Review: Mobeen Azhar's 'Being Muslim After 9/11' Examines 25 Years of Islamophobia
The documentary 'Being Muslim After 9/11' follows journalist Mobeen Azhar as he examines the rise of Islamophobia in Britain since the 2001 attacks. Azhar works with co-director Masood Khan and interviews figures including Salma Yaqoob. The review praises Azhar for confronting difficult arguments and topics that other journalists often avoid.
The BBC documentary follows journalist Mobeen Azhar as he traces how anti-Muslim hostility in Britain grew over the 25 years after the 2001 attacks. Masood Khan co-directs and often films from Azhar’s car; Salma Yaqoob, a political campaigner, is among those interviewed.
Azhar’s earlier 2024 film, Small Town, Big Riot, examined how online misinformation radicalised anti-immigrant rioters. In this newer work, Bradford’s Alyas Karmani and Luton’s Farasat Latif, who try to deradicalise Muslim men, criticise Azhar for giving too much prominence to marginal voices. Azhar and Khan include such criticism.
The film may shape how viewers understand the last quarter-century of British Muslim experience, potentially deepening empathy or prompting debate about media representation. British Muslims could see their history reflected, while journalists and broadcasters may face renewed questions about which voices they amplify. Because documentaries can influence public conversation, this one could affect trust between communities and media, though its actual reach and impact remain uncertain.