- There are very few news organisations that represent the Muslim community and speak up for truth and justice. Philip’s grotesque smear campaign on such organisations seeks to suppress British Muslim voices only.
The Conservative Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philip, called for British Muslim organisations MEND, CAGE, and 5Pillars to be banned during a segment broadcast on GB News. His remarks came in the aftermath of a stabbing incident involving British Jewish victims in Golders Green, London, on Wednesday.
This is not the first such instance. In 2023, 5 Pillars and our dear brother Dilly Hussain, Deputy Editor of the organisation, was the target of a smear campaign, which we reported on. Since then, 5 Pillars continues to thrive as a leading voice representing mainstream orthodox British Muslims.
Given how few professional organisations exist to represent us as a community, branding them as extremists is, frankly, absurd. It stretches credibility and reads as little more than a transparent attempt to delegitimise and silence voices simply because they are disliked.
5 Pillars has previously operated under the independent press regulator IMPRESS, obligating it to adhere to stringent journalistic standards. In addition, the platform boasts a team with an established journalistic pedigree.
Dilly Hussain, with a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and an NCTJ certification in print journalism, has contributed to respected publications such as Middle Eastern Eye and Press TV. He has earned accolades, and his work extends to contributions on Huffington Post and Al Jazeera, as well as frequent appearances on BBC and Sky News, among others.
In the face of yet another smear campaign, Roshan Muhammed Salih, a highly seasoned and qualified journalist and editor of 5Pillars, responded to Philip’s comments and reaffirmed the team’s commitment to truth, justice, and service to the ummah.
CAGE responded to Philip’s remarks with the following post:
Islamophobia within the Tory party
On 2nd April, judge James Tindal ruled that former Conservative Muslim councillor Mohammed Arif had been victimised because of his Pakistani heritage and been discriminated against because of his religious beliefs by members of his local Tory association. Arif said that the party must tackle Islamophobia and “stand up to discrimination.”
Islamophobia within the party was fully exposed in 2024 through a poll conducted by Hope not Hate. It revealed its extent in no uncertain terms. A clear majority of 521 Conservative party members (58%) thought that Islam is a threat to the British way of life, while only 18% believed the two are compatible. Over half thought it’s true that “Parts of many European cities are under the control of Sharia Law and are ‘no-go’ zones for non-Muslims”, with only a fifth thinking that statement is false. Twice as many party members had a negative view of Muslims as those who have a positive view.
The Rampant Islamophobia of GB News
Since GB News provided a platform for Chris Philip and left his remarks unchallenged, it is worth considering the following about the channel:
In March, the broadcasting regulator Ofcom faced pressure to investigate GB News after the right-wing broadcaster promoted a segment in which a former adviser to Boris Johnson and other senior Conservatives claimed that ethnic minorities are threatening a “white genocide” in the UK.
The remarks came from Thomas Corbett-Dillon, a regular guest on Fox News. Appearing on ‘The Late Show,’ he said, “I’d like to know where you’re planning on going when they really turn on us. Because it has happened before and it will happen again,” he added.
Richard Wilson, director of campaign group Stop Funding Hate said, “GB News has become a home for the ‘white genocide’ conspiracy theory – a narrative that has inspired real-world violence. Ofcom’s repeated failure to act over this channel’s toxic output is more than just a regulatory failure – it’s a policy choice.”
“When a licensed broadcaster can air suggestions that ethnic minorities will ‘turn’ on white Brits, Ofcom’s fitness for purpose as a regulator must be seriously questioned.”
“This is white nationalist ideology on a licensed TV channel. Ofcom’s silence is a green light.”
In response to the incident GB News released the following statement: “GB News operates in full compliance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and takes its responsibilities as a regulated broadcaster seriously.”
In December 2024, The Centre for Media Monitoring released a report on GB News’ troubling portrayal of Muslims, revealing bias, misinformation and far-right tropes in its coverage. It found:
• Over the course of two years, GB News referenced Muslims or Islam more than 17,000 times, making up 50% of all mentions across UK news channels.
• 62% of the coverage on summer riots grossly misrepresented Muslims as perpetrators, while downplaying the attacks on mosques and Muslim communities.
• GB News mentioned Islamophobia 1,180 times, accounting for 60% of all references compared to BBC News and Sky News, primarily to dismiss or downplay its existence.
• GB News consistently cast suspicion on Muslims in public spaces, amplifying far-right conspiracy theories such as the ‘Great Replacement’ and assertions of a Muslim ‘takeover.’
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Responses from the targeted Muslim organisations serve as an inspirational and poignant reminder to us all: we must stand firm and resist the bullying tactics of far-right thugs dressed in suits, the agents of discord. Those who champion the oppressed must remember that such tactics are used to silence voices of justice, including those of peaceful, hardworking, and honest British Muslims across the country.
