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Articles by Javed Bashir
COLUMN: When sons are treated like kings!
For years, I have watched with growing concern and frustration as boys and girls are still raised very differently in parts of the British Asian community. While things are slowly changing, we need to face an uncomfortable truth: in too many homes, our boys are not just being “spoilt”; they are being set up to fail in adult life, while our girls are left carrying far more than their fair share. Let me be clear from the start. This is not an attack on Asian culture.
COLUMN: Big weddings, broken marriages: What is going wrong in the Asian community?
Something is going badly wrong with marriage in parts of the British Asian community. We are seeing more divorces and marriage breakdowns, and we cannot keep pretending there is no problem. Some marriages celebrated with huge weddings are over within a few years, sometimes months. We can organise a wedding for 1000 guests, hire a luxury car, spend thousands on clothes and put on a feast. But are we preparing our sons and daughters for married life?
COLUMN: Why do we struggle to see our own people succeed?
There is an uncomfortable truth within parts of our South Asian community that we need to confront. We talk regularly about racism, discrimination, glass ceilings and the barriers holding our communities back. These are real issues. But perhaps we also need the courage to ask a more uncomfortable question: how often are we holding each other back? I have seen it too many times over the years.
COLUMN: Big Halls, Fast Cars and Fireworks: The Madness of the Modern Asian Wedding
Welcome to the modern South Asian wedding: hundreds of guests, several days of celebrations, designer outfits, mountains of food, fireworks, luxury cars and sometimes a bill approaching £100,000. Then, before the photographs have even made it into the family album, the marriage can already be in serious trouble. There is something badly wrong when we spend more time preparing for a wedding than preparing two people for marriage.
COLUMN: Halala: When Religion Is Used to Exploit Vulnerable Women
Imagine going to an Islamic scholar because your marriage has broken down. You are emotionally shattered, worried about your children and desperate to put your family back together. You go looking for Islamic guidance. Then imagine the very person you trust for religious advice telling you that you need to marry another man, sleep with him and get divorced before you can return to your former husband. Even worse, imagine that scholar offering to become that man himself.
COLUMN: Beyond GCSEs and A-Levels: The lessons our children really need
August is an important month for thousands of families across the country. Young people will receive their GCSE and A-level results (13 and 20 August), and I suspect many parents will be just as nervous as their children. For some families, there will be celebrations, phone calls to grandparents, proud photographs on social media and discussions about university, college, apprenticeships and future careers. Our young people deserve their moment.
'I'll be praying for England' and so will millions of British Muslims
WHEN England Face Argentina, I'll Be Praying for England - And So Will Millions of British Muslims I'll begin with a confession: I'm not really a football fan. Give me a Test match at Headingley or an England cricket international and I'm perfectly happy. Cricket has always been my first sporting love. But on Wednesday night, like millions of others across the country, I'll be watching England take on Argentina in the World Cup semi-final with a sense of excitement, hope and national pride.
COLUMN: When England Face Argentina, I’ll Be Praying for England – And So Will Millions of British Muslims
I’ll begin with a confession: I’m not really a football fan. Give me a Test match at Headingley or an England cricket international and I’m perfectly happy. Cricket has always been my first sporting love. But on Wednesday night, like millions of others across the country, I’ll be watching England take on Argentina in the World Cup semi-final with a sense of excitement, hope and national pride.
COLUMN: The Grooming Gangs Inquiry must put victims first
When I heard that Bradford and Keighley would be among the first places investigated by the new independent inquiry into grooming gangs, my first thought was simple: this is long overdue. Like many people, I know this is not an easy subject to talk about. It brings back painful memories, divides opinion and quickly becomes political. But if the last 20 years have taught us anything, it is this: avoiding difficult conversations never protects children. That is why I welcome this inquiry.
Bradford writer's book asks: How can British Muslims move on in changing UK?
MY book - British Muslims at a Crossroads: A Survival Guide for the Future - is about identity, leadership, survival, and the future of British Muslims in a rapidly changing Britain. At a time when society feels more divided, politically tense and uncertain than ever before, the book asks an important question: how can British Muslims move forward confidently in a country that is changing socially, politically, and culturally?
Opinion: 'Events like Tommy Robinson's march divide our communities'
RECENT scenes at a rally led by Tommy Robinson in London should worry anyone who cares about the future of Britain. Speeches filled with anger, blame, and fear may excite crowds in the moment, but in reality, they create division, mistrust, and hatred between communities that have lived side by side for many years. Using phrases like “battle of Britain” sends the wrong message at a time when the country already feels divided. Britain does not need a battle between communities.
Column: Standing together against fear and division
Recent scenes at a rally led by Tommy Robinson in London should worry anyone who cares about the future of Britain. Speeches filled with anger, blame, and fear may excite crowds in the moment, but in reality, they create division, mistrust, and hatred between communities that have lived side by side for many years. Using phrases like “battle of Britain” sends the wrong message at a time when the country already feels divided. Britain does not need a battle between communities.
Reform UK’s rise has sparked concern, but also reflection
Like many people across Bradford and the rest of the country, I watched the recent local election results with great interest. The success of Reform UK in several areas has sparked debate, concern and, in some communities, genuine anxiety. As a British Muslim who has spent many years working in education, community engagement and interfaith relations, I understand why many Muslims are now asking what this political shift means for us.
Hajj Mecca pilgrimage 'costs thousands of pounds' and is unaffordable for many
DOZENS of Muslims from Bradford are travelling for Hajj which takes place between May 24-28. For many, it is a once in a lifetime journey. A lifelong duty. A dream years in the making. But behind the emotion and anticipation lies an uncomfortable truth. For the average person, Hajj is becoming out of reach. Let us be blunt about the numbers. A standard two-week Hajj package now costs between £8,000 and £16,000 per person.
COLUMN: From Support to Suspicion: The hidden risk in domestic violence claims
A recent investigation by the BBC has brought an uncomfortable issue into the open. Its undercover report, released on 16 April, alleges that some unregulated immigration advisers are encouraging individuals to make false claims of domestic violence in order to secure the right to remain in the United Kingdom. If true, this is deeply troubling.
COLUMN: Is Labour Losing Its grip in Bradford District?
On 7 May, Bradford will hold one of its most important local elections in many years. All 90 council seats will be contested, creating a rare chance for change across the district. For Labour, which has led Bradford politics for around forty years, this is more than a normal election. It is a real test of whether its strong hold is starting to weaken. There are already clear signs of change. Bradford is no longer a safe Labour area. Politics here has become more crowded and more uncertain.
COLUMN: Parking wars in Bradford: When streets become battlegrounds
In many parts of Bradford, what should be a simple part of everyday life has turned into a source of growing conflict. Finding a parking space is no longer just frustrating. It is driving disputes between neighbours, putting pressure on communities, and leaving some residents struggling to access their own homes. Walk down any inner-city street lined with terraced houses and the problem is obvious. Cars fill every available space. Pavements are partly blocked.
COLUMN: Vote With Your Head This May, Not Habit or Pressure
On Thursday 7 May, people across our towns and cities will head to the polls for local council elections. These elections may not always attract the same level of attention as national politics, but their impact is often far closer to home. They shape the places we live, the services we rely on and the quality of life we experience every day. Councillors make decisions that affect our streets, our housing, our schools and our safety.
Opinion: Communities need to rebuild responsibility - before another life is lost
WHEN I was growing up in the district, you hardly noticed sirens. They weren’t part of everyday life. If an ambulance or police car drove past, it felt unusual. You might pause for a moment, look up, and then carry on. The sound would fade, and so would the thought. It didn’t stay with you. Life felt calmer then. The streets felt safe and familiar. You recognised the faces walking past your home. Neighbours knew one another by name.
COLUMN: Postal votes: Democracy or deal-making?
Preparations are picking up pace for the May local elections. In many wards, voters will have three candidates to choose from. On the surface, that sounds like democracy working well. Choice is what elections are all about. But choice only matters if people are truly free to make it. Postal voting was brought in for good reasons. It helps older people, those with disabilities, shift workers and busy families who cannot always get to a polling station.
COLUMN: Have we lost our young generation? Seventy years on, where are we now?
It is a question being asked with increasing urgency across our city: have we lost our young generation? We see the headlines. Drugs moving through our neighbourhoods. Street violence spilling into residential areas. County lines networks exploiting teenagers. Young men appearing in court instead of walking across graduation stages. Families devastated by incidents that erupt in seconds but leave consequences that last a lifetime. For many in Bradford’s Asian community, this cuts particularly deep.
COLUMN: Halal or Hypocrisy? The truth about second wives in Britain
Having a second wife is a growing trend, particularly among professional and well-established British Muslims. What was once rare, openly discussed, and subject to community scrutiny has increasingly moved behind closed doors. These marriages are often conducted quietly, insulated from challenge, and defended as religiously permissible. Yet when examined honestly, many have far less to do with faith or moral responsibility and far more to do with desire, power, and convenience.
COLUMN: Too Educated to Marry? A Painful Reality for Many Women
For years, South Asian communities across Britain, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and India, have told their daughters the same thing: work hard, get an education and build a secure future. Girls listened. They studied late into the night, balanced ambition with family responsibilities, and carried heavy expectations with quiet determination. Many succeeded beyond what their parents ever imagined. Today, they are doctors, teachers, lawyers, managers and public servants.
OPINION: Bradford deserves Councillors, not clan politics
As the local elections approach this May, the familiar election routine is already underway. Leaflets will drop through letterboxes, old promises will be recycled, and social media will fill up with carefully chosen photos and slogans. Voters will soon be asked to pick three people to represent them at City Hall. This should be about choosing the best leaders for Bradford. Too often, it isn’t. In too many wards across the city, local elections are still shaped by biradari, clan and family loyalties.
COLUMN: Too divided to stand: A warning for the Muslim community
The Muslim community today is facing one of the most difficult periods in recent times. Across society, Muslims are dealing with rising Islamophobia, negative media portrayals, discrimination, and political pressure. These challenges are serious and real. But alongside these external pressures, there is another problem that is just as dangerous, if not more so: Muslims fighting amongst themselves. Too often, our biggest battles are not with those who misunderstand or oppose us, but with one another.
'Muslims must go the extra mile to change perceptions' says Dr Javed Bashir
Dr Javed Bashir Tue 11 November 2025 at 11:26 am UTC 4 min read EVERY November, as Islamophobia Awareness Month begins, I find myself reflecting deeply on where we are as a community. There is no denying that Islamophobia exists and that it causes real pain. Many Muslims still face suspicion, unfair treatment, or misunderstanding simply because of their faith. It is wrong and it must be challenged. But while we recognise this reality, we must also reflect honestly on ourselves.
OPINION: Bradford’s year of culture: Was it really worth it?
Bradford’s year as the UK City of Culture is almost over. The lights will soon go out, the banners will come down, and life will return to normal. But what, in truth, will we have to show for it? This is the question many people in Bradford are asking. For months, we have heard grand promises: new jobs, increased tourism, and millions flowing into the local economy. Yet when one looks around the city, it is difficult to see what has genuinely changed.
COLUMN: Palestine recognised – But reality remains unchanged - Asian Standard Newspaper
The UK government has finally recognised Palestine as a state. For some, this is being hailed as a bold and historic decision, a moral turning point in Britain’s relationship with the Middle East. The headlines suggest something seismic has happened. But for the people living under military occupation, siege, and daily bombardment, the reality is far less dramatic. At its heart, this recognition is symbolic. It does not end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
Shabana Mahmood becomes first Muslim Home Secretary
I have often been critical of the way this country has treated its migrant communities. I have written about unfair media coverage, about hostile government policies, about the constant sense that Muslims are always being asked to prove their loyalty. For many years, it has felt as if the migrant community was seen more as a problem to manage than a partner in Britain’s success. Those criticisms remain true. Islamophobia and racism are real, and in many ways it is growing.
OPINION: A Wedding or a Circus
It is wedding season again. You do not need an invitation to notice it. Open your window late at night, and you will hear the bang of fireworks at one or two in the morning. You will see flashes lighting up the sky or be startled by convoys of sports cars tearing through the streets as if they are on a racetrack. What should be a joyful celebration for one family too often becomes a disturbance for the whole neighbourhood. I have experienced this many times.
Why are young Muslims thinking of leaving the UK
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COLUMN: Late night fireworks are tearing at Bradford’s community spirit
Bradford is a city proud of its rich cultural heritage, strong family values, and time-honoured traditions. At this time of year, that pride is on full display as the South Asian wedding season brings colour, joy, and unity to communities across the district. But let’s not sugar-coat what’s happening. For many residents, what should be a time of shared happiness has become a season of sleepless nights, rising frustration, and growing resentment.
COLUMN: Have we let our neighbours down?
Let me speak from the heart. As Muslims, we often talk about how beautiful our faith is, how Islam teaches us to be clean, kind, and caring towards our neighbours. But when I walk through parts of our community in Bradford, I can’t help but feel ashamed. The streets are filthy, rubbish is dumped on pavements, alleyways are a mess and we just walk past it like it’s normal. Is this really what Islam teaches us?
OPINION: Building a future beyond biradari lines
I’ve spent much of my life working within our communities listening, supporting, and building bridges across different backgrounds. From living rooms and mosques to youth centres and university halls, I’ve witnessed both the strength and the struggles of our people up close. And there’s one uncomfortable truth we need to face: biradari politics is holding us back. Biradari, our extended family or clan system, once offered a vital lifeline to early migrants.
'Grassroots action' needed on gangs, drugs and grooming, says interfaith stalwart
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‘The world is turning away from human tragedy in Gaza'
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COLUMN: Protecting faith and tradition: Why Halal slaughter matters?
There’s a lot of noise right now about banning halal slaughter in Britain. Some groups, especially on the right, want to make it illegal. But let’s be honest: this debate isn’t really about animal welfare. It’s about politics, division, and singling out Muslim communities. Halal slaughter is a religious practice followed by millions of Muslims around the world—and here in the UK too. It’s about treating animals with respect, keeping things clean, and making sure they don’t suffer unnecessarily.
OPINION: Do British Muslims need to integrate more to be accepted?
The question of whether British Muslims need to integrate more to be accepted is one that resurfaces time and again—often in moments of political tension, media scrutiny, or social debate. It suggests, subtly or otherwise, that Muslims in Britain remain on the margins of national life, despite decades of contribution to this country. Many of us were born here. We grew up here, were educated in British schools, and are raising our families in cities, towns and villages across the UK.
OPINION: The great Muslim marriage hunt
Finding a spouse in the Muslim community is rarely simple. Instead of a whirlwind romance, it often unfolds as a series of tea-fuelled interrogations, intense family negotiations, and the ever-watchful ‘rishta aunties’, who take matchmaking more seriously than an MI5 investigation. The first step is the classic family introduction.
OPINION: A white paper that’s not so white on welcoming you
I’ve lived in the UK most of my life. Paid taxes. Learned how to queue without complaint. I’ve even mastered the uniquely British art of apologising when someone else bumps into me.
OPINION: Reform has won. What now for people like us?
Well… here we are. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has pulled off a shock victory in the Runcorn and Helsby byelection. A party whose campaign often sounded like a viral Facebook comment section—just angrier and with worse grammar. And for people like me—Muslims, immigrants, minorities—it feels like we’ve just been told, politely but firmly, to step out of the photo of Britain’s future. We’ve never needed the government to tell us we belong.
COLUMN: Eid on different days: A matter of tradition or disunity?
As Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, concludes, Muslims across the UK and around the world prepare to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” However, each year, a familiar debate resurfaces—why do British Muslims observe Eid on different days? The answer lies in two distinct methods used to determine the date of Eid. Some Muslims rely on local moon sightings, while others follow the announcement from Mecca, celebrating Eid on the same day as Saudi Arabia.
COLUMN: Supporting employees during Laylatul Qadr
As Ramadan enters its final ten nights, many Muslim employees dedicate themselves to increased spiritual reflection and prayer, particularly on Laylatul Qadr—the Night of Power. This sacred night, considered more rewarding than a thousand months, holds profound significance in Islam as a time for deep supplication, contemplation, and seeking divine blessings. The exact date of Laylatul Qadr remains uncertain, but it is believed to occur within the last ten nights of Ramadan.
A Pivotal Shift in Political Allegiances and the Embrace of Democratic Rights
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No Representation Without Accountability.
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Immigration: a call for accountability for all communities
Immigration is a critical issue affecting every community in the UK. I believe it is essential to address this matter with both pragmatism and compassion. It’s vital to recognise that immigration impacts everyone, and the current misplaced focus leaves many feeling isolated and deprived. We must address the root causes globally and ensure local concerns are not neglected. Immigration is often portrayed in the media in a divisive manner.
Rising Energy Consumption Impact on Local Households and Businesses
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10 Compelling Reasons to Vote for an Independent Candidate for Parliament
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See the Sound: Homegrown Album Art That Transcends Traditional Visuals
Gone are the days of polished and glossy covers that showcase the artists' glamour and glitz. Instead, many musicians are opting for a more raw and personal approach, creating album covers that reflect their personality and artistic vision. They capture the spirit of the times and define the cultural landscape of an era. Here’s a comprehensive list of generation-defining album art.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict
That the breakup of the Soviet Union did deprive the US-led West of ‘the enemy’ is a fact. However, that ‘enemy’ was a highly responsible country whose approach to the world affairs was strongly characterized by a global ideology, however flawed and ‘increasingly irrelevant’. Now the US has to deal with Russia, a successor state to the Soviet Union, which has been ruled for over two decades by Vladimir Putin.That in Ukraine, Russia has not gotten a quick victory on the battlefield is a fact.
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