White British non-Muslim women like right-wing broadcaster Alex Phillips should self-reflect on the crises with women within her own demographic before caricaturing Muslim women with a saviour complex, writes Maria Akbar.
TalkTV presenter and former Brexit Party MEP, Alex Phillips, recently posted a lengthy message on X addressed to British Muslim women. In it, she expressed heartfelt wishes for our wellbeing and even offered an apology for what she believes are the circumstances we face.
As a British Muslim woman myself, I was left puzzled. Nothing she wrote reflected my reality. Instead, her post came across as patronising and tone-deaf.
Phillips’ post revolved around five key themes:
- Her apparent care and concern for Muslim women.
- Her wish that we could live freely and joyfully on our own terms.
- Her concern for those affected by female genital mutilation, forced marriage or “honour” punishments — those she believes are denied education, careers or even the feeling of sun on their skin.
- Her sympathy for women she describes as “enslaved to men” or denied equal rights and agency.
- Her fear that we are “gagged, trapped, frightened and controlled.”
While her concern for women’s wellbeing is noted, her understanding of what it means to be a British Muslim woman is deeply misinformed. Too many people in this country still hold narrow, outdated views about our lives. Non-Muslims often see us as “other”, as if we are automatically oppressed. I’ve lost count of how many times people are surprised that I work, travel, laugh and live a normal life like anyone else.
That ignorance doesn’t appear out of nowhere. Most people have little meaningful interaction with Muslim women. Their impressions are shaped by media caricatures and the echo chambers they inhabit — and in Alex Phillips’ case, that’s the world of TalkTV.
A fundamental problem with her post is how she confuses culture with religion. Practices such as forced marriage or so-called “honour” violence are cultural, not Islamic. Islam condemns these acts outright. When Muslims act according to traditions that contradict their faith, outsiders mistake those actions for Islam itself. That misunderstanding harms both our community and wider perceptions of the religion.
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Phillips also suggested that Britain “gave” women rights. That is simply false. Islam granted women rights more than 1,400 years ago — including the right to own property, inherit wealth, seek education and participate in public life. Britain only began extending similar rights in the past century.
And when it comes to men, Phillips misses the point entirely. In Islam, men are guardians and caretakers — roles defined by duty, not dominance. Yes, there are those who fail in that responsibility, but most uphold it with dignity and balance.
So thank you, Alex, for your concern. But British Muslim women do not need sympathy or salvation. We are not voiceless, caged or oppressed. We are fulfilled, independent and confident — living by our faith, on our own terms, and finding peace in that.
