam and Muslims in English literature

Analysis a wide range of early modern literary works, including some iconic works, and their references to Islam.

Letter: Surgeon operates despite being paralysed

To submit a letter for publication please email editor@muslimnews.co.uk