Muslim soldiers’ story ‘woven into fabric of UK’, says faith minister
Nesil Caliskan made comments in light of government announcement that it wants long-awaited Muslim war memorial built by late 2028
The faith minister has told Hyphen that Britain’s long-awaited Muslim war memorial will honour soldiers whose “story is woven into the fabric of who we are as a nation”.
From 10 June, organisations will be able to bid for up to £970,000 in funding to build the memorial by no later than December 2028, the government announced on Wednesday.
Applicants will have until 21 July to submit plans for the design and location of a “permanent, prominent and publicly accessible monument” in England for Muslim soldiers who fought and died while serving in the British armed forces during the two world wars.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said up to £160,000 of funding would be available to the successful bidder in the 2026-27 financial year, with a further £810,000 unlocked in 2027-28 subject to the department’s future budget allocations.
The MHCLG said the site should include a space for learning and reflection and that the successful applicant — which could be a charity, public or private sector organisation — would be tasked with promoting interfaith dialogue and education on the “remarkable story of Muslim soldiers”.
It comes after the government was accused of dragging its feet over the project, which then Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt pledged £1 million to fund in March 2024.
Faith minister Nesil Caliskan, the Labour MP for Barking, told Hyphen: “We are a nation made up of many parts, with a rich and vivid history that underpins who we are as a society today.
“The first and second world wars shaped that profoundly. So many ordinary young men and women fought with remarkable courage and selflessness, driven by a belief in a better, more peaceful future for everyone.
“A fundamental part of that story is the contribution made by hundreds of thousands of Muslim soldiers from far beyond British shores, who served with bravery and dedication, with many making the ultimate sacrifice. Their story is woven into the fabric of who we are as a nation.”
About 2.5 million Muslim soldiers and labourers are estimated to have fought with the allied forces during the first world war and 5.5 million in the second world war, with nearly 1.5 million killed in action in the latter, according to the National Muslim War Memorial Trust charity.
The MHCLG said there were about 70,000 war memorials across the UK but that this would be the first prominent national tribute to the Muslim soldiers.
“That is a part of our shared history we must shine a light on, celebrate and preserve, and this memorial will do exactly that,” added Caliskan, who was appointed earlier in May after her predecessor Miatta Fahnbulleh quit in opposition to Keir Starmer’s leadership.
“Our nation was stronger because of the contribution of Muslim communities, standing together with others in defence of shared values. That remains just as true today: when we work together across our communities, we are all the better for it.”
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The World Wars Muslim Memorial Trust has been campaigning for a monument to be built to honour Muslim soldiers who served with Britain and its allies in the two world wars, and Muslim Brits who have died in combat more recently.
It has planning permission to build one within the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire but in November told Hyphen it was looking at alternative funding sources because government backing had not materialised. Since then, Hyphen understands it has raised about £90,000.
Reacting to the announcement, William Blackburne, the charity’s chair of trustees, said: “I am extremely happy because we have been waiting for a very long time.
“I’m pleased and relieved. It’s a long overdue chance to memorialise those many, many Muslim soldiers who fought for us in two world wars and many other conflicts.”
Blackburne said the trust was confident it could meet the government’s criteria and would be putting in a bid for the contract. On whether it would still try to build a memorial if it did not win the government contract, he said: “I would hope so but it would come as a considerable blow if, after all this time, the government would turn us down. But in principle we would continue.”
Labour peer Wajid Khan, a former faith minister who pushed for the memorial to be built, told Hyphen he was “delighted to see progress” on delivering it.
“This will be an important moment for Muslims, whose historic contribution is being formally recognised,” he added. “And it will offer a lasting opportunity for people of all backgrounds to reflect on the shared service that forms an important part of our national history.
“In doing so, it can help strengthen cohesion at a time when that is more important than ever.”
It is anticipated that the funding will be available from October.
