Half of Muslim UK households are living in poverty and deprivation compared to 18% of the general UK population, an Islamic charity has revealed.

The charity Islamic Relief has warned that the cost of living crisis has hit the Muslim community particularly hard when compared to the non-Muslim population.

Citing research from the Muslim Council of Britain, the charity said that an estimated 50% of Muslim households in the UK are living in poverty.

‘Families across the UK will be suffering as a result of record rates of inflation as well as increasing energy prices due to the war in Ukraine,’ said Tufail Hussain, director of Islamic Relief UK.

‘Last week’s spring statement was an opportunity for the government to strengthen our social security systems and raise benefits payments to be, at least, in line with inflation. Instead, they’ve been handed a real terms cut in their payments, and with inflation set to rise further this year, the cost of living crisis will become an emergency for the poorest families.’

The charity urged the Government to increase benefit payments as close as possible to the rate of inflation and to further strengthen the UK’s social security systems.

‘We urgently call on the UK Government to review this decision and take the bold actions necessary to avoid pushing families into destitution,’ continued Mr Hussain.

‘This is especially important as Muslim families begin to observe the holy month of Ramadan. Many will be fasting from sunrise to sunset and there is a real risk that families will not have enough food or will go without to feed their children.’