Today in Focus How did British Muslims become ‘the problem’?
19 snips
Jan 29, 2026 
Aamna Mohdin, Guardian community affairs correspondent reporting on British Muslim issues. Shaista Aziz, anti-racism campaigner and former councillor sharing lived experiences of Islamophobia. Miqdaad Versi, media-monitoring campaigner on representation. They discuss rising Islamophobia in Britain, online amplification and local threats, media bias and stereotypes, attacks on mosques, political shifts and why Muslim communities matter.
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Everyday Encounter With Wild Myths
- Shaista Aziz recounts a man who genuinely believed the government was trying to ban dogs for Muslims during a walk with her nieces.
- The story shows how toxic rhetoric and online myths distort everyday interactions and foster absurd prejudices.
Violence And Intimidation Against Muslims
- Shaista Aziz describes violent incidents including a punch and a threatening voicemail involving pig's heads at mosques.
- These episodes underline the physical dangers and intimidation British Muslims face beyond online abuse.
Surge In Hate Crimes Meets Policy Paralysis
- Anti-Muslim hate crimes in England and Wales doubled in 2024, with attacks on mosques and everyday people.
- The government hasn't agreed on a definition of Islamophobia, undermining efforts to tackle the rise.