‘Halal food tax’ to support British Muslim arts mooted

A percentage of money raised from the sale of halal meat should be reinvested into Muslim arts and culture in the UK, a thinktank has said.

A report by Equi, which was established last year to platform Muslim voices in public policy, calls on government to establish a National Working Group to foster dialogue and build infrastructure to support Muslim creatives.

It says recent “culture wars” have led to a heightened reluctance to fund projects associated with minoritised communities.

And it warns that British Muslim creatives are being “herded” toward funding streams related to developing community cohesion or de-radicalisation, limiting their artistic freedom.

Among the recommendations put forward are the introduction of a ‘halal premium’, reinvesting a proportion of the industry’s annual £2bn turnover into Muslim arts and culture.

“The arts [have become] a battleground in the culture wars, leading to a heightened reluctance to fund projects associated with minoritised communities, out of fear of generating controversial headlines,” the report states.

“As a result, these programmes are often the last to receive funding and the first to face cuts. This atmosphere, driven by the culture wars, has a significant impact on what gets funded and made visible, dictated by the preferences of the ‘mainstream’.”

Supporting Muslim creativity

The report says the halal premium would be “a vital step towards supporting the narratives and creativity of Muslim communities in the UK”.

“It offers an opportunity to channel the economic benefits of the halal industry back into the cultural sector, ensuring that the voices and talents behind these cultural symbols are recognised and sustained,” the report states.

“The British Muslim arts sector links the local with the global, and it is essential for policymakers, cultural institutions, and communities to recognise this potential.

“To harness this, there must be a focus on enhancing funding, promoting inclusivity, and involving new stakeholders who can leverage British Muslim arts as a significant part of Britain’s cultural influence both domestically and internationally.”

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Yusuf Islam:
British Muslim arts
and culture are
crucial yet remain
largely untapped
in the UK’s
current cultural
landscape

The report warns that many British Muslim creatives are currently being “herded” toward funding streams related to developing community cohesion or de-radicalisation, limiting their artistic freedom.

It says a focus on anti-extremism government funding streams, such as Prevent, “toxifies, devalues and limits artistic intent” which can “compromise expansion of activities, as well as an artist’s reach and reputation”.

The Prevent programme, a key component of the UK government’s counter-terrorism strategy first launched in 2003, focuses on three main objectives: addressing ideological challenges; preventing vulnerable young people from being drawn into extremism; and working with various sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation.

The report says those seeking funding are required to demonstrate how their work addresses radicalisation and extremism, restricting freedom of expression and putting individuals and organisations at risk of being “delegitimised” or “cancelled” by their core audiences and communities due to association with the strategy.

This, it says, can create a dynamic that “reinforces the very issues Prevent claims to address, perpetuating its own existence”.

Creating opportunities

Alongside the introduction of a ‘halal premium’ and the establishment of a National Working Group, the report also calls for charitable organisations to forge strategic partnerships with the Muslim private sector to pool resources and support cultural projects.

Remarking that there is currently “untapped potential for Muslims to be beneficiaries” of charitable giving, the report notes that research by consultancy Blue State shows that British Muslims give an average of £708 per person annually, compared with £165 for the wider UK population.

Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, said: “British Muslim arts and culture are crucial yet remain largely untapped in the UK’s current cultural landscape.

“Recommendations from this report aim to highlight and expand the visibility of Muslim arts and culture. By addressing current challenges and creating opportunities, policymakers can enhance the sector’s contribution to life in Britain.

“We must believe that through supportive policies and inclusive practices, policymakers and gatekeepers can ensure that this sector not only survives but thrives, contributing positively to the nation’s cultural, social, and economic prosperity.”