In Good Faith #39 - Dr Wajid Akhter: Why Muslims Are POWERLESS And What We NEED To Do About It
Jan 15, 2026
In this conversation, Dr. Wajid Akhter shares his insights on the urgent crises facing the Muslim community. As Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, he stresses the need for immediate action in areas like mental health, housing, and political powerlessness. Wajid highlights the importance of coordination and ambition, calling for grassroots efforts to unite under a common cause. He also proposes a practical mental health strategy, urging the community to move beyond bland statements and make tangible changes.
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Urgency Trumps Activity
- Wajid Akhter compares the Muslim community to an A&E with a red phone: solutions exist but urgency is missing.
- He calls for evolutionary change at revolutionary speed to avoid collective decline.
Problems Everywhere, Solutions Isolated
- Wajid lists wide-ranging structural problems: housing, health, education, unemployment and prison disproportions.
- He argues every problem has existing community solutions but lacks coordination to scale impact.
Stop Defensiveness, Get Granular
- Many issues are national, not exclusively Muslim, but defensiveness prevents open discussion and targeted solutions.
- Wajid urges honest, granular data by community and location to avoid misplaced framing.