Meet our new member: Maslaha
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As part of our new blog series spotlighting new members of the Alliance for Youth Justice, we spoke to Zahbia Yousuf, Senior Project Manager at Maslaha.
Maslaha work in shared struggle with Muslim communities to challenge the inequalities and racism they face, particularly across education, health, the media, and the criminal justice system. With growing concern around the over-representation of Muslim children in custody, and a need for culturally competent support in the justice system, their work has never been more vital.
In this Q&A, Zahbia shares more about Maslaha’s justice-focused projects and reflects on how the sector can better support young Muslims in contact with the youth justice system.
Can you tell us a bit about Maslaha and what drives your work?
The word maslaha translates from Arabic as for the common good. Our work is in shared struggle with Muslim communities in the UK. We seek to change and challenge conditions that create inequalities and racism for Muslim communities — in schools, the criminal legal system, health services, negative media coverage, and a continued climate of Islamophobia. Our work ranges from creating resources, working in the arts, designing new services and campaigns, to narrative change and research.
How did you identify this need?
Our work is rooted in communities — we build practical interventions through speaking with Muslim young people, those in prison and their families, educators, faith leaders, and health practitioners. We recognise and rely on the knowledge and expertise that exists in these communities and the power it has to create change across society.
“We seek to change and challenge conditions that create inequalities and racism for Muslim communities.”
You work across areas like criminal justice, education and health. How do these connect?
Institutional settings — health, education, the criminal legal system — often actively cause harm to marginalised people, especially young people of colour. Muslims are stereotyped and criminalised in public discourse. We use creative tools such as films, podcasts, zines and photography to influence public imagination and change the narrative around Muslims through radical storytelling.
What does your work look like in prisons and the criminal justice system?
Muslims make up 18 % of the prison population in England and Wales, yet the harm they face is often made invisible. We make visible what prisons render unseen — providing a platform for Muslims to share their experiences of racism and discrimination. Freedom-of-Information requests have uncovered the disproportionate use of PAVA and other force against Muslims. Alongside advocacy, we create practical interventions: Coming Home offers counselling from Muslim therapists to people who’ve faced prison and their families, acknowledging the systemic harms they experience.
“Muslims make up 18 % of the prison population in England and Wales, yet the harm they face is often made invisible. We make visible what prisons render unseen — providing a platform for Muslims to share their experiences of racism and discrimination.”
What lessons from the adult estate inform your interest in the youth system?
Many of the people we support in the adult estate, we first saw in the children’s estate. In 2022, 22 % of children in custody identified as Muslim, and over-representation is rising. Young Muslims face similar patterns of harm — more punishment, more violence from staff — and a constant association of Islam with radicalisation, even though faith is a source of support.
How are Muslim children’s experiences in custody misunderstood or ignored?
Muslims are homogenised as ‘terrorists’, ‘risky’, ‘extremist’. Official reports rarely recognise the negative outcomes — loss of privileges, disproportionate use of force, denied education. Normal faith practices like praying together or celebrating Eid are misread as ‘risky behaviour’, used to justify separation or the denial of rights.
“Young Muslims face similar patterns of harm — more punishment, more violence from staff — and a constant association of Islam with radicalisation, even though faith is a source of support.”
What role can those working in youth justice play in challenging Islamophobia?
There’s collective work to do so professionals fully understand the complex issues affecting young Muslims — recognising religion as a strength, not a risk, and challenging stereotypes that criminalise young people before, during and after custody. Schools must also be seen as sites where early criminalisation happens.
Are there projects or resources AYJ members should know about?
“I’ve already mentioned Coming Home, so will instead focus on Jami’an. Jami’an is a step-by-step guide that helps families find and support loved ones in prison — covering everything from locating someone to arranging visits and sending money or parcels.”
“We must challenging the stereotypes that criminalise young people before, during and after custody. Schools must also be seen as sites where early criminalisation happens.”