On a weekend marked by both celebration and protest, the debate over Muslim immigration and public safety in the United Kingdom has reached a fever pitch. New polling and high-profile commentary reveal a nation divided on the impact of Muslim immigrants, the compatibility of Islam with British values, and the government’s handling of undocumented arrivals. The backdrop? The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Jalsa Salana convention in Hampshire, expected to draw 40,000 attendees, and vocal protests near hotels in London and Epping where migrants are being housed.
According to a YouGov survey commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and reported by The Independent, 41% of Britons believe Muslim immigrants have a negative impact on the country. This figure towers over the 15% who feel the same about Hindu immigrants, 14% for Sikhs, 13% for Jews, and just 7% for Christians. Only 24% of respondents said Muslim immigrants have a positive impact—a lower proportion than for any other religious group surveyed. More than half of those polled, 53%, stated that they believe Islam is not compatible with British values, while just a quarter (25%) disagreed and 22% were unsure.
These findings have prompted concern from within the Muslim community. Sabah Ahmedi, a 30-year-old British imam known online as “the young imam,” described the results as “deeply worrying, revealing high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment in this country.” He lamented, “As a British Muslim, it is tragic to think that we are disliked or hated because of our religious beliefs. It is unfair and unjust considering that the vast majority of Muslim immigrants to the UK are contributing positively.”
Ahmedi pointed to the positive contributions of Muslims in the UK, urging the public to look beyond sensational headlines. “Instead of focusing on the tiny minority of Muslim immigrants who cause harm, focus on the majority who are on the frontlines serving the NHS, our armed forces, the police, educational institutes and the like. We love this country and cherish its values of freedom and tolerance.”
He also encouraged people to “meet Muslims to see we are not a threat” and called on the media to play a constructive role in shaping perceptions. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Jalsa Salana convention, he noted, is “opening its doors to sceptics of Islam and those with any questions about the faith,” with even two Reform UK voters set to attend and learn more about the religion.
Interestingly, the survey found that younger Britons are less likely to view Muslim immigrants negatively or to see Islam as incompatible with British values. Ahmedi found hope in this trend, saying, “I am encouraged by these findings that seem to show that the younger generation is more open-minded and that I hope it indicates a brighter future where Muslims are not considered a threat but an asset to this society.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which organized the convention in Hampshire, is largely composed of people and their descendants who fled religious persecution in Pakistan in the 1980s. Despite their long-standing presence in the UK, members say they still face challenges, including discrimination from both some Muslims who disagree with their interpretation of Islam and from others who target them for their Pakistani heritage.
Yet, for many outside the Muslim community, the discussion around immigration is increasingly framed in terms of safety and government responsibility. On August 16, 2025, Laila Cunningham—a Reform UK councillor and former senior Crown Prosecutor—published a sharply worded article criticizing the government’s approach to undocumented migration, especially the housing of adult men with unknown backgrounds in British towns and villages.
“You can’t claim to protect women while placing unvetted illegal migrant men, whose criminal histories are completely unknown, into our towns and villages,” Cunningham wrote, as reported by The Telegraph. She argued that Britain’s policy of accommodating undocumented men in community settings, rather than in detention centers as is common in much of Europe, creates “a huge risk to the public.”
Cunningham’s concerns are not abstract. She referenced recent protests, including gatherings outside The Bell Hotel in Epping and the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, where locals expressed alarm about the placement of migrants in residential areas. “We don’t know who they are, we don’t know what their criminal history is and we have no way to check,” she asserted, warning of a “system built on blind spots” that could endanger women and girls.
The former prosecutor took aim at both Labour and Conservative governments, accusing them of creating a “two-tier system” that, in her view, punishes law-abiding citizens while giving undocumented migrants a “clean slate.” She criticized Labour’s focus on online safety legislation, such as the Online Safety Act, as a distraction from more pressing real-world safety issues. “They will use the language of ‘protection’ to pass censorship laws… but ignore the real-world risk of placing unidentified adult men next to children and vulnerable women,” she wrote.
Cunningham argued that the real problem is not a lack of laws, but rather insufficient enforcement and inadequate police resources. “If Labour were serious about protecting women, it would: stop placing undocumented adult men near schools and homes; deport known criminals instead of funding their legal challenges; put police back on our streets instead of chasing opinions online.” She insisted that “we don’t need more legislation, we need to enforce the laws we already have.”
While Cunningham’s article reflects a growing anxiety in some quarters about the security risks posed by undocumented migrants, government officials have been keen to emphasize the positive role of Muslims in British society. A government spokesperson stated, “British Muslims have played an integral role in shaping modern Britain and have long contributed across every part of our national life. Nobody should face hatred, intolerance or feel unwelcome as a result of their faith or belief – and we are committed to tackling anti-Muslim hate in all its forms.”
This sentiment was echoed at the Jalsa Salana convention, where the Union flag was raised “alongside the Islamic flag of our community, to symbolise that love of our faith and country go hand in hand,” according to Ahmedi. By opening its doors to sceptics and holding discussions on the real contributions of Muslims in the UK, the community hopes to bridge divides and challenge misconceptions.
Still, the events of this August highlight the challenge facing a country wrestling with questions of identity, integration, and security. As the debate continues, the voices of both concern and hope grow louder, each urging the nation toward a vision of safety, tolerance, and mutual understanding. For now, the conversation remains as complex—and as vital—as ever.