Journalist Mobeen Azhar's new film, "Being Muslim After 9/11," tackles the rise of Islamophobia over the past 25 years. The documentary, co-directed with Masood Khan, explores how life for British Muslims has changed since the events of 11 September 2001.
The film features discussions with various figures, including politician Salma Yaqoob, who recalls organising a major anti-Iraq war demonstration in 2003. Community leaders Alyas Karmani and Farasat Latif also appear, accusing Azhar of potentially fanning Islamophobia by giving a platform to an unrepresentative fringe in previous work.
Azhar and Khan debate the impact of their filmmaking choices, considering whether journalism should reflect society's truths or carefully select what to cover. The film also includes a meeting with Ivan, a former English Defence League organiser, who claims certain documentaries were used as recruitment tools by the far-right group.
The documentary concludes with Azhar expressing exhaustion from events like the 2017 terror attacks and the ongoing agitation against Islam by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, in 2026.