Muslim Engagement and Development

Muslim engagement and development (MEND) (formerly iENGAGE) is a UK Muslim community funded NGO dedicated to tackling Islamophobia. It focuses on media monitoring, advocacy in Westminster and improving the media/political literacy of grassroots British Muslims through an extensive community engagement programme.

MEND was the brainchild of British born UK Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Sufyan Ismail and was set up in 2014, building on previous work carried out by iENGAGE in the tackling Islamophobia space.

MEND monitors daily media coverage pertaining to British Muslims with a view to providing qualified commentary on stories and raising concerns where Islamophobic narratives are present. MEND has successfully lobbied to correct a number of incorrect/discriminatory headlines mainly in mainstream print press. MEND is a recognised as a 'representative body' for British Muslims with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).

Over the years, MEND has extensively featured at fringe events in mainstream political party conferences. In 2014, prior to the upcoming general election, MEND’s panel at the conservative conference featured the Tory election guru Lynton Crosby and Peter Oborne. MEND's panel at the Labour conference the same year featured Owen Jones, Sir Keith Vaz amongst others.

MEND (formerly as iENGAGE) contributed to the Leveson Inquiry on Press ethics. Lord Leveson included all 8 of MEND’s recommendations in his final report which was sealed as Royal Charter in October 2013.

The organisation has also produced over a dozen briefing papers on concerns to British Muslims including Stop and Search, Schedule 7, police and crime commissioners, halal slaughter, counter terror law and more.

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