Keele professor presents research on Islamophobia in the UK to Parliament
A Keele University professor has presented their comprehensive analysis of Islamophobia in the UK to a panel discussion in the House of Commons.
The panel on the European Islamophobia Report (EIR) was hosted by Afzal Khan MP, Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims.
Professor Aristotle Kallis, from Keele's School of Humanities and Social Sciences, presented his latest findings alongside Professor Enes Bayrakli (Turkish-German University) who outlined the broader patterns of Islamophobia across Europe, Dr Kawtar Najib (University of Liverpool) and Dr Amani Hassani (Brunel University) who respectively examined the situations in France and Denmark.
Professor Kallis, whose research encompasses contemporary European history, fascism, and the study of prejudice and discrimination, has authored the annual UK national report for the European Islamophobia Report since 2016.
At the panel, Professor Kallis identified key developments that had marked and influenced the development of Islamophobia in Britain in 2023 and 2024 that included: the rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes following international events in the Middle East; the impact of extraordinary domestic events, and the increased targeting of Muslim communities in political discourse, particularly during national and local election campaigns.
Professor Kallis said: "The UK faces a critical juncture where Islamophobia has become increasingly normalised in public discourse, with concerning implications for social cohesion and democratic values.
"Much that the threat from the far right represents a predominant problem for Muslim communities across the UK, much more invisible damage is happening through mainstream political operators who are picking up similar divisive themes, taking away some of the most violent assumptions of Islamophobia, and normalising Islamophobic tropes left to right.
"My research for the 2024 Islamophobia report for the UK has revealed how anti-Muslim prejudice operates through multiple channels - from media representations to policy decisions - creating a climate of hostility that affects British Muslims' daily lives. It reiterates the urgent importance of adopting an official definition for Islamophobia.
"While the challenges are significant, the report also documented remarkable examples of community resilience and interfaith solidarity that offer hope for positive change."
Lord Wajid Khan (Minister for Faith and Communities) also participated in the panel discussion alongside the Turkish Ambassador to the UK Osman Koray Ertaş, MP Naz Shah and Lord Qurban Hussein.
Professor Kallis's research continues to inform Parliamentary debates, policy discussions, and civil society initiatives on combating religious discrimination in contemporary Britain.
