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[Zarook Qasim]

Record number of 25 Muslims elected to UK Parliament amid rising Islamophobia.

Posted byMuslimMirror

July 9, 2024

Despite rising Islamophobic sentiments, a record number of 25 Muslims have been elected to the House of Commons in the recent British parliamentary elections. Several pro-Muslim independent Palestinian candidates secured victories in former Labour Party strongholds. These independents include Iqbal Mohammad in Dewsbury and Batley, Betley in Leicester South, Adnan Hussain in Blackburn, and Job Khan in Birmingham Perry Bar.

This marks a significant increase from the 19 elected in 2017 and 2019 elections. Britain’s Muslim population, totaling 3.4 million, played a pivotal role in these electoral outcomes. Notably, eight Muslim candidates secured parliamentary seats for the first time, split between Labour and independent tickets.

Among the 15 Labour Party MPs elected, notable fresh faces include Sadiq al-Hassan in North Somerset, early Samam Muhammad in Sheffield Central, and Zabir Ahmed in Glasgow Southwest. According to British Future, the new parliament with 89 members from ethnic minority backgrounds is the most diverse in history.

The support for independent Palestinian candidates notably influenced the election, with five independents, including four Muslims, winning seats. This influence was evident in close races like Elford North, where British-Palestinian Lian Muhammad narrowly lost to Labour’s Wes Streeting by just 528 votes.

Muslim constituencies played a significant role in the elections, with reports indicating 20 constituencies in the UK where over 30% of voters are Muslim. In 2019, Labour MPs were elected from all these constituencies. Birmingham Hodge Hill has the highest Muslim population at 62%, followed by Bradford West at 59%, Ilford South at 44%, and Leicester South at 32%.

Here is a list of newly elected Muslim MPs:

1. Mohammad Yasin, Labour (re-elected), Bradford
2. Rushanara Ali, Labour (re-elected), Bethnal Green and Bow
3. Tahir Ali, Labour (re-elected), Birmingham Hall Green
4. Shabana Mahmood, Labour (re-elected), Birmingham Ladywood
5. Ayoub Khan, Independent (new member)
6. Yasmin Qureshi, Labour (re-elected), Bolton Southeast
7. Imran Hussain, Labour (re-elected), Bradford East
8. Naz Shah, Labour (re-elected), Bradford West
9. Zarah Sultana, Labour (re-elected), Coventry South
10. Iqbal Mohammad Hussain, Independent (new member)
11. Naushabah Khan Parveen, Labour (new member)
12. Zubir Ahmed, Labour (new member)
13. Afzal Khan, Labour (re-elected), Manchester Gorton
14. Saqib Bhatti, Conservative (re-elected), Meriden
15. Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat (re-elected), Twickenham
16. Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour (re-elected), Tooting
17. Nus Ghani, Conservative (re-elected), Wealden
18. Abtisam Mohamed, Labour (new member)
19. Miatta Fahnbulleh, Labour and Co-operative (new member)
20. Sadik Al-Hassan, Labour (new member)
21. Shaukat Adam Patel, Independent (new member)
22. Rupa Huq, Labour (re-elected), Ealing Central and Acton
23. Adnan Hussain, Independent (new member)
24. Apsana Begum, Labour (re-elected), Poplar and Limehouse
25. Nesil Caliskan, Labour (new member)

Record number of 25 Muslims elected to UK Parliament amid rising Islamophobia - Muslim Mirror