London has a Muslim mayor yet Britain seems to be getting less tolerant. Why?

Zulfi Karim, senior vice president of Bradford Council for Mosques. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

For many people the election of Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London last month was an historic moment. Not only is he the first Muslim to lead a major Western city, but his victory is proof that there are opportunities for British Muslims to reach the top in this country.

“It is hard to explain the feeling of hurt and intimidation when confronted with anti-Semitic comments, acts or images and it is easy under those circumstances to withdraw as a community. Instead, we are doing everything possible to engage with as many other faith and secular groups as possible in order to promote knowledge, understanding and tolerance.

“This ranges from involvement in dementia and adult literacy projects to religious interface in groups such as the local branch of Nisa-Nashim (a Jewish-Muslim women’s group), the Council of Christians and Jews and the Bradford Council of Mosques.”