UK Muslim politicians urge greater representation to combat rising Islamophobia

In a time of escalating global conflict and rising anti-Muslim sentiment, two prominent British Muslim politicians have called for stronger Muslim representation across politics, business, and media. Speaking to media outlets during a forum in Istanbul, former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and Labour MP Naz Shah stressed the urgent need for leadership development within Western Muslim communities.

Yousaf, who made history as Scotland’s first Muslim leader in 2023, said Islamophobia is now more widespread than at any point in his life, both in the West and East. He attributed the surge to years of neglect by Western governments and the mainstreaming of anti-Muslim rhetoric, which he said has fueled the rise of far-right movements across Europe and the U.S.

Shah echoed his concerns, criticizing the previous UK Conservative government for failing to address Islamophobia or define it formally. She welcomed recent efforts by the Labour government, including a review led by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, to tackle the issue.

The two politicians emphasized that Muslims are not asking for special treatment, but equal opportunity and fair representation. Yousaf highlighted the importance of political engagement, while Shah stressed building wider societal alliances to counter hate.

They also condemned double standards in global responses to crises, noting Western support for Ukraine contrasted with limited action on Gaza, where over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.

Yousaf warned that failure to uphold international law in Gaza could lead to the collapse of the global rules-based order. With the potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, both leaders called on Muslims to organize politically and invest in future leaders to ensure their communities are represented and protected in an increasingly polarized world.