In Bristol – a city that prides itself on diversity, inclusion and progressive values.

it’s time we confronted some uncomfortable truths about how Muslims are too often misunderstood, misrepresented, and marginalised.

The recently released British Muslims in Numbers Census Summary tells a powerful story. It’s not one you’ll likely read in the tabloids, but it’s the one that matters.

There are now over four million Muslims in the UK, and here in Bristol, we’ve seen the growth of a vibrant, diverse, and deeply rooted Muslim community. From Easton to St Pauls, from Lawrence Hill to Ashley, Muslims are not just residents – we are business owners, NHS workers, educators, carers, volunteers, and elected representatives. We are proud Bristolians and proud Muslims.

And yet, how often are we reduced to headlines about extremism, so-called “parallel societies,” or culture wars? Too often, Muslims in this city – particularly young people – are growing up under the weight of suspicion, scapegoating and stereotypes. It’s not just frustrating; it’s damaging.

Here are the facts: 94% of British-born Muslims in England and Wales identify as British. In Bristol, where Muslims have been part of the city’s social fabric for generations, this is our home. 99% speak English well or very well, yet we still hear tired claims about “integration”. What more do we need to do to be accepted as equals?

Our community is young – nearly half of all Muslims are under 24 – and full of potential. But potential needs investment. It needs opportunities, not barriers. Muslim women, for example, are achieving more than ever – 50% of all Muslim full-time students are female – yet many still face systemic blocks to employment, advancement, and leadership.
Housing remains a major concern. In Bristol, I hear regularly from families living in overcrowded housing, young couples struggling to find affordable homes, and elderly parents stuck in unsuitable accommodation. The report shows 1 in 4 Muslim households face overcrowding – that’s four times the national average. And let’s be honest: the council house waiting list is bursting at the seams. This isn’t a “Muslim issue” – it’s a working-class issue, a Bristol issue.

Health inequalities are another reality we must face. Among older Muslim women, the rate of “bad or very bad health” is shockingly high. This links not only to poverty and housing but also to how services are delivered – or not delivered – in a culturally sensitive and accessible way. As we increasingly move to digital platforms, we mustn’t leave behind our elders.

And then there’s the hard truth: 18% of the prison population is Muslim, despite Muslims only making up 6% of the population. That’s a damning figure – and it demands a serious, community-led response, not just from criminal justice services, but from mosques, youth workers, mentors, and schools, and at Easton Jamia Mosque we’ve started that work already.

Bristol is no stranger to injustice – we’ve pulled down statues and confronted uncomfortable parts of our history. But what about the injustice faced by Muslim communities today? Islamophobia isn’t just name-calling in the street – it’s job rejections based on your name, it’s the casual assumptions made in the classroom, in hospitals, and even in council chambers. It’s the hostile headlines that seep into policy.

I want to be clear: British Muslims are not looking for special treatment. We’re calling for equal opportunity, fair treatment, and recognition of our contribution. We want our children to grow up in a city that sees them for who they are, not what they’re falsely portrayed to be.

The Census data offers more than numbers – it offers a wake-up call, I call on leaders in our city to use it to build a Bristol where no one is left behind, and where Muslims are seen not as a “community to manage” but as an integral part of the city’s future.

We’re not going anywhere – and nor should we have to justify our presence. This is our home. And it’s time that was reflected not just in data – but in policy, in press, and in public life.

For the full report:

British Muslims in Numbers – Census Summary 2025

Available at: www.mcb.org.uk/resources/british-muslims-in-numbers-2025-summary

Media Enquiries: Abdul Malik

Email: cllr.abdul.malik@bristol.gov.uk

Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) Press Office:

Phone: 0845 262 6786

Email: admin@mcb.org.uk

Website: www.mcb.org.uk

Cllr Abdul Malik

(MCIArb, FRIPH)