Roshan Muhammed Salih – Editor in chief
Roshan has been a journalist for 27 years. After a brief stint in teaching, he started his career in local newspapers in the UK before moving into TV journalism with London Weekend Television.
Roshan went onto work at Al Jazeera‘s English website in Qatar. Upon his return to the UK a few years later he became head of news at Islam Channel between 2005-2007.
Roshan then joined Press TV where he was head of news in London for five years.
During his career, Roshan has reported from over 25 countries. Highlights include the 2003 Iraq war, the Pakistan earthquake in 2006, the Lebanon-Israel war in 2006, the Iran nuclear crisis, the Egyptian and Libyan revolutions during the Arab Spring, the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa, the 2012 London Olympics, and much more.
Roshan is of mixed Sri Lankan and Welsh heritage. He likes travelling, reading and sports, and speaks fluent French and good Arabic.
You can follow Roshan on X and buy his book ‘Confessions of a Muslim Journalist’ here.
Book Roshan for a speaking engagement.
Please note that any articles written and/or published by Roshan will be initialled RMS on the site.
Dilly Hussain – Deputy editor
Dilly graduated from the University of East Anglia in Norwich with a BA Honours in politics in 2009.
He went on to complete his NCTJ Certificate in Print Journalism in 2010 while reporting for the Bedfordshire on Sunday newspaper.
Dilly left Bedfordshire on Sunday in 2012 before co-founding 5Pillars with Roshan Muhammed Salih in 2013.
Dilly regularly appeared on Sky News, Channel 4 News, BBC News, CNN, Talk TV and BBC radio stations to discuss current affairs related to Middle East and North African politics, and domestic issues related to British Muslims. He is also a columnist for the Middle East Eye, and a contributor for Al Jazeera English, the Ceasefire Magazine and the Foreign Policy Journal.
During his career, Dilly has reported from over 13 countries. Highlights include the re-conversion of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia to a mosque in 2020, Afghanistan’s one-year anniversary since U.S. occupation in 2022, and the immediate wake of Bangladesh and Syria’s revolutions in 2024. He enjoys reading historical fiction, watching true crime documentaries and going gym. Dilly was born and raised in Bedford, and is of Bangladeshi heritage. He speaks fluent Sylheti Bangla and good Urdu and Hindi.
You can follow Dilly on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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Please note that any articles written and/or published by Dilly will be initialled DH on the site.
Robert Carter – Senior correspondent
Robert Carter joined 5Pillars in October 2023 and has five years of experience in journalism.
He is also a regular commentator on Muslim current affairs in the media.
Robert converted to Islam when he was a teenager and you can find out more about his journey to Islam here.
You can follow Robert on X and Instagram.
Book Robert for a speaking engagement.
Please note that any articles written and/or published by Robert will be initialled RC on the site.
Haris Tagari – Reporter and videographer
Haris joined 5Pillars in 2024 as a reporter and videographer.
He graduated from the University of Lancaster with a first class BA Honours degree in history.
Haris is widely known for his Instagram series, travelling to and reporting on destroyed and lost Muslim heritage across the world. He has filmed documentaries and political explainers from Syria, Iraq, Turkiye, Bosnia, Kosovo, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro.
You can follow Haris on Instagram.
Book Haris for youth engagement events.
Non-editorial team
Alen Basic – Social media manager
Obaidah Shaker – Head of IT and cyber security.
Abdul Haseeb Rasheedi – Graphic designer
Jamaal Richards & Muhsin Bagas – Filmmakers and creative editors
Syed Moeen Qadri – Head of accounts and finance
Rahman Lowe Solicitors & Birnberg Peirce Solicitors – Legal representatives
Contributors
Jahangir Mohammed is a writer, thinker, and activist who co-founded the Ayaan Institute think-tank.
Bilal Abdul Kareem is an American journalist and filmmaker based in Syria.
Ramzy Baroud is a Palestinian-American author, journalist, and the editor of the Palestine Chronicle.
Faisal Bodi is a UK-based journalist, political commentator and activist.
Hafsa Kara is an Anglo-Algerian activist, political commentator and journalist.
Yousef Mawry is an American-Yemeni filmmaker and investigative journalist.
Dr Siema Iqbal is a Manchester-based doctor, writer and activist.
