British Muslims allege disproportionate closure of their bank accounts

LONDON – British Muslims are complaining that their bank accounts are being disproportionately closed without explanation.

Anas Altikriti, head of the Cordoba Foundation, a British think tank, said his personal HSBC account and those of his family members were closed in 2014.

His organization aims to bridge the gap between the Muslim world and the West.

His foundation’s business and personal accounts at NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland were also recently closed.

Altikriti believes he has been targeted for his activism and that this is part of a broader pattern of discrimination against British Muslims.

The issue of bank withdrawals for British Muslims has come to light after a feud broke out last month between British banks and right-wing populist politician Nigel Farage, whose accounts were also closed.

Farage has accused the banks of political bias, and his case has led to calls for investigations into the treatment of British Muslims who have had their accounts blocked.

The banks have defended their actions on the grounds that they are merely following anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism regulations.

Critics, however, claim that the banks are using these regulations as a pretext to discriminate against British Muslims.