SESRIC releases the second of a series of reports on Global Muslim Diaspora: The Case of United Kingdom
Date: 18 April 2019
Venue: Ankara - Türkiye

As part of its Global Muslim Diaspora (GMD) Project, SESRIC has recently published the country case report on the United Kingdom (UK). The UK report is the second country report of a series of publications that explore the characteristics, attitudes, experiences, perceptions and challenges that Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC countries face.

The GMD project in the UK has found a richly diverse, vibrant and strong Muslim community that is getting stronger every day. A reason for that has been the advent of the second and third generation of Muslims, who are taking over from their parents and grandparents as leaders of the Muslim community.

Muslims in the UK constitute one of the largest, most diverse and most dynamic Muslim minority communities around the world. Islam has become the second largest religion in the country. The data reveals that the Muslim community in Britain is over 2.7 million (as off 2011), accounting for 4.8% of the British population. More than one-third of them (37.4%) live in London. Asian and Asian British Muslims make up a large majority among the Muslim community. There is a notable increase in numbers of ethnic White Muslims, as well as in the Black African Muslim community. Lastly, there is a significant Arab Muslim community, which has been increasing in recent years. In terms of age, the Muslim community in the UK is much younger than the rest of the population.

The UK is praised for having a strong democracy based on the rule of law and human right and for offering freedom of religious. Despite that, Islamophobia and racism are among the main challenges that Muslim communities face in everyday life. Furthermore, compared to their size and significance, Muslims in the UK believe that they are not well represented in the economy, politics and society in general. This includes the representation of Muslims in the British media as well.

Despite the recent growth of studies on Muslims in non-OIC countries, there remain many fissures and a lack of comprehensive knowledge on Muslim communities around the world. The Global Muslim Diaspora series aims to fill in this gap by employing a wide range of research techniques that range from elite interviews and surveys with Muslim and non-Muslims to focus groups and workshops.

Online Electronic Version

  • Global Muslim Diaspora - Muslim Communities and Minorities in Non-OIC Member States: United Kingdom (English)