The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) today welcomes the appointment of Sir Mufti Hamid Patel CBE as interim chair of Ofsted, the first British Muslim to be appointed to this role. The MCB also condemns the Islamophobic attacks directed at Sir Mufti Hamid following his appointment, which appears to be motivated by his Muslim identity rather than his professional capabilities.
Sir Mufti Hamid, the highly respected Chief Executive of Star Academies and respected Islamic scholar brings exceptional credentials to the role, having transformed one of the UK’s most successful school academy networks.
Dr. Wajid Akhter, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “Sir Mufti Hamid Patel’s appointment represents a proud moment for British Muslims and indeed for Britain as a whole. However, we are deeply concerned by the prejudiced attacks directed at him, which are clearly motivated by his Muslim identity. It is profoundly disappointing that such a distinguished educational leader should face bigotry simply because of his faith. Such Islamophobic rhetoric undermines our shared British values of fairness and equality of opportunity.
These attacks are part of a wider pattern of Islamophobia targeting British Muslims in public life, fuelled by social media, right-wing media outlets, and politicians who seek to stoke division. The repeated vilification of British Muslims in prominent positions must be challenged to ensure that our society remains inclusive and just.
Sir Mufti Hamid’s wealth of experience, including his service as an Ofsted board member since 2019, makes him exceptionally well-qualified to guide the organisation through this important transition period.”
We wish Sir Mufti Hamid every success in his new role and look forward to the positive impact his leadership will bring to education across Britain.
Photo courtesy: Confederation of Schools Trust