Home Affairs Editor, and Zahra Adoul
Kemi Badenoch would make Britain safer for Muslims if she wins the next general election, Conservative Party Chair Kevin Hollinrake has said, as he praised the contribution of Britain’s Muslim community at The Muslim News Awards for Excellence.
Speaking exclusively to The Muslim News at the 22nd annual Gala Dinner in central London on July 6, the veteran MP said the Tory leader would be the “first to say that we must stamp out any of that kind of prejudice in our society,” while acknowledging recent “terrible cases of anti-Muslim hatred” across the UK.
The comments come amid wider debate over how political parties engage with British Muslim communities, following criticism from some Muslim organisations over the Conservatives’ stance on Gaza and the party’s decision not to adopt the widely used All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) definition of Islamophobia.
Since 2000, The Muslim News Awards for Excellence has recognised outstanding contributions to British society, celebrating achievement across public life while inspiring future generations.
Reflecting on the purpose of the awards, Hollinrake highlighted the charitable and civic work carried out by Muslim communities across Britain.
“It’s very important that we recognise anybody’s contribution to society, and I’m very aware that the Muslim community is very active in terms of helping other people less fortunate than themselves,” he said.
“Those efforts should be lauded.”
“It’s fantastic. You’re seeing all the different charities, where people look after homeless people, support young mothers, or try to get more people into sport.”
“[It’s] wonderful work, and this is all about the community working together.”
“It’s a credit to you [The Muslim News] for all the work you do in recognising the contribution of all these wonderful charities here.”
The theme of contribution and service was echoed by Ameet Jogia, Conservative Party Chief of Staff, former adviser to Rishi Sunak, and councillor in the London Borough of Harrow.
Speaking to guests, Jogia reflected on his longstanding relationship with Britain’s Muslim community, citing his work with the KSIMC of London, Hujjat Stanmore, and his shared East African roots.
“I have a long and warm association with the British Muslim community,” he said.
“I’ve seen firsthand the excellent work that the community does for wider society. Growing up in Mwanza [Tanzania], I’ve seen firsthand the contribution that the community makes.”
“And this is what this evening is all about: celebrating the contribution that the community makes and using it as an example for others, to inspire other people and other communities to come forward.”
“It’s evident here tonight that you have gone above and beyond, whether in business, medicine, accountancy or wider society, and especially in philanthropy, where the British Muslim community is known to be one of the country’s largest contributors. So, thank you so much for all that you do.”
Jogia presented the Ibn Sīnā Award for Excellence in Health, one of 15 awards recognising the contributions of British Muslims and their allies to UK society.
Other dignitaries attending included H.E. Osman Topčagić, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ambassador to the UK, who invited guests to visit his country and experience its hospitality.
“Thirty-one years after the peace agreement was reached for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country, in spite of internal issues that continue to hinder faster development, attracts a number of visitors, and I can assure you that all of them enjoy visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
“So I invite all of you to consider visiting my country, enjoy the hospitality of our people, and experience the beauty of nature and everything else it has to offer.”
While the evening celebrated achievement, The Muslim News Editor Ahmed J Versi used his address to highlight the continuing challenge of Islamophobia in Britain, urging ministers and opposition MPs alike to recognise the experiences of Muslim communities.
His remarks came amid a sharp rise in reported anti-Muslim incidents. Last year, nearly 6,000 reports made to the watchdog Tell MAMA were verified as anti-Muslim incidents — more than double the number recorded in 2023.
“As we gather in joy and fellowship, we are reminded that this evening does not exist in isolation from the wider world beyond these walls,” Versi said.
“For many Muslims in Britain and across the world, these have been difficult times, shaped not only by events, but also by how those events are recognised, spoken about and understood.”
“Here at home, anti-Muslim hostility continues to rise quietly but persistently.”
“Muslims remain among the most frequent victims of religious hate crime, and Muslim women in particular bear what a recent parliamentary inquiry has described as a ‘triple penalty’ — misogyny, racism and religious prejudice, each compounding the other.”
“And yet, it is striking that, despite this, Muslim women have consistently represented more than half of all award recipients in recent years — a reminder that adversity has not diminished contribution but, in many cases, has strengthened it.”
“In everyday life — on buses, in workplaces, in schools and on our streets — too many still encounter hostility for no reason other than who they are.”
“From those lived experiences grows a wider sense of unease, which is not only about individual incidents, but about how they are received and acknowledged.”
Versi argued that anti-Muslim incidents did not always receive the same attention in public discourse, media coverage or political debate as comparable acts affecting other communities.
He said this had contributed to a growing sense among many Muslims of being present in British society but “not always fully heard”.
“It is within this context that years of patient effort led to the publication of a definition of Islamophobia. For many, this appeared to be a turning point.”
“Yet that hope was short-lived, as the definition was set aside and replaced by one drafted by the government itself, confirming that Muslim voices may be invited into the conversation, yet still struggle to shape its outcome.”
Congratulating the nominees, Luke Taylor, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for London, said it was “vital” to celebrate “different cultures and experiences”.
“At a time of division and destruction around the world, it is vital that we take a moment to celebrate beauty, inclusivity and joy in the arts,” he said.
The evening also featured a musical performance by singer-songwriter Farhana Ali, representing Universal Music.
Each winner received a finely crafted brass astrolabe, a historic instrument developed and refined by Muslim scholars for navigation and astronomical observation.
The award symbolises guidance, precision and the enduring legacy of Islamic civilisation, reflecting the achievements celebrated throughout the evening.
