About us
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British Muslim communities face many internal and external challenges - such as social and economic disadvantage, anti-Muslim prejudiceand inadequate funding and professional advice. Yet our communities also hold immense talent, expertise and potential, which can offer solutions not just to our own challenges, but to those of wider British society.
Harnessing untapped potential BMN was founded to help harness this potential. British Muslims make up two percent of the educational workforce, three percent of the NHS workforce, and 1 in 3 hold a professional job across transport, finance, science, tech, retail and hospitality. British Muslims are business owners, employers and service providers - in finance, housing, retail, hospitality, health and tech. Collectively, British Muslims are already contributing to and shaping British society in tremendously positive ways, including being one of the largest groups in terms of charitable giving. BMN works to galvanise these tremendous contributions and capabilities into a force for good that can help solve some of the most pressing challenges facing Great Britain today. A network of networks We are a network of networks, connecting professionals, experts and grassroots communities from around the country. We convene people from a diverse range of sectors including law, health, education, science and tech, business, arts and culture, sport and the criminal justice sector. |
وَلِكُلٍّۢ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا۟ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ "...to each of you is a direction that you face, so compete in good works. Wherever you are, God will bring you together. Surely God has power over all things."
- The Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 148
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Our core objectives
We have identified three core objectives:
- To amplify the experiences and positive social impact of British Muslims in today's society
- To strengthen diverse Muslim voices and ensure they are present in spaces that hold power and resource in order to safeguard and promote equal rights for all
- To create - convene - collaborate - by holding space and building strong effective networks between diverse British Muslim leaders to affect system change
Our values
We derive our values from our Islamic faith and our understanding of shared rights and responsibilities as British citizens:
- Openness and transparency - We will be open and transparent about who we are and what we do.
- Collaboration - We will be part of and support a wider ecosystem of different British Muslim groups and organisations. We will work with different political parties and collaborate with other faith and community groups on areas of mutual interest.
- Proactivity - We will be proactive and positive in our work.
- Diversity - We will be open to all people who define themselves as Muslim and seek to achieve a diversity of engagement from different backgrounds, locations, traditions, ethnicities and gender.
- Pluralism - There will be times when we don’t all agree. This is normal. We’ll respect that pluralism. While we will seek consensus among us whenever possible, we won’t seek to impose a common line where there are strong ideas and opinions.
- Good governance - We will have strong governance in place to ensure we fulfill our mission.
- Authenticity - We will seek to remain grounded in our communities and their experiences.
Our team
With respect to governance, BMN is in startup mode with members of the founding team implementing funding and entity registration before moving on to the next phase with a full advisory board and established partnerships.
Akeela Ahmed MBE
Akeela Ahmed MBE is Co-Chair of the British Muslim Network. Akeela is a social entrepreneur and equalities campaigner. She chaired the cross-government Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred, and is founder of She Speaks We Hear. |
Qari asim MBE
Qari Asim MBE is Co-Chair of the British Muslim Network. He is the senior Imam at Makkah Mosque in Leeds, Real Estate Lawyer at a global law firm and trustee of a number of charities focusing on social cohesion. |
Julie Siddiqi MBE
Julie Siddiqi MBE is a mentor, consultant, equalities campaigner, and longtime grassroots Muslim community activist. She is the founder of Together We Thrive and co-founder of The Big Iftar. |
Our Advisory Board
imran Farooqi
Imran is a Partner at a Big 4 firm with over 20 years of specialist advisory experience. He has advised a number of global corporate and investment banks on their anti-financial crime strategies and led their responses to regulatory intervention. He has also served a term on the Supervisory Board and is currently the Chair of the firm’s Muslim network. |
Jordan Patel
Jordan is a leader in urban regeneration and community empowerment, dedicated to amplifying British Muslim voices in policy and social change. As founder of Birmingham’s Art Quarter, he champions inclusive spaces that celebrate Muslim identity and entrepreneurship. His work bridges economic growth, faith-based accessibility, and cultural cohesion to create lasting impact. |
Sumayah Saadi
Sumayah is the founder of a modest fashion brand reaching more than 6m+, transforming style into a platform for cultural change and Muslim empowerment, while bridging faith, innovation, and social impact. |
Ahmed Bashir mbe
Ahmed is a Global Trade Specialist with a strong diplomatic background. He runs a consultancy focused on helping companies expand and grow, with a particular emphasis on supporting startups. Currently, he is heavily involved in a medical startup, leveraging his expertise in global markets and strategic growth. With a longstanding commitment to community building, he established the CS Muslim Network, fostering the empowerment and connectivity of Muslim professionals. |
Rukhsana Yaqoob MBE
Rukhsana has been in education all her life with a focus on raising the attainment of underachieving pupils. She has worked in schools and teachers locally and nationally. In 2022 Rukhsana was awarded an MBE for her services in education. |
dr hina shahid
Dr Hina is a Family Physician (GP) with a background in Global Health and Medical Education. She is the chair of the Muslim Doctors Association and Allied Health Professionals CIC where her work focuses on health inequities in the Muslim community and the impact of Islamophobia on health and healthcare. |
zahed amanullah
Zahed is a writer, researcher, and transatlantic interfaith activist. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, where he specialises in policies and strategies to combat Islamophobia, disinformation, and targeted hate toward Muslim communities. He served as a Director for the Concordia Forum from 2011-2022. |
Abdurahman Sayed
Abdurahman has a strong background in the public and charity sectors, with extensive expertise in community engagement, development, and cohesion. He serves as CEO of the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in London. He also serves as a member of advisory boards for major institutions, including the Greater London Authority and the London Fire Brigade). |
Our partners and supporters
We want to sincerely thank many people for their advice and guidance over this past year, to shape and develop the British Muslim Network. Without them the BMN would not have been possible. These include: Jawaahir Daahir, Syima Aslam, Imam Asim Hafiz, Esmat Jeraj, Mustafa Field and Rukhsana Yaqoob.
