British Imams Establish New Organizations to Represent Muslim Communities

A group of British imams is working to create new organizations aimed at better representing the UK’s Muslim communities, Arab News reported citing The Times. This initiative comes in response to a perceived “vacuum” between politicians and the estimated 3.8 million Muslims in the UK, following a series of governments’ refusals to engage with established bodies like the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).

The MCB, which represents around 500 mosques, schools, and charities, has faced challenges in its relationship with the government. Ties were severed in 2009 after a controversial declaration by its then-deputy leader. Other organizations, such as the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board and Tell Mama, are considered too small to effectively lobby for the Muslim community.

Qari Asim, senior imam at the Makkah Mosque in Leeds, noted that the current Labour government engages with various Muslim groups on an “ad hoc” basis. Sources indicate that the new initiatives will focus on enhancing connections between British Muslims and the government, rather than simply replacing the MCB.

Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor, a professor at Coventry University, criticized the government for not fully engaging with the MCB, highlighting a lack of trust within Muslim communities toward new initiatives. Community leaders emphasize the need for serious engagement to tap into the expertise of the diverse Muslim population.