By Dr Musharraf Hussain
Muslims don’t Matter is a recent book by Baroness Warsi. It explains how Islamophobia has become normalised in British politics, media and society. She presents harrowing stories of how it has ruined people’s lives and even caused deaths. As a lawyer and a senior politician, she is appealing to the good nature of the British public to challenge Islamophobia.
A book launch was organised by Waheed Zaman of KQZ Institute at Nottingham University. I was asked to do a ‘Thank you speech’, here’s my speech:
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Dear Baroness sister Warsi and guests, Assalamu Alaykum,
You come from Bewal and I from Bhata, two large villages just seven miles apart in the District of Gujarkhan, North Pakistan. Now, I know I can be accused of being a tribalist flattering another member of a Patwari tribe.
I want to express my deep appreciation for your work and dedication to justice. At a time when it would have been easier for you to remain silent, you chose to speak out – at great personal and political cost – on issues that affect not only British Muslims. You stood up for the principles of justice and social cohesion in our society. You have shown extraordinary courage in confronting Islamophobia, particularly within political institutions and challenged those in power, even when it meant standing apart from your own party. You resigned from a ministerial post in 2014 over the UK government’s failure to take a moral stance on Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, showing your commitment to principles over party loyalty. A testament to your integrity. Few politicians have demonstrated such moral conviction, and for this, you deserve our respect.
You have raised the voices of British Muslims, ensuring that their concerns are not dismissed or marginalised. Through your advocacy, you have encouraged greater participation in public life and shown that faith and national identity are not in conflict, but rather, can complement one another. Most importantly, you have defended the values of fairness and equality, not just for Muslims but for all communities facing discrimination. You are showing the dangers of division and prejudice, reminding us that a just society is built on inclusivity and mutual respect.
You have bravely challenged the counter-terrorism policies that disproportionately impact Muslims by questioning the Prevent strategy and other policies that stigmatise Muslim communities, arguing for a fairer and more just approach. May Allah accept your work and may it continue to inspire many to stand up for justice.
In summary, I want to thank you for:
- Exposing and challenging Islamophobia in politics.
- Empowering British Muslim voices.
- Defending civil liberties and human rights.
Baroness Warsi dear Sister, your courage in challenging Islamophobia, advocacy for Muslim inclusion and unwavering commitment to justice makes you a wonderful person, a good Brit. You’ve shown this by standing up for the moral values of justice and courage. This is an act of true leadership.
