The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has long been at the forefront of championing British Muslim communities, advocating for equality, inclusion, and positive societal change. Below are some of the key moments in our recent history that reflect our commitment to making a difference:
2026
MCB ran it’s first Hungry for Change voter registration campaign, launched the two volume “British Muslims in Numbers” census data, hosted the first ever National Mental Health Summit and online Mental Health Hub, delivered the Visionary Leadership Programme and over 100 mosques took part in the flagship Visit My Mosque campaign.
2025
MCB launched its Vision 2050 to Unite, Empower and Serve the Muslim Community.
2025
MCB marks a decade of the Visit My Mosque campaign, which facilitates open days at over 250 mosques across the UK. This initiative strengthens bonds between communities, fostering understanding and mutual respect through dialogue and hospitality.
2024
MCB convened a National Strategy Meeting on Islamophobia, where it launched its report Extent and Impact of Islamophobia in the UK, A summary of the debates.
2024
With funding from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the MCB launches a nationwide voter registration campaign to increase voter engagement within Muslim communities. The initiative mobilises 250 mosques, hosts voter registration drives, and secures commitments from parliamentary candidates to promote inclusion and fairness in their policies.
2023
MCB hosts the groundbreaking MCBx Leadership Conference in Birmingham, bringing together visionary leaders, thinkers, and change-makers. This event empowers leaders to collaborate on building a more inclusive and united Britain.
2023
MCB plays a key role in the response to riots in Leicester, liaising with local community groups and faith leaders to help de-escalate tensions, build bridges, and foster unity in the face of division following the unrest.
2023
During the Palestine conflict, the MCB takes a proactive role by offering comprehensive community briefings, essential resources, and balanced media representation. Our work aimed to support British Muslim communities while fostering understanding and dialogue.
2022
MCB marks its 25th anniversary with a special dinner, paying tribute to the contributors and trailblazers within British Muslim communities who have helped shape the MCB’s legacy. The event celebrates the collective achievements of the past quarter-century while renewing the commitment to a brighter and more inclusive future.
2022
MCB published Census 2021 First Look, the same day as the Office for National Statistics first released 2021 data. The MCB’s analysis indicated that 40% of the Muslim population of England reside in the most deprived fifth of local authority districts; whilst just under 6% of Muslims live in the most affluent fifth of local authority districts.
2021
MCB partnered with the Evidence for Equality National Survey (EVENS), the first and largest survey of its kind to document the lives of ethnic and religious minorities in the UK during COVID-19 lockdowns.
2021
Zara Mohammed becomes the youngest and first female Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain.
2020
The MCB set up a taskforce to draw international attention to the situation in Sri Lanka, where a policy of forced cremations of Muslims had been instituted. The task force was committed to pursuing legal action if the Sri Lankan Government did not reverse this policy. The MCB mobilisation was described by the Sri Lankan activist Lukman Harees as “one of the great breakthroughs”.
2020
The MCB led national response initiatives for Muslim communities over the newly-emerged COVID-19 pandemic.
2019
MCB provides oral evidence on Islamophobia to the Home Affairs Select Committee in Parliament.
2019
MCB launches the Women in Mosques Development Programme with support from Islamic Relief designed to accelerate the development of upcoming female leaders to become the mosque trustees, committee members and centre managers of the future.
2019
MCB publishes the Elderly and End of Life Care for Muslims in the UK report in collaboration with the Centre of Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge. It was the first report of its kind to alert Muslim civil society to demographic changes that will lead to an increase in the Muslim elderly population over the next two decades.
2018
The MCB publishes a report titled Remembering the Brave to Mark Remembrance Survey. It records the contribution of Muslims to the defence of this nation. The document also covers the current contribution of British Muslims to the UK military.
2017
The MCB, alongside academics, human rights groups and liberty organisations, campaigned for British citizen Babar Ahmad to face justice under British law
2017
The MCB pioneered the Young Muslims Beacons Award, showcasing in Parliament those initiatives that benefitted young Muslims around the country.
2016
MCB elects Harun Rashid Khan as Secretary General, the first British-born Muslim to lead the organisation.
2015
As a briefing for British Muslims prior to the General Election, the MCB published the Fairness not Favours, to serve as guide for incumbent and prospective Parliamentary candidates, and for local Muslim communities seeking to engage in political dialogue.
2015
The MCB convened a national conference on national safety and security, to gain insight from communities on the key issues related to aspects of national safety and security, to voice the views of Muslim communities and to ensure policies are evidence-based and effective.
2015
In order to reduce community tensions at times of crisis, the MCB organised a full page notice in the Daily Telegraph after the November 2015 Paris bombing with signatories, with headline, With one voice, British Muslims condemn the Paris attacks unreservedly.
2015
MCB’s Research and Documentation Committtee organised a policy roundtable discuss the challenges faced in the delivery of youth services for Muslims at a time of austerity cuts, particularly by civil society bodies including mosques and community centres. A panel of specialists made brief presentations, followed by an open discussion with participants including youth officers, community activists, and researchers.
2015
MCB publishes British Muslims in Numbers, A Demographic, Socio-economic and Health profile of Muslims in Britain drawing on the 2011 Census. This became a reference point for policy analysts, researchers and journalists.
2015
Visit My Mosque was launched in February 2015 with approximately 20 mosques taking part in holding an open day on the same day.
2014
MCB initiates an intrafaith unity statement to ensure cordiality and goodwill within the various Muslim schools of thought and avoidance of divisive sectarian rhetoric.
2013
The MCB hosted the World Islamic Economic Forum, held at the House Of Lords, helping to foster “opportunities that are built out of relationships” and released a booklet, The Muslim Pound: How British Muslims and the Muslim World Add Value to the UK Economy, showcasing the economic contributions and spending power of British Muslims.
2011
The MCB Muslim Spiritual Care Provision project, in partnership with the Department of Health, conducted chaplaincy training and produced fact sheets for chaplaincy managers and hospital trusts.
2010
The MCB holds its first Muslim Leadership Dinner.
2010
The MCB joins the Mosques and Imams Advisory Board (MINAB) as a founding member and steers its work towards mosque quality standards.
2008
MCB launches its Mosques 100 Project aimed at capacity building and empowerment of mosques to be self-sustaining institutions. The project had the support of Muslim Aid.
2007
At its new offices in Whitechapel, the MCB organised three policy seminars facilitated by academics in the field titled: Political Liberalism and Identity Politics; What is Britishness?; Mainstreaming a Minority: a Catholic Narrative.
2007
In collaboration with Kings College London, the MCB part funded a research project titled Can National Curriculum History Help Muslim Boys Succeed? leading to the award of a PhD to Tariq Matthew Wilkinson.
2007
Ebrahim Rasool, the Prime Minister of Western Cape, Republic of South Africa, addressed the MCB’s annual general meeting on the theme Muslim Identity in a Multicultural Society.
2006
MCB launches the Voices from the Minaret report, based on research into mosques and imams in the United Kingdom.
2006
With support of the Mayor of London, MCB’s London Affairs Committee organises the first Eid celebration in Trafalgar Square.
2006
The Trades Union Congress invites the MCB Secretary General to make a keynote address. A motion on Islamophobia and Racism is carried, drawing wider attention to verbal and physical attacks facing Muslims in Britain.
2005
Immediately after the attacks of 7/7, the MCB issued a call for prayers for the victims and families of the atrocities in London. Muslims in Britain were urged to go about their daily routines and not be intimidated or cowered by fear, as this would be the wrong response to the tragic events. The MCB issued a joint statement with Churches Together in England and Ireland, noting “No good purpose can be achieved by such an indiscriminate and cruel use of terror“. A special meeting of over 40 Muslim leaders and scholars convened by the MCB at the Islamic Cultural Centre, Regents Park, issued a declaration expressing heartfelt sorrow and extending condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
2005
The MCB lobbied parliamentarians and journalists for provisions in the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill. The new protection is needed to combat activities of extremists who stir up hatred against people because of their religious beliefs.
2005
MCB lobbies the Organisation of Islamic Conference and had also spoken with several key Muslim Ambassadors urging Muslim member countries to support the London bid for the 2012 Olympiad.
2005
The MCB’s delegation attended the first World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in Kuala Lumpur and was an active participant in subsequent meetings, with the aim of bridging Western Muslim communities with global Islamic trade and finance.
2004
The first mosque open day took place, to welcome visitors to see the inside of a place of worship.
2004
MCB’s Books for Schools project launches to increase religious literacy. Resource packs are provided with books, artifacts and multimedia items to facilitate the teaching of Islam within the schools curriculum. By 2010, packs were provided to religious education teachers in over 1000 primary schools.
2003
MCB organises regional briefings for community workers and advice providers on the new regulations relating to religious discrimination in the workplace.
2002
The MCB launches its first Leadership Development Programme for the Muslim community.
2002
MCB publishes The Quest for Sanity, a collection of essays to reflect the challenges post 9/11, the first book of its kind from a Muslim perspective. It exposes misrepresentations, with moving personal accounts and also recording abuses of civil rights and the violation of human rights that require legal redress.
2001
In December 2001, the MCB conducted a pilot survey to establish the attitude of Muslim teenagers to the September 11 attacks and the aftermath, and about life in Britain.
2001
Within hours of the 9/11 tragedy, the MCB issued a statement that went some way in defusing a wave of Islamophobia. Three weeks later, the MCB convened a national conference of imams and religious scholars that issued a statement absolutely condemning such loss of innocent life.
2001
Following disturbances in Bradford, a three-person MCB staff team, undertook a fact-finding visit to hear the views of Muslim residents, witnesses and those who had played a role in seeking to contain the situation. A report published on the MCB website.
2001
In collaboration with Professor Tariq Modood, University of Bristol, the MCB part-funded a research project on the Census, leading to the award of a PhD to Serena Hussain and the publication of her book Muslims on the Map, A National Survey of Social Trends in Britain (Routledge, 2008).
2001
The national census has a religion question for the first time, the culmination of a three-year interfaith campaign in which MCB played a leading role.
1999
The MCB hosts Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Royal Commonwealth Institute in May, the first time a British Prime Minister attended a Muslim community reception as a guest of honour.
1998
The MCB initiated and pioneered the campaign for equality legislation to be extended to cover Muslims and other religious groups.
1998
On March 1st, the first General Assembly meeting was held, at which the MCB elected the first council and office-bearers.
1997
On 23rd November 1997, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) was inaugurated at Brent Town Hall, London.
1996
The name “Muslim Council of Britain” was selected from seven proposals for what would soon become the organisation championing British Muslims.
1994
The start of a three-year consultation period during which the need for the MCB was established and the aims and directives set out.