The newly elected leader of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Dr. Wajid Akhter, has pledged to “transform the structure, strategy, funding, and culture” of the MCB, aiming to make the organization a “uniting force” within the Muslim community.
Dr. Akhter’s remarks came after he was selected as the new Secretary-General of the MCB.
He emphasized that using the issue of grooming gangs to misrepresent an entire religion is unacceptable. “One groomer is one too many, Muslim or otherwise,” the newly elected leader stated.
Founded in 1998, MCB describes itself as the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella organization, with over 500 members. However, successive political administrations have followed a policy of non-engagement.
The organization was reinstated the following year after MCB declared its opposition to violence, but recent Conservative and Labour governments have refused any official engagement.
In his inaugural speech, Dr. Akhter discussed the challenges facing British Muslims, including the recent increase in Islamophobia on social media. “We must sidestep the culture wars that force us into a corner and label everyone who criticizes us as racist or Islamophobic. We must be willing to engage in good faith with even our most ardent critics. Build bridges, not barriers,” he said.
Regarding the recent controversy over grooming gangs, he said: “Let me make it crystal clear. One groomer is one too many, Muslim or otherwise. But using the heinous acts of a few to misrepresent an entire faith and ethnicity is also unacceptable. We will act against both injustices.”
He faced a vote on Saturday against Dr. Muhammad Adrees for the role of Secretary-General, with both men having been criticized in a think tank report for some of their previous views.
The election took place at MCB’s Annual General Meeting in London, where delegates from 500 affiliated organizations cast their votes following nationwide hustings.
The new Secretary-General promised a root-and-branch review of the MCB to ensure the organization better serves Muslim communities.
He said: “Since the MCB was founded in 1997, our community has changed, our country has changed, and our challenges and opportunities have changed – as an organization, we must change as well.”
Dr. Akhter called for a “community that has a unity of purpose, not a uniformity of views,” one that is “empowered to serve people regardless of creed or color.”
He shared his vision of British Muslims “not just participating in the AI revolution but leading it and making the British Isles the next Silicon Valley.”
Addressing the accusations against the new MCB leadership ahead of the election, Dr. Akhter said: “Dr. Adrees and I faced familiar smears questioning our loyalty — the kind British Muslims in public life know all too well. As someone born and raised here, I find it painful to have my Britishness questioned by self-appointed judges of who is a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Muslim. I will keep serving both my community and my country, regardless of attacks.”
Maswood Ahmed was elected as Deputy Secretary-General. A veteran community leader with over 35 years of experience in social work, Ahmed has been involved with the MCB since its inception in 1997.
Outgoing Secretary-General Zara Mohammed made history in 2021 when she became the first woman and youngest person, at the age of just 29, to lead the MCB.
