By Maira Butt
Wajid Khan, sacked as the government’s faith minister two months ago, has been reflecting on the challenges facing British Muslim communities, including delays to finalising a definition of Islamophobia and intimidation by flag campaigns.
In a fireside chat with Burhan Wazir, editor-in-chief of the Hyphen at the media platform’s first festival in Westminster, Lord Khan agreed that efforts to define Islamophobia had “taken far too long”.
“I’m not going to sugar-coat this,” he said. “That’s one of the lessons we’ve got to learn in government, to ensure that the process is going faster … People will feel frustrated.”
He hoped a definition would be agreed soon and added: “I’m just going to say: watch this space.”
The government launched a working group, led by Dominic Grieve, KC, the Conservative former attorney-general, to investigate the definition of Islamophobia in February 2025, in response to record levels of hate crimes against Muslims. The group was given six months to deliver a non-statutory definition, with findings due by the end of August. Mr Grieve told parliament that the recommendation would “likely” be published in September this year.
The government has said the working group’s advice was now being considered.
Lord Khan lost his ministerial job in September, when he was replaced by Miatta Fahnbulleh, the MP for Peckham, but says he is now busier than ever and will not dilute his efforts to work on interfaith initiatives and community cohesion.
“Community cohesion is something I’m very passionate about,” he told the Religion Media Centre. “Our work doesn’t stop by not being in government. I’ve actually become busier. With interfaith week coming up, I’ll be there to continue my relationship working with people of all faiths and beliefs. I’m looking forward to maintaining relationships.”
He insists that he harbours no hard feelings about the government’s decision to remove him from office. “It’s part of political life that governments change all the time,” he said. “The prime minister makes a decision to bring new people in and make space for new people.
“In my time in government, it has been a pleasure to serve the country and now somebody else has the opportunity to do that job and I will be supporting them from the back benches.”
Recent reports have indicated that Muslims have been feeling intimidated by attacks against mosques, places of worship and individuals, as well as the Operation Raise the Colours campaign to display the Union Jack and St George’s Flag.
Lord Khan said the symbolism should not intimidate individuals. “People have wonderful feelings about our country; people are free to express their love for their country. So people are doing that,” he said.
In Burnley, a Reform stronghold where Lord Khan was born in 1979, dozens of flags have been mounted on lampposts. The flags should be reclaimed, he says: “For me, that flag is everybody’s. We’re all British citizens who want to make sure our country is successful and strong. People who feel intimidated by it? They shouldn’t be because that flag is everybody’s.
“That flag does not limit people from different backgrounds or cultures or religions. It’s a celebration of inclusivity and the celebration of each and every one of us as citizens of our country. We should look at that with immense pride and joy.”
Speaking about increasing anti-immigration sentiments in the national consciousness, Lord Khan said that something must be done about “illegal” immigration. However, he disagreed with Sir Keir Starmer’s “island of strangers” speech.
“That shouldn’t have happened,” he told the festival audience. “I get the point the prime minister was trying to make but the choice of words was not the right choice. The rhetoric out there is difficult and dangerous but we can’t out-Reform Reform. We should stick to our values.”
Other events at the festival included a panel asked: “How will Muslim voters respond to the UK’s current political challenges?” On the panel were Shavanah Taj of the Wales Trade Unions Congress, Mothin Ali of the Green Party, and Hina Bokhari of the Liberal Democrats.
The group agreed that Reform UK posed a threat to British Muslims and the mainstream political parties and reflected on the risk of British Muslims being taken in by the group’s campaigning.
Mr Ali added that it was important for British Muslims’ socioeconomic status to be considered in line with their race and religion. “If you just look at the social breakdown of Muslim populations, we are quite poor,” he said. “The system isn’t designed for someone who has to work a full-time job to try and put food on the table and serve their community.”
A second panel unpacked the contributions of Muslim women to sports and featured rugby player Zainab Alema, Sahiba Majeed of the Muslim Sport Foundation, and football referee Jawahir Roble.
Among the challenges discussed were the barriers to Muslim women wearing headscarves and modest clothing as well as subtle exclusions as part of team-building, including drinking culture.
