Study Finds Muslim Judges Underrepresented in UK Courts

Experts urge more diversity to strengthen trust in justice system

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Muslims in England and Wales are three times less likely to serve as judges or coroners compared to individuals of other faiths, according to research by University College London.

The findings, based on the 2024 Judicial Attitudes Survey, raise concerns about the lack of diversity in the judiciary and its impact on public trust.

While Muslims account for 6.5% of the population, they represent only 1.8% of salaried judges, 2.2% of fee-paid judges, and just 0.6% of coroners.

In contrast, judges from Christian, Jewish, and Sikh backgrounds are overrepresented, while Hindu and Buddhist judges face less severe underrepresentation.

“It is vital that our judiciary reflects the community it serves,” said Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society of England and Wales.

“Diversity of thought and experience strengthens the judiciary and enhances public confidence in the justice system.”

The study also revealed higher reports of bullying, harassment, and discrimination among Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh judges compared to their peers.

Muslim judges who broke barriers

The lack of diversity in the judiciary has not gone unnoticed, and some trailblazing Muslim judges in the U.K. have taken on the mantle of inspiring change.

Khurshid Drabu Varrier, widely regarded as Britain’s first Muslim judge, was a pioneer in both the judiciary and Muslim community leadership.

Born in Srinagar, Kashmir, he moved to the U.K. in 1971 with just £3.

Called to the Bar in 1977, Drabu served on immigration and asylum tribunals from 1996 until his retirement in 2007, continuing to hear cases afterward in the Upper Tribunal.

His efforts significantly increased Muslim representation in public institutions, leaving a lasting legacy after his passing in 2018.

Tan Ikram, Deputy Senior District Judge (Deputy Chief Magistrate), is known for his work promoting community relations and diversity, advocating for greater Muslim representation in the judiciary.

Raffia Arshad made headlines in 2020 as one of the first hijab-wearing judges in the U.K., appointed as a Deputy District Judge on the Midlands circuit.

Her role continues to inspire women from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue legal careers.

Khatun Sapnara, the first person of Bangladeshi origin to hold a senior judicial role in the U.K., has been a trailblazer in family law and equality since her appointments as Recorder in 2006 and Circuit Judge in 2014.

Sir Akhlaq Choudhury, appointed to the High Court in 2017, became the first British-Bangladeshi Muslim to hold this prestigious senior judicial position.

Meanwhile, Khatun Sapnara was the first person of Bangladeshi origin to hold a senior judicial role in the U.K., having been appointed as a Recorder in 2006 and later as a Circuit Judge in 2014 — important milestones in the judiciary, though below the High Court level.

While the achievements of judges like Khurshid Drabu Varrier, Sir Akhlaq Choudhury, Khatun Sapnara, and others serve as powerful inspirations, experts agree that much more work remains.

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