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5Pillars
What are Muslims thinking?
Homepage screenshot
Screenshot of 5Pillars's homepage on 5 June 2025
TypeOnline newspaper
Owner(s)5Pillars Media Ltd.
EditorRoshan Muhammed Salih
Deputy editorDilly Hussain
YouTube@5pillars
Founded2013; 12 years ago (2013)
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersCrown House, North Circular Road
CityLondon
CountryUnited Kingdom
Website5pillarsuk.com

5Pillars is a UK-based news and commentary website that covers issues related to British Muslims, as well as developments in the broader Islamic world. Founded in 2013, it operates independently and is primarily funded through reader donations, subscriptions, and advertising. The platform has been described by analysts as promoting a conservative Sunni and pan-Islamist perspective, and as being critical of Ahmadis, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Zionism. The outlet frequently highlights Palestinian issues and addresses Islamophobia in Western contexts. Although it was previously regulated by IMPRESS, reports suggest that it has withdrawn from the regulator, despite its website still displaying IMPRESS affiliation. Notable media initiatives by 5Pillars include the Blood Brothers and Muslim Uncensored podcasts, which feature discussions on religious, political, and social topics relevant to Muslim communities.

History

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It was launched in 2013 by 5Pillars Media Ltd, with the stated aim of addressing a perceived lack of professional and independent media coverage of British Muslim issues.[1] Named after the five pillars of Islam, the platform presents itself as a voice for Muslim perspectives and advocates Islamic values.[2] Its founding editor, Roshan Muhammed Salih, previously worked for media outlets such as Al Jazeera, BBC, Islam Channel, and Press TV.[1] The deputy editor, Dilly Hussain, began his career at a local Bedfordshire newspaper and serves as the platform's public face.[2]

In 2016, it commissioned the Normative Islam Report, a study on the religious views of influential British Muslims, aiming to highlight theological consensus within the community.[3] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the outlet received a £3,000 emergency grant from the Public Interest News Foundation, shortly before being criticised in a report by the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam for allegedly promoting Islamist narratives.[1] In 2022, it led a campaign against the film The Lady of Heaven, which it condemned as sectarian; its petition to ban the film gathered over 130,000 signatures.[4][5] Following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, the outlet published an open letter supporting Palestinian resistance and promoted a related demonstration in London, while advising against antisemitic or unlawful rhetoric.[6] In March 2024, at a public iftar event titled The Media War Machine: The Fightback, 5Pillars presented an overview of its activities.[7]

Dispute with IMPRESS

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Since 2018, it has been regulated by IMPRESS, but tensions have arisen over content-related rulings. In May 2021, 5Pillars was required to repay a £3,000 COVID emergency grant after deputy editor Dilly Hussain described homosexuality as 'a gross crime against Allah' in a video; IMPRESS ruled that such language could encourage or legitimize harm, a decision 5Pillars criticized as unfair but accepted under protest.[8] In 2024, IMPRESS ordered 5Pillars to remove or significantly alter a podcast episode featuring far-right figure Mark Collett, whose comments about Jewish influence and derogatory remarks about LGBTQ+ individuals breached the regulator's discrimination standards.[9] Despite editing out some antisemitic content and denying endorsement of Collett's views, IMPRESS found that the lack of challenge during the interview enabled the promotion of hatred.[10] Later that year, following a second ruling that a podcast episode featuring Jayda Fransen, former deputy leader of Britain First, included unchallenged antisemitic conspiracy theories, 5Pillars left IMPRESS, stating that the regulator's liberal values conflicted with Islamic norms and calling for a Muslim-specific press oversight body.[11] The outlet defended its interviews as part of engaging with controversial views relevant to its audience, emphasizing its opposition to racism and antisemitism despite the rulings and complaints from groups such as the Community Security Trust.[1]

Editorial stance

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It adopts an editorial stance that differs from the mainstream British media landscape, focusing on issues relevant to British Muslims and the global Islamic community.[2] It regularly advocates for Palestinian rights and critiques Islamophobia, while presenting itself as a non-sectarian, independent platform grounded in Islamic values.[12] Approximately 70 to 80 percent of its content is UK-focused, though it also features international stories reflecting a pan-Islamic perspective.[13] According to its editor, the outlet seeks to promote unity among British Muslims by providing a forum for debate and reflection.[13] The outlet claims it is regulated by IMPRESS and places emphasis on grassroots journalism and financial independence through reader support and advertising.[12] The Battleground has described it as a conservative Sunni platform promoting pan-Islamic solidarity, noting its sympathetic coverage of the Taliban in Afghanistan and various Syrian rebel factions,[2] as well as its support for the idea of a Muslim caliphate.[14] Its editorial model is similar to that of other diasporic publications that blend local and global issues important to minority communities.[2] Among its key media projects are the Blood Brothers podcast, hosted by deputy editor Dilly Hussain, which features long-form interviews on political and social topics, and Muslim Uncensored, another series exploring issues within the Muslim community.[15][16]

Criticism

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It has faced sustained criticism from Jewish organizations regarding its editorial tone and perceived ideological alignment. Jewish News described the platform as 'hardline pro-Islamist,' suggesting that its content may risk radicalizing audiences.[16][17] The Jewish Chronicle similarly alleged that 5Pillars has a 'long history of extremism.'[1] The Community Security Trust (CST) accused the platform of misusing its affiliation with the regulator IMPRESS to lend credibility to what it described as extremist narratives. CST further committed to ongoing monitoring of the outlet, citing concerns about content it believes contributes to antisemitic discourse.[18] Organizations such as the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis and the Middle East Forum have also criticized 5Pillars for its anti-Israel stance, alleging that its editorial direction is hostile to both Israel and Western democracies.[6][19]

From conservative circles, 5Pillars has been criticized for fostering division rather than unity within British society. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange categorized the platform as an 'Islamist news website,' arguing that its coverage and commentary reinforce ideological divides.[14] The Islamophobic New English Review labeled the platform a 'nasty entity.'[20] While 5Pillars has stated its commitment to coexistence with non-Muslim communities, The Critic argued that its content undermines this claim through selective coverage and editorial tone.[21]

Liberal and secularist critics have also raised concerns. The Digital British Islam project, funded by the UK government, noted that 5Pillars has faced criticism for giving a platform to 'Akh-Right' narratives—views associated with socially conservative Muslim figures.[22] Sara Khan, a counter-extremism advocate, has accused 5Pillars of attempting to discredit Muslim reformers who advocate for human rights, gender equality, and democratic governance.[23] In her 2016 book The Battle for British Islam, Khan cited examples from the site to illustrate what she views as harmful rhetoric.[24]

Within the Muslim community itself, 5Pillars' claim of non-sectarianism has been challenged, particularly by members of the Shia and Ahmadiyya communities. Critics argue that the platform largely reflects Sunni orthodox views and excludes or misrepresents minority sects. Rabwah Times, which reports on Ahmadiyya issues, has accused 5Pillars of publishing derogatory content about Ahmadis, including referring to the Baitul Futuh Mosque as a 'temple' in its reporting following a fire at the site.[25] The outlet has also been accused of misrepresenting Ahmadi beliefs and promoting hostility toward the community.[25] Similar sentiments have been echoed by some Shia commentators, who argue that the site does not reflect the broader diversity of Muslim voices in the UK.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Pope, Felix (29 November 2024). "How Muslim news site 5Pillars spreads conspiracy theories and far-right views". The Jewish Chronicle.
  2. ^ a b c d e White, Josh (24 February 2025). "News for British Muslims: 5Pillars and the Far Right". The Battleground.
  3. ^ "This is What British Muslims Really Believe". IlmFeed. 17 February 2016.
  4. ^ Malik, Kenan (12 June 2022). "Film bans are less about offence, more 'community leaders' showing who's boss". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  5. ^ a b Esposti, Emanuelle Degli (2022). "Divided we stand: Intra-Muslim sectarianism and solidarity in post-Brexit Britain". The Foreign Policy Centre.
  6. ^ a b Gilholy, Georgia Leigha (27 October 2023). "Islamist Website Halts Commenting on Telegram Channel After FWI Inquiry". Middle East Forum.
  7. ^ 5Pillars (26 March 2024). Dilly Hussain: No one does what 5Pillars does! – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Wakefield, Lily (31 May 2021). "Muslim news site ordered to pay back COVID grant after publishing anti-gay video". PinkNews.
  9. ^ Grant, Katie (22 May 2024). "Muslim website 5Pillars sanctioned over 'Jews control porn' podcast". The Jewish Chronicle.
  10. ^ Maher, Bron (21 May 2024). "5Pillars censured over podcast promoting 'hatred and abuse' of Jews and LGBT people". Press Gazette.
  11. ^ Maher, Bron (22 November 2024). "Muslim news site 5Pillars quits regulator for religious reasons". Press Gazette.
  12. ^ a b "About". 5Pillars. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Exclusive interview with prominent journalist Roshan Muhammed Salih". Crescent International. Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought (ICIT). 5 August 2015.
  14. ^ a b "5Pillars publishes Hizb ut-Tahrir leader advocating military force and a Caliphate to "liberate Palestine and Kashmir"". Policy Exchange. 11 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Muslims Uncensored Archives". 5Pillars. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  16. ^ a b Henry, Charlotte (21 November 2024). "SPECIAL REPORT: 5Pillars' latest discrimination breach shines new light on its alarming content". Jewish News.
  17. ^ Harpin, Lee (30 October 2023). "5 Pillars editor calls for mobs to welcome 'Israelis at every airport in Muslim countries'". Jewish News.
  18. ^ "5 Pillars UK has parted ways with Impress". Community Security Trust. 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 27 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  19. ^ Levick, Adam (23 August 2021). "British Islamist site 5 Pillars provides PR for the Taliban". CAMERA-UK.
  20. ^ "Dilly Hussain & 5 Pillars – as nasty a piece of work as ever you'll find". New English Review. 30 October 2023. OCLC 608163485.
  21. ^ Ware, John (19 October 2020). "The divisiveness of Five Pillars". The Critic.
  22. ^ "DBI Web Archive: Media". Digital British Islam. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  23. ^ Khan, Sara (20 November 2017). "5Pillars UK: What are British Islamists thinking?". sarakhan.co.uk.
  24. ^ Khan, Sara; McMahon, Tony (2016). The Battle for British Islam: Reclaiming Muslim Identity from Extremism. London: Saqi Books. p. 243. ISBN 978-0-86356-164-1.
  25. ^ a b Jamil, Fareena (26 October 2016). "5 Pillars UK: Dangers of Extremist Muslim Media". Rabwah Times. ISSN 2415-5616.
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