British Muslims and the census: the need for statistical visibility vis-a-vis government surveillance concerns

Abstract

ABSTRACT The National Census of Population is conducted every 10 years and produces the most comprehensive set of statistics about Muslims living in the United Kingdom. Yet, despite the census data’s utility, research among a sample of British Muslims, as discussed in this article, identified concerns on how such statistics can be misconstrued, due to a widespread normalisation of Islamophobia within British society and the media. Furthermore, a lack of trust in the government’s intentions to use such data to benefit Muslim neighbourhoods and communities is discussed as contributing towards both apathy and hesitancy in sharing personal information on survey forms. The findings of this study are important for agencies and relevant government departments, as well as academics and organisations for developing strategies for community engagement with official surveys. The benefits of doing so would be to encourage greater accuracy of data on Muslims, particularly hard-to-reach communities, better allocation of funds for local services and planning, and an increased trust between Muslims and relevant government agencies.