We Asked British Muslims What They Think of Theresa May

As if the post-referendum surge in racist hate crime wasn’t bad enough, our new Prime Minister bagged herself an Islamophobe of the Year award in 2015 when she was merely Home Secretary, sending out vans, telling people to “go home”.

May’s Counter Terrorism and Security Act meant that doctors were given the go-ahead to spy on Muslims, while border officials are able to take away passports when they please. But it’s the Prevent Strategy, aiming to combat homegrown terrorism, that was particularly illuminating: children as young as four are now being suspected of radicalisation.

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As a Brit, Asian and Muslim, I’m fearful of what the future holds. That in mind, I spoke to British Muslims to find out how they feel.

Mariam, 23

“If you’re a Muslim woman like me, your life is about to change for the worse. We as Muslim women will get the double-edged sword: hate from those intolerant to Muslims that May has helped brew through her policies and hate from non-Muslim feminists who see May’s victory as a victory for all women.

“May has knowingly gagged an entire community of people. From demonising Muslim students and taking away their freedom of speech to targeting young children from sharing their opinions and expressing themselves, May has made terrorism and Islam synonymous. She’s successfully alienated British Muslims in Britain.

“I should be happy that we now have a female Prime Minister. And we all know that feminism is how the media and Tory party are going to sell their newest PM, but it’s not that simple. I will never be seen as just a woman by Theresa May. I am a second class citizen to a white female like her and I’m third class because I am a Muslim. It’s not a man’s world any more, it is a white woman’s world, and that still leaves me sidelined.

“I am not afraid of May, I am disgusted by her. I did not vote for this woman to be PM.”

Salim, 26

“Theresa May as PM definitely scares me. The world around us is full of people who have little to no sympathy for Muslims. Islamophobia is on the rise, and while this needs to be tackled, we will never truly be able to achieve anything so long as government policy works against us. Theresa May has systematically marginalised and ostracised Muslims. We are singled out and made to explain ourselves when nobody else is. Teachers are taught that should a child begin wearing a headscarf or praying regularly, these are telltale signs that they may be getting radicalised.

“We may have only had a taste of things to come with her as Home Secretary (and we’ve seen the impact that it’s had on the British Muslim community), so I’m expecting things to get a whole lot worse for Muslims like me before they get any better.

“While Theresa May vows to be a ‘one nation’ Prime Minister, she evidently has issues with a sizeable and growing group within that nation: a group that she would rather impose harsh policy against rather than engage in dialogue with.”

Hanif, 30

“I feel optimistic. I think she’s an intelligent lady who knows the direction she wants to take the country in. I am not really a Tory voter traditionally, but I don’t mind May as leader.

“I think any laws introduced are there for the protection of the people. Anyway, we as a community are allowed to freely practice our faith and have the rights (and responsibility) as all other citizens.

“Having said that, there’s been a spike in anti-Muslim sentiment. During the Brexit Campaign and the London Mayoral campaign, overtly anti-Muslim sentiments were acceptable. Goldsmith openly accused Sadiq Khan of associating with terrorism and our former PM somewhat went along with it.

“Europe has also seen a huge surge in the right. France has Front Nationale. Germany has AfD etc. That worries me, for my family. I think the best way to protect ourselves is by accepting our community does have certain issues we need to address.”

Sarah, 28

“I’m concerned that May’s policies will affect immigrants, many of whom happen to be Muslim or from Muslim majority countries, especially those seeking asylum or hoping to be reunited with family members. Her speech yesterday was full of hope but I’m cautious about trusting someone whose record as Home Secretary left many vulnerable people and not just Muslims – poor families, refugees, minors, and LGBT/political asylum seekers – in a precarious position.

“I do know that the vast majority of British people are welcoming and are capable of heartwarming gestures of solidarity, as we’ve seen in the last few weeks, which will always win over the small minority of those with racist views. But it’s hard to remove the fear in the back of your mind that as a visibly Muslim woman like me, you could be the target of abuse on public transport, for instance.”

Noor, 20

“I was really happy to find out that our country was going to have a female Prime Minister. I’m excited to see how she’s going change the country for the best.It’s such a relief after much negotiation.

“I know she’s been in the news for saying stuff about sharia law being good for women and there was a backlash from the non-Muslim British public. That isn’t anything new. I guess we have to accept her as PM.”

@its_me_salma

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The Rise of Female-Focused Islamophobia

What It’s Like To Be a Muslim in a British Prison

A Pessimist’s Guide to Your New PM Theresa May