Bureau report
Manchester: The Press Club of Pakistan UK (PCP) organised a Hate Crime Workshop at Dhalia Coffee, Burnage, Manchester. The event was supported by Manchester City Council and Southway. Speakers included Nasrallah Khan Mughal, Mahmood Khan, Councillor Carl Austin Behan and Mahboob Elahi Butt. Councillor Muqddasah Bano, Mansur Ahmed Khan, while Gulzar Khan, Aqsa Bano, Samuel Jacob and many local community members also attended.
PCP President Mahmood Khan, speaking on hate crimes against the Muslim community, said hate crime remained a serious issue in the UK. He referred to a report published in March 2025 on hate crimes in England and Wales, which highlighted the targeting of Muslims. He said anti-Muslim hostility and online threats had increased during the period covered by the report. He added that hate crime had a wider impact on communities and called for effective policies, community engagement, education and awareness of racism. “Britain is a multicultural society, and we need to support each other,” he emphasised. Councillor Muqddasah Bano recommended organising anti-hate seminars in schools to raise awareness among young people. Mahboob Elahi Butt called for more seminars and a friendly atmosphere in communities. He said social media was a major factor in spreading hatred and stressed that education and open conversations could help tackle the problem. Senior journalist Tajammul Gurmani said greater harmony was needed between different religions. He suggested that religious leaders should encourage their followers to respect other faiths. He also expressed concern that some religious leaders promoted fear of other religions rather than understanding. Nasrallah Khan Mughal spoke about hate crimes against Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities. Referring to attacks on synagogues in Manchester and North London, as well as the burning of four ambulances donated by members of the community, he condemned hatred and violence. He stressed that children should learn at school that everyone deserved respect, regardless of faith or sexual orientation.
He concluded by calling for stronger relationships and alliances between communities to bring people together and promote mutual understanding.
