A new organization, the British Muslim Network (BMN), is launching in the UK. So far as Daily Dazzling Dawn understands, there are no British Bangladeshi figures in the key positions of the organization.

Here's a summary of key points:

Purpose: The BMN aims to provide a platform for British Muslim voices and to engage with policymakers on issues affecting Muslim communities.These issues include education, healthcare, and the criminal justice system, among others.It is being created during a time of increased reports of Islamophobia.

Context:

The launch occurs amid concerns about rising far-right activity and reported increases in Islamophobia within the UK.

There are reports that it is not intended to rival the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), but to complement its work.

Key Figures:

Prominent figures such as Baroness Sayeeda Warsi are among its supporters.

Akeela Ahmed is a co-founder.

Imam Qari Asim is also a co-chair.

Aims:

The BMN aims to create spaces where the voices of British Muslims are heard by key stakeholders.

It will work to galvanise experts across all sectors.

It intends to address the growing sense of alienation felt by some within the Muslim community.

Political Context:

There have been reports of varying levels of political support for the new network.

It's clear that the BMN is launching at a time of significant challenges for British Muslim communities, and its success will depend on its ability to effectively address these challenges.

The founder of a newly established organization aimed at representing British Muslims in public life has told Byline Times that its purpose is to challenge the current situation, where Muslims are primarily included in policy and media discussions on topics such as extremism, counter-terrorism, and Islamophobia.

The British Muslim Network (BMN) officially launched today (February 25) after a year of extensive consultation with Muslims across the UK.

Co-chair Akeela Ahmed MBE, a social entrepreneur and advocate for equality, explained that the motivation behind BMN’s creation stems from the inconsistent and superficial nature of government engagement with British Muslims. She believes this has limited their involvement in national debates to a narrow range of issues.

Although Muslims make up just over six percent of the UK population, Ahmed argues that their voices are rarely heard in discussions on broader topics like education, healthcare, and economic policy. Instead, government consultations and media portrayals tend to focus on security and faith-related matters.

Ahmed expressed her reasons for launching BMN, stating that British Muslims have been largely absent from national debates beyond topics such as hate crime, Islamophobia, and counter-terrorism. She emphasized the need for their perspectives to be included in discussions on key issues affecting society, such as the economy, the NHS, and education.

When asked about what needs to change in politicians’ engagement with British Muslims, she said she hopes all political parties will interact with the community as equal partners, valuing their unique experiences and expertise in tackling national challenges.

While there are already numerous organizations representing Muslims, including the Muslim Council of Britain and the Association of British Muslims, Ahmed noted that many of these groups lack an open membership model.

Political engagement has also been a challenge. The previous government considered designating the Muslim Council of Britain as an "extremist" group, a move that was ultimately abandoned but nonetheless harmed the organization’s reputation. The current government still refuses to engage with the group.

In March of last year, former Conservative Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove claimed in Parliament that the Muslim Association of Britain and Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) had links to Islamist views, an accusation both groups denied. As a result, the Labour Party also ceased engagement with MEND, according to The Telegraph.

The creation of BMN may, in part, be a response to this exclusion of Muslim organizations from government discussions.

Ahmed highlighted that while significant progress has been made within the British Muslim community, there is still much work to do. She envisions BMN complementing existing efforts rather than replacing them, adopting a civil society approach in contrast to more hierarchical structures.

BMN is designed to be an inclusive organization, welcoming membership from anyone who identifies as Muslim—whether through culture, heritage, or religion. The group also plans to collaborate with faith groups and civil society organizations to ensure fair representation of Muslims in British public life.

Its launch coincides with a rising far-right movement across the West. Ahmed pointed out that media outlets like GB News frequently associate the term ‘Muslim’ with words like ‘extremist’ or ‘grooming.’ She also referenced the growing influence of far-right parties in Europe, such as Germany’s AfD, which she described as concerning due to their anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Ahmed emphasized that, despite divisive rhetoric in other countries, British society largely embraces progressive and liberal values. She hopes to build alliances that reinforce democracy and social cohesion.

She sees the exclusion of Muslim voices as a structural issue rather than a failure of specific Muslim organizations. Former Conservative Party co-chair (now independent) Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has been advising BMN, drawing on her political experience advocating for British Muslims.

Ahmed noted that Muslims account for two percent of the UK’s educational workforce and three percent of NHS staff, yet their contributions are rarely acknowledged in discussions about these sectors.

Initially, BMN will operate as a volunteer-led organization, funded privately by its founding members, with plans to seek further support from the British Muslim community and philanthropists.

The group has organized six roundtables focused on key topics such as health and wellbeing, business and the economy, hate crime, and media representation.

Ahmed also raised concerns about the rise of far-right politics in Europe and the anti-Muslim sentiments that contributed to the UK riots in 2024—one of the driving factors behind BMN’s establishment.

Regarding media representation, she referenced her research showing that negative stereotypes in the media contribute to an increase in online hostility towards Muslims. She also pointed to positive role models like football star Mo Salah and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, who have helped reduce Islamophobia through their public presence. Ahmed cited research indicating that Salah’s presence in Liverpool’s football team has significantly lowered anti-Muslim sentiment among the club’s supporters.

BMN also referenced a recent report by Tell Mama, which recorded the highest number of anti-Muslim hate incidents on record in 2024.

In what seemed like a critique of Reform UK, BMN’s statement noted that mainstream politicians have increasingly used fear of Muslims as a political strategy. This follows remarks by former Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson MP—who later joined Reform UK—suggesting that London Mayor Sadiq Khan had "given our capital away" to Islamists.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi expressed her support for BMN, saying that British Muslims have long been made to feel unheard, leading to a sense of alienation and wasted potential. She sees the organization as a necessary step toward change and encourages people from all backgrounds to support it.

Former England cricketer Azeem Rafiq also backed BMN, stating that, as someone who has faced racism and Islamophobia throughout his life and career, he understands the feeling of being marginalized. He believes BMN is a timely and much-needed initiative.

Deputy Speaker Nusrat Ghani MP, the only female Muslim Conservative MP, has also endorsed the group.

BMN’s co-chair alongside Ahmed is Imam Qari Asim MBE.