Sectarianism is on the rise in Britain – as any Ahmadiyya Muslim can tell you

I first heard of Asad Shah’s murder through a WhatsApp group. Its members are mainly prominent, respected Sunni Muslims. When it was reported that the Glaswegian shop owner – whose final message on Facebook was to wish Christians a happy Easter – had been killed, the group expressed its outrage. ‘This is what happens when the media keeps pushing their blatant Islamophobia,’ said one member, who later added: ‘This is why it’s important we stick together and we’re united as one Ummah.’

As details of Shah’s murder were revealed, the rhetoric of a united Muslim community slowly faded.  Fewer messages calling for public demonstrations were sent, and the tone became uncharacteristically cautious. On the day of Shah’s funeral, one member simply posted: ‘We should condemn all violence against innocent people, Muslim and non-Muslim.’ Part of the hesitance to speak openly about Shah’s murder was because the man accused of his murder was another Muslim.