Muslims Don't Matter

by Sayeeda Warsi

'Burns with righteous anger. An urgent read for our times'
Riz Ahmed

'There is no more powerful fighter for the cause that Muslims do, should and must matter than Sayeeda Warsi'
David Baddiel

'A vitally important book from a vitally important voice'
David Olusoga

A DAILY TELEGRAPH MUST-READ FOR AUTUMN 2024

Three grandfathers killed on the streets of England in three separate incidents by three different men. Each targeted simply for being Muslim - each attack a consequence of the insidious rise in Islamophobia in Britain.

From the far-right violence that broke out in the summer of 2024 to the hatred directed at Muslims in public life during the Gaza conflict, anti-Muslim racism is dangerously out-of-control. Fed by a network of media outlets, think tanks, commentators, and even the entertainment industry, Islamophobia not only passes the dinner table test but is also Britain's bigotry blind spot. For too many, Muslims Don't Matter.

In this incisive polemic, Britain's first Muslim Cabinet minister, Conservative peer, campaigner and podcaster Sayeeda Warsi uses her dual experience at the centre of British power and in the heart of our Muslim communities to unapologetically challenge the corrosive consensus. As Muslims terrified by the riots seriously consider whether Britain should still be their home, Warsi urges us to change course, to unite and dismantle this toxic bigotry.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Islam, Religion, Middle East

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2024

Reviews

[Imaduddin Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad that Sayeeda Warsi had to write a follow-up to The Enemy Within. Excellent presentation of the evidence, and flawlessly argued. Muslims are held to a different standard in the UK, which is deeply Islamophobic, including in polite society.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ a powerful, angering and necessary read for now.

When you read this book you cannot deny the Isamaphobia that is rife in UK parliament and society. I knew it was but didn't realise how deeply rooted it was.

[Hana]

This book is essentially a list of all the ways in which are disregarded or treated with double standards in the UK. In a short page count Warsi has managed to compile a pretty thorough chronicle of how Muslims have been treated over the past 10-15 years in a range of fields - government, media, pop culture, banks, and more.

In some ways it does feel like it’s coming about five years too late. This conversation isn’t new and nothing Warsi says is groundbreaking: because it’s just a list without much added analysis, it feels like she’s treading old ground without adding anything new. I also felt she glossed over the specific impact on working class Muslims, which is many times magnified compared to the middle class.

Having said that, it is very clearly laid out and well-argued, and if it takes someone with Warsi’s platform saying this for the conversation to be taken seriously, then so be it. I also appreciated the section at the end with her suggestions for reforms the new government could take tomorrow - the way forward is clear, if only there’s impetus to implement it.

[Jo Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important and disturbing book.

[Joumana]

Thank you Sayeeda Warsi for your voice.

[Zeyna زينة · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read, for everyone, everywhere.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as I think it's needed for people to read and understand the discrimination that exists in politics,media etc. only thing is I would have liked it to be a bit more personal rather than just lots of facts.

[Halima Ahad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A harrowing book about the devastating history and effects of Islamophobia in the UK. Every British person needs to read this. Proud to call this my last read of 2024.

[Fionnbharr Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve marked this down a star for the fact Warsi shows next to know awareness of the fact that Irish people in Britain (indeed, in the U.K. more broadly when one considers internment, rubber bullets, and the paratroopers) were treated in precisely the same as the Muslim population is today.

That being said, the purpose of the book is to make the case for the prevalence of Islamophobia in British society, and she does this very strongly indeed: with both contemporary examples ranging from comments in newspaper op-ed pieces to physical attacks and murders of innocent Muslims in the street; she also provides good historical context for the denigration of Islam and its followers in Europe, going back to Shakespeare, and Dante.

All conscientious people would do well to give this book a read.

[SairaBookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reaccounting of the last 2 decades of Muslim history in the UK and how they are sidelined in politics & media.

The main themes:

Systemic Racism and Islamophobia
Warsi argues that Muslims face widespread institutional prejudice, both in politics and in public life. She shows how Islamophobia is normalised and rarely taken as seriously as other forms of racism.
Example:
Warsi describes how Islamophobia is treated as a "second-class" racism, rarely investigated properly in political parties (especially compared to antisemitism).

Political Hypocrisy
She highlights how politicians, especially in the UK, often exploit anti-Muslim sentiments for political gain, while pretending to support diversity and equality.
Example:
She criticizes the Conservative Party (her own party) for ignoring complaints about Islamophobia while loudly condemning racism elsewhere — showing a double standard.

Media Bias
Warsi discusses how the media often portrays Muslims negatively, reinforcing stereotypes and fueling public fear.
Example:
She highlights how Muslim-related stories are often sensationalised — for example, how stories about grooming gangs focus on Muslim identity, even when it’s irrelevant to the crime.

Personal Story and Insider Perspective
As a former Conservative minister, she offers an insider’s view of how political parties deal with issues around race and religion — often ignoring or sidelining concerns about Muslims.
Example:
Warsi recounts her own experience of being asked to "explain" terrorism after events like the London bombings, simply because she is Muslim, even though she had no connection to such acts.

Call for True Equality
A strong theme is the demand for Muslims to be treated as full and equal citizens, without suspicion or needing to constantly prove their "loyalty."
Example:
She argues that Muslims shouldn't have to constantly prove they are "good citizens" or "moderate" — equality means being accepted without extra conditions.
Cites the (groomed victim) Shamina Begum case where she has been stripped of her UK nationality for being involved with ISIS at the age of 15.

Intersectionality
She also touches on how Muslim identity intersects with issues like gender, class, and immigration status, making discrimination even more layered.
Example:
Warsi talks about how Muslim women, especially those who are visibly Muslim (e.g.wearing hijab), face multiple layers of discrimination — sexism and Islamophobia combined.

Hope and Change
Despite the criticism, Warsi remains hopeful that things can change through honest conversation, real leadership, and active solidarity across communities.

[Jennifer Mcarthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I am not in the same political party view of Sayeeda Warsi, former Conservative Party chairman, this book is extremely important for the current climate of the UK.

The continued influx of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate, based often on only skin colour and perceived religious beliefs, is the most important issue facing Britain at the moment. It is a form of discrimination which fuels election campaigns and erodes long standing political and civil norms.

“Islamophobia has poisoned our streets, but it is also found in the most respectable settings: in think tanks, in editorial newsrooms, in the corridors of power and as conversation in polite society. It's a form of respectable racism, one that some have worn as a badge of honour.”

Warsi having been inside government offices and on the boards of inter-faith groups has a unique view inside what is being allowed to take place, because as she states, “Muslims don’t matter.” This book is an up to date account and personal view of the ways in which Islamophobia is allowed to grow, mainly through ignorance and mobility of those who use it. Although I will say since its publication last year things have gotten worse, largely due to the current labour party’s inclusion of right wing talking points and its complicity in the current genocide.

This book has a wide scope on instances of double standards in religious freedom, badly handled government schemes, the media’s complicity, and what reactionary politics used by some of the biggest players does to a nation. While most of these topics are handled extremely well, I did find some of them handled slightly better than others format wise.

[Elizabeth Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a straightforward and interesting overview that considers the many ways that Muslims are disadvantaged in British society. The last chapter contains a list of urgent and really obvious reforms that should be undertaken by Labour MPs - I hope they have been reading and reflecting on Sayeeda Warsi's suggestions.

What a shame the notes at the back at the book were not cross-referenced with numbers within the body of the text, an elementary oversight that bogged down the flow of reading.

[Amarah Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vital reading for anybody who finds themself in a position of policy making within any field. I’ve finished this feeling outraged, seen, heard yet driven to also raise my voice and speak up. I am also a British Muslim female who was raised in Wakefield and have seen and felt every facet of discrimination in my short life so far. Change is imminent and possible. Thank you Sayeeda Warsi - I will be in touch!

[Hamid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, passionate and excellent cry of outrage and a call-to-action for all Britons to not accept what successive governments and some parts of society have been doing with regards to Muslims. A simple case for not allowing ourselves to be defined by malcontents and racists. While I have plenty to disagree with in terms of Warsi's politics and economics over the last two decades, this is a must-read.

[Natalie Maltby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book in a recent visit to the library. I really like Baroness Warsi when I’ve seen her on the tv so was interested to read her book. I’m always trying to educate myself on different cultures and religions and found it interesting to read her point of view on being a Pakistani Muslim in the public eye. She’s clearly very intelligent and the book was well researched and written.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and found myself agreeing with the majority of the book. However I disagree with her conclusions - moderates in communities must criticise the extremists. Otherwise the extremists are seen as the majority.

[Safwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel this book is a continuation of the last book 'enemy within'.

This time the points are relevant and more recent.

However I am now wondering if Sayeeda Warsi will be writing another similar book (trilogy).

Perhaps could write more positivity.

[Frida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important book collecting the feelings and experience of so many Muslims who face overt and hidden Islamophobic racism. A must read for any equalities champion.

[Charlotte Golder · Rating 4 out of 5]

fantastically informative and made me suitably angry on behalf of the British Muslim community. I took away 1 star because it was difficult (style-wise) to read.

[ZzzzzzZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sayeeda Warsi
Muslims Don’t Matter
📕

I was quite surprised how enjoyable this book was — don’t get me wrong, it’s a very serious subject but what I loved was the way she does not hold back 👀 I whizzed through it instantly — (you have to get the audiobook) to hear her luscious Yorkshire vocals elegantly expose so much of the nastiness that is systematically suppressed by The Establishment ™

It’s so 🌻refreshing🌻 especially for a respected high-ranked female politician not to mention Muslim/Asian/Pakistani to express herself like this… I rank it alongside Dawn Butler’s book, also 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(will be reading Diane Abbott soon) (waiting for Zarah Sultana to spill further beans one day)

This Baroness did not hold back… mentioning:
Michael Gove, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman, Priti Patel, Trevor Phillips, Sajid Javid, Tony Blair, Jake Wallis Simons, Douglas Murray, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Rachel Riley, Melanie Phillips, Dominic Cummings, Maajid Nawaz, Abu Hamza, Donald Trump, Craig Whittaker, Nigel Farage, Tommy Robinson, Piers Morgan, Andrew Neil, Ian Dale, Toby Young, Jo Johnson, Keir Starmer, Jimmy Saville, Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, The Queen, Narendra Modi, Lisa Nandy, Wes Streeting, Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Reni Eddo-Lodge, David Baddiel, Azeem Rafiq, Shamima Begum, Riz Ahmed, William Hague, Amira Patel, Zarah Mahmood, Dominic Grieve, Sadiq Khan, Fatima Manji, Peter Oborne, Faiza Shaheen, Hamza Yusuf, Nadiya Hussain, Moeen Ali, Mo Salah, Mo Farah, and others

Also, for mentioning Free Palestine 🇵🇸♥️ several times ❤️‍🩹💞