Since I’m a part of a panel (which has already been attacked) of Muslim journalists tonight let me sum up the issue within British media. Muslims make up 0.4% of journalists when we make up around 5%of the population. A class breakdown the figures would be even more starling.

The fact that it’s already been attacked sums up the issues. Muslim journalists have to be palatable to gain any sort of success. And must always be in guard because there are those inside and outside that just don’t like their presence.

It’s an industry that forces conformity and if you don’t, then you’ll find yourself on the fringes or repeatedly attacked, harassed and bullied.

There is this uniqueness to the British media, this kind of self-righteousness and over importance it gives itself...and how it sees itself. Sometimes quite arrogant - don’t get me wrong there’s some good work done, but within set paradigms

And because it gives itself so much importance there’s many Muslims that want to break into the British media. I get that. It feels like you’ve been accepted or made it. But the world is way bigger than the U.K.

Those Muslims that want to work within British media and hold any sort of connection with their communities, roots, religion etc then be prepared for a mental struggle with very little or no support.

There’s not a week that goes by that I speak to journos working in the U.K. with their stories, how they are struggling, how they cried in private over something said in the newsroom or editorial meeting, or constantly fighting a narrative that they know is messed up.

It just doesn’t allow for out of the box thinking or approach. And honestly, all this talk of diversity by these organisations, I just don’t take it seriously. Wish I could, wish I could say it’s genuine.

Go to our community and see how much of a lack of trust there is for these orgs.

We as Muslim journalists will always be held by some to different standards to our white/non-Muslim counterparts. It’s a sad reality, which is mentally draining and exhausting.

At the moment I’m glad to work for an media organisation that sees me as a journo first and foremost. My Muslimness does not really come into it. Whether I’m good at my job is what matters. I work with one of the most diverse newsrooms in the world - with people that get it.

There’s mutual respect. And it interesting when I got this job, it was journos in the U.K. that wanted to know whether I was Sunni or Shia etc because in many of their minds, again, it’s unfathomable that a brown guy can get this gig on his own merit.

We get asked stuff that our white counterparts would never get asked. You’re not going to ask John who’s been assigned to Tehran whether he’s Sunni or Shia, so why us? Because you’re mind deep down has that unconscious bias.