Ramadan 2026: Muslim Council of Britain calls on Muslims to get politically engaged
THE Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) launched a national campaign on Thursday called Hungry for Change on the occasion of Ramadan. This initiative aims to encourage British Muslims to become more involved in civic life and to actively participate in the local elections scheduled for May 7, 2026. Through this appeal, the organization intends to recall the importance of democratic mobilization in a social and political context considered increasingly tense.
Established in 1997, the MCB is one of the leading representative organizations of Muslims in the United Kingdom. It brings together several hundred member organizations, including mosques, charities, educational establishments and various community actors. Presenting itself as a coordination and advocacy body, the council claims to work to make the voices of British Muslims heard in public debate, while promoting social cohesion and dialogue with institutions.
A civic appeal in a climate of social tensions
According to the MCB, the launch of Hungry for Change comes in a climate marked by increased tensions around questions of immigration, national identity and religious freedom. The organization believes that political and media rhetoric contributes to a rise in fear and stigmatization of communities of faith. “Rights and freedoms are increasingly exploited in the political debate,” warns the council, which calls for increased vigilance in the face of these developments.
The MCB, however, insists on the strictly civic and non-partisan nature of its approach. “It is not about supporting a particular political party, but about participating fully in the democratic process,” explains the organization. She recalls that voting constitutes, according to her, “an essential tool to defend public services, fight against inequalities and protect the most vulnerable communities”. From this perspective, electoral participation is presented as a concrete means of influencing local decisions that directly affect daily life.
Ramadan, solidarity and civic engagement
The organization also highlights that Ramadan is traditionally a time of social mobilization and solidarity. “It is a month where attention to the most vulnerable and community support are at the heart of collective life,” says the MCB. For the council, political commitment is a continuation of these values, translating spiritual solidarity into concrete actions in the public sphere.
The MCB highlights several data that it considers worrying. He mentions in particular an increase in reports of domestic violence during Ramadan, an increase in Islamophobic acts, as well as a worsening of food insecurity linked to the cost of living crisis. “For some Muslim families, Ramadan has become a month of increased economic difficulties,” laments the organization, stressing that these realities reinforce the need for citizen mobilization.
As part of the campaign Hungry for Changethe council plans to distribute electoral information kits, organize webinars dedicated to civic education and encourage the holding of local debates in mosques and community centers. “The objective is to give citizens the necessary tools to understand local issues and make their priorities heard,” he explains.
“Without active participation, our concerns will continue to be ignored,” warns the MCB. For the organization, this Ramadan must become “a time of collective empowerment, social justice and positive change”, inviting British Muslims to consider civic engagement as “an act of responsibility and solidarity”.
