Akeela Ahmed, head of the British Muslim Trust (BMT), the UK government’s official partner in tackling Islamophobia, has revealed that she was refused service in a shop simply for being Muslim. Ahmed shared the incident as part of a wider concern over rising anti-Muslim “microaggressions” and hostility across the UK.
Attitudes in UK 2025 are sickening
Head of UK government’s anti-Islamophobia partner ‘refused service in shop for being Muslim’
Akeela Ahmed, of British Muslim Trust, says experience is part of a wider rise in anti-Muslim hatredhttps://t.co/ygsDQMu8K4— dave lawrence 🐟🐟🐠 (@dave43law) October 31, 2025
The BMT recently launched a government-backed hotline and online portal for reporting hate crimes, aiming to document and address underreported cases of Islamophobia. Ahmed noted that the “gap is closing” between online hate speech and real-world discrimination, saying much of it remains unpunished.
Through nationwide outreach, Ahmed said many Muslims feel ignored and disconnected from the central government despite being “educated, accomplished, and integrated.” She added that Muslims who are visibly identifiable, particularly women wearing hijabs, face subtle yet persistent discrimination, like being ignored in shops.
The BMT plans to compile data and urge stricter accountability for online hate under UK law.
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