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Hyphen
@hyphenonline.com
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hyphenonline.com | The leading media platform on Muslim life in the UK and Europe
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hyphenonline.com
In Bradford’s most deprived ward, a weekly sewing group organised by the Yorkshire Women’s Forum is building community through shared skills.

Aisha Rimi has the full story.
https://hyphenonline.com/2026/01/12/bradford-sewing-group-stitching-communities-together-yorkshire-womens-forum-sewcialise/
The Bradford sewing group stitching communities together - Hyphen
The Yorkshire Women’s forum is bringing textiles back to the former mill town while building connection and friendship
hyphenonline.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:01 PM
hyphenonline.com
‘It’s important for those who choose to look away to watch this film.’

The Voice of Hind Rajab recounts a phone call that moved the world.

It opens in UK and Irish cinemas on 16 January.

https://hyphenonline.com/2026/01/12/voice-of-hind-rajab-film-gaza-uk-kaouther-ben-hania/
The Voice of Hind Rajab: ‘I want everyone to see this film so we can unite as humans and say never again’
Kaouther Ben Hania’s devastating docudrama earned a 23-minute standing ovation at Venice. Here, the actors speak ahead of its UK release
hyphenonline.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:15 PM
hyphenonline.com
Nearly half of UK imams are now British-born, according to new research, marking a generational shift in Muslim religious leadership in Britain.

Aisha Rimi reports
https://hyphenonline.com/2026/01/12/half-imams-born-in-uk-muslim-religious-leaders-cardiff-centre-study-islam/
Nearly half of British imams born in UK, new research shows - Hyphen
Research from Cardiff University’s Centre for the Study of Islam shows major generational shift in Muslim religious leadership
hyphenonline.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:19 PM
hyphenonline.com
‘I don’t want Magid / Zafar to be a brown film, or a Muslim film. What I hope for is a good film that just so happens to have Asian characters in it.’

Read more from co-writer Sufiyaan Salam about his British Independent Film Awards short win for Magid / Zafar.

hyphenonline.com/2026/01/08/m...
Magid / Zafar: the Bifa-winning short set in a Pakistani takeaway - Hyphen
Screenwriter Sufiyaan Salam on exploring British Pakistani masculinity and winning best short film at the British Independent Film Awards
hyphenonline.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:05 PM
hyphenonline.com
‘Violence can be disrupted through the treatment of trauma.’

Psychiatrist Malek Bajbouj and his team are trying to secure permission to enter Palestine, where they warn of desperate need for PTSD treatment.

✍🏻 @jessicabateman.bsky.social

hyphenonline.com/2026/01/07/m...
Malek Bajbouj: Syrian-German PTSD doctor aims to get to Gaza - Hyphen
The psychiatrist was asked by the German government to help rebuild Syria’s healthcare. Now he hopes to bring his techniques to Palestine
hyphenonline.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:15 PM
hyphenonline.com
Thousands of Yemeni men worked in UK industry in the 1950s and 60s. Today, many say their state pensions have stopped without explanation, while community leaders say families are being left in poverty.

https://hyphenonline.com/2026/01/07/yemen-steelworkers-pensions-missing-uk-government/
Yemeni steelworkers who 'built UK' still waiting for pensions - Hyphen
Thousands of workers had their pension payments stopped with no explanation a decade ago. Now their families are paying the price
hyphenonline.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:01 PM
hyphenonline.com
A ‘miracle cure’ video forwarded to a family WhatsApp chat may seem harmless. But for some, it can lead to delayed treatment or real harm.

Read Niloufar Haidari's piece on the hidden impact of #health misinformation ⬇️
hyphenonline.com/2026/01/05/f...
Inside the family WhatsApp groups sharing false health hacks - Hyphen
Minority communities are disproportionately affected by health misinformation, with much of it being shared through group chats
hyphenonline.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:06 AM
hyphenonline.com
‘The Traitors castle doesn’t create bias — it concentrates it.’

@leilalatif.bsky.social looks into the ways that reality TV exposes unspoken biases.

#TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors

hyphenonline.com/2025/11/03/t...
The Celebrity Traitors shows unconscious bias at work
Despite its politeness and popularity, the UK’s favourite reality TV show is based on kneejerk assumptions about who people really are
hyphenonline.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:47 PM
hyphenonline.com
‘Much of what is written about Muslim women and dance comes through orientalist tropes rather than Muslim voices themselves.’

Historian Nadia Khan speaks to Indlieb Farazi Saber about her new book and reclaiming Muslim women’s dance histories.

hyphenonline.com/2026/01/06/n...
How Muslim dance culture stretches across civilisations - Hyphen
In her new book, historian Nadia Khan uncovers the centuries-old traditions of Muslim dance, revealing a history of movement and faith
hyphenonline.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
hyphenonline.com
Keir Starmer wanted 2026 to be the year of his reset. Instead, Donald Trump is dragging him into another crisis — and some of his MPs say he needs to show more leadership.

Shehab Khan has more👇🏽
https://hyphenonline.com/2026/01/07/keir-starmer-venezuela-donald-trump-nicolas-maduro-2026-reset/
Keir Starmer ‘needs to show leadership’ over Venezuela - Hyphen
The prime minister hoped for a reset in 2026. Instead, the US capture of Nicolás Maduro has dragged him into another crisis
hyphenonline.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:59 PM
hyphenonline.com
Family group chats have become hubs for false cures and conspiracy theories.

Niloufar Haidari speaks to doctors, pharmacists and families about misinformation and its consequences.
https://hyphenonline.com/2026/01/05/fake-health-misinformation-shared-through-whatsapp-family-groups/
Inside the family WhatsApp groups sharing false health hacks - Hyphen
Minority communities are disproportionately affected by health misinformation, with much of it being shared through group chats
hyphenonline.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:01 PM
hyphenonline.com
Looking for new art to see in 2026? 🎨

Our critic M.Z. Adnan shares his pick of must-see exhibitions across the UK.
https://hyphenonline.com/2026/01/05/swana-arts-culture-exhibitions-look-out-for-uk/
Art and culture exhibitions to look out for in early 2026
From moving image installations to Black music history, these upcoming events around the UK highlight artistry from diverse communities
hyphenonline.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Hyphen
manchesterup.bsky.social
Crumbling infrastructure and massive debts are costing us all dearly. It’s time the government made a new year’s resolution to fix it.

A brilliant opinion piece by @tajali1.bsky.social in @hyphenonline.com featuring our recent book 'Murky water', which is out now:
hyphenonline.com/2025/12/23/u...
Our water companies aren’t working — let's change that in 2026 - Hyphen
Crumbling infrastructure and massive debts are costing us all dearly. It’s time the UK government made a new year’s resolution to fix it
hyphenonline.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:53 AM
hyphenonline.com
New year, new plan: more art, more culture, more stories that matter.

We’ve curated Europe’s best diaspora-led festivals, exhibitions and performances for Muslim travellers in 2026.

hyphenonline.com/2025/12/29/t...
Things to do in Europe in 2026 for Muslim travellers - Hyphen
Visiting Europe in 2026? Here’s the best Muslim art and culture in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands
hyphenonline.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:34 AM
hyphenonline.com
Since 2005, the Islam UK Centre has been at the forefront of research on British Muslims, exploring everything from imams’ working lives to views on organ donation.

Read more: https://hyphenonline.com/2025/12/30/centre-study-islam-uk-cardiff-university-20-sophie-gilliat-ray/
Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK turns 20 - Hyphen
Founded in 2005 by Sophie Gilliat-Ray, the Cardiff University institution has produced pioneering research on Muslim life in Britain
hyphenonline.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:10 AM
hyphenonline.com
2025 was a year of powerful voices and community conversations that challenged, comforted and connected us.

We’re excited to continue to amplify the experiences that shape British and European Muslims.

#NewYear2026
January 2, 2026 at 6:05 PM
hyphenonline.com
The Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. We take a look back at what it has achieved in the last two decades.

https://hyphenonline.com/2025/12/30/centre-study-islam-uk-cardiff-university-20-sophie-gilliat-ray/
Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK turns 20 - Hyphen
Founded in 2005 by Sophie Gilliat-Ray, the Cardiff University institution has produced pioneering research on Muslim life in Britain
hyphenonline.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:04 PM
hyphenonline.com
We’ve picked Europe’s best 2026 events celebrating diaspora creativity — from Kurdish Newroz in Cologne to exhibitions of migration stories in Rotterdam.

Which one are you most excited to experience?👇

✍️ @jessicabateman.bsky.social
hyphenonline.com/2025/12/29/t...
hyphenonline.com/2025/12/29/t...
Things to do in Europe in 2026 for Muslim travellers - Hyphen
Visiting Europe in 2026? Here’s the best Muslim art and culture in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands
hyphenonline.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
hyphenonline.com
What were the best eats of 2025?

Our food columnist Zaynab Asaadi reflects on her favourite meals of the year.
hyphenonline.com/2025/12/29/f...
Five of the best eats of 2025 - Hyphen
Fadi Kattan's Akub, Berenjak on a budget, the joy of vada pavs, Dutch satay and an Iraqi comfort-food gem
hyphenonline.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM
hyphenonline.com
What should the government’s new year’s resolution be?

Fix the water industry, argues @tajali1.bsky.social ⬇️
hyphenonline.com/2025/12/23/u...
Our water companies aren’t working — let's change that in 2026 - Hyphen
Crumbling infrastructure and massive debts are costing us all dearly. It’s time the UK government made a new year’s resolution to fix it
hyphenonline.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:15 AM
hyphenonline.com
Nothing resets maturity like walking through your parents’ front door.

Amna Saleem writes about sibling chaos, desi families and the comforting regression that your parents’ home can bring.

hyphenonline.com/2025/12/22/w...
Why do we regress when going home for the holidays? - Hyphen
The family home works like a time machine. We walk in as functioning adults and within hours we’ve become the kids we once were
hyphenonline.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:40 PM
hyphenonline.com
From devastating documentaries to animated satire, 2025 was a landmark year for Muslim stories on screen.

@leilalatif.bsky.social rounds up this year’s best TV.

hyphenonline.com/2025/12/22/b...
The best TV of 2025
From Mo to Man Like Mobeen, our columnist shares her favourite shows of the year with Muslims behind and in front of the camera
hyphenonline.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
hyphenonline.com
How do we protect our children from anti-Muslim content online?

Yousra Samir Imran wrote about why she signed up to the Smartphone Free Childhood pact, in a year that has seen record levels of Islamophobia.
hyphenonline.com/2025/12/22/a...
How do we protect our children from anti-Muslim content online? - Hyphen
Consider signing the Smartphone Free Childhood pact, and encourage kids to learn media literacy skills to help them to navigate social media
hyphenonline.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
hyphenonline.com
A decade on from Angela Merkel’s opening of the German borders to Syrians fleeing civil war, @jessicabateman.bsky.social speaks to five who made their homes in Germany — and finds out about the amazing contributions they have made to the country since.

hyphenonline.com/2025/12/22/s...
The Syrian refugees who changed Germany - Hyphen
In 2015, Germany opened its doors to a million Syrian refugees. We meet five who have made a profound difference since then
hyphenonline.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:24 PM
hyphenonline.com
After a surge of islamophobia in the summer, Dan and his son Josh have been spreading love to Muslims across the country through one tried and tested method; cake.

Read more from Zahra Onsori below ⬇️
hyphenonline.com/2025/12/18/c...
Cake not hate: father and son combat the far right with sweet treats - Hyphen
Dan and Josh Harris have dedicated their weekends to fighting Islamophobia, one cupcake at a time, despite a wave of online abuse
hyphenonline.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM