Muslims in the UK feel hugely under-represented in the media, and research suggests almost 60 per cent of all articles are negative, according to speakers at the Religion Media Festival’s panel discussion on “Muslims in Britain”. Burhan Wazir, editor-in-chief of Hyphen Online, told the audience that the vast majority of stories tend to look at Muslims from a security or Islamophobia point of view, but there was a much more nuanced conversation to be had about access to healthcare, education and how Muslims live their lives.

The panel was chaired by BBC investigative journalist Poonam Taneja, and other panellists were Rizwana Hamid, director of the Centre for Media Monitoring; Akeela Ahmed, co-chair of the British Muslim Network; and Dr Azim Ahmed, deputy director at the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, at Cardiff University.

The Religion Media Festival, held at Methodist Central Hall, London, on Monday 9 June 2025, was organised by the Religion Media Centre. We are a charity which aims to help journalists report religion by providing daily news bulletins, background briefings, factsheets and opportunities to network.

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