Author Archives: Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal OBE DL MPhil

Whose Town? Whose Future? When Racism Comes to Your Doorstep

After 32 years of calling Stafford home and a decade working to counter extremism, I never imagined I would hear openly racist rhetoric in my own town centre. On a sunny autumn Saturday, calls to “take our town back” gave way to language echoing the infamous white supremacist David Lane’s 14 Words. When did hatred, fuelled by misinformation and fear, become so acceptable in our communities? And whose future are we really trying to protect?

Faith, Festivities and the Fiction of a Christmas ‘Threat’

A reflection on the recurring myth that Muslims want to “ban Christmas,” exploring why this false narrative resurfaces each year with growing hostility. The blog highlights the deep respect Islam holds for Jesus and Mary, debunks sensational headlines, and emphasises the real issues facing communities during the festive season, including loneliness, poverty, and rising pressures on families. It also touches on personal moments, like celebrating a grandson’s Christmas Day birthday, and calls for understanding, compassion, and shared joy rather than division.

Misogyny, Power and Moral Failure

A reflection on the growing conversation around misogyny what it is how it operates and why it is not an abstract idea. The piece explores how misogyny becomes embedded in culture, community leadership and faith settings and how slander, false accusation and the silencing of capable women cause deep moral harm. It calls for integrity, accountability and a return to ethical principles that uphold women’s dignity.

Under the Shade of the Nyala Tree

There are some holidays that give you photographs, some that give you stories and then there are those that somehow manage to give you both, alongside memories that you know will still make you smile many years from now. South Africa has certainly been one of those. Our adventure began far away from the bustleContinue reading “Under the Shade of the Nyala Tree”

Pakistan: Independence, Sacrifice and an Unfinished Dream 🇵🇰

A deeply personal reflection on Pakistan’s independence, the enormous human cost of Partition and the hopes upon which the new nation was founded. Through my own family’s remarkable journey from India to Pakistan in 1947 and then to Britain in 1965, I reflect on sacrifice, survival, belonging and the legacy of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision, before asking: 79 years on, where is the dream of the founding father now?

The Long River: Why Exams are Just One Step Toward Your Future

If you are sitting exams right now, whether they are GCSEs, A-levels, university assessments, end-of-year papers, coursework deadlines or finals, I want you to pause for a moment and hear this clearly: I know this season can feel heavy. Exam halls can feel painfully quiet, clocks can seem louder than usual and every paper canContinue reading “The Long River: Why Exams are Just One Step Toward Your Future”

Walking Together in a Time of Fear

Yesterday evening, I joined a peace and faith walk in Birmingham following the horrific attack in Golders Green. Organised by the Lord Mayor, the walk ended at Singers Hill Synagogue and brought together people of different faiths and none in a shared stand against hatred and division. I was asked to speak and reflected onContinue reading “Walking Together in a Time of Fear”

Lest We Forget: Reflections on Remembrance Day

Each year, we pause to honour those who gave their lives for our freedom. In this reflection, Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal OBE DL, shares why remembrance still matters today, paying tribute to the courage and diversity of those who served and the values they defended.