On the 26th of March, a Channel 4 Dispatches programme presented by John Ware, sought to uncover ‘Who speaks for British Muslims?’ The show brought into question the work of the likes of Cage and Mend which elicited a number of responses on Muslim Twitter as well as the organisations themselves.

Mend called out the programme for being “factually dubious and sensationalist” and meanwhile Cage released their own video interview hours before the show aired.

What Mend said?

If #Dispatches wanted to make an investigative documentary about MEND, why didn't they come to talk to us first? Instead they first decided we were linked extremist and then went hunting for 'evidence' to 'prove' their theory. This is not journalism #ProfessionalIslamophobia

— MEND Community (@mendcommunity) March 26, 2018

MEND is entirely community financed and run. Our successful financial structure not only demonstrates our large grassroots support, but also our autonomy from political and economic narratives and agendas #Dispatches #WhoSpeaksForBritishMuslims

— MEND Community (@mendcommunity) March 26, 2018

MEND has never claimed to speak for British Muslims, we are an advocacy group speaking up on issues that affect Muslims and encouraging Muslims to be politically engaged. That's called democracy #Dispatches #WhoSpeaksForBritishMuslims

— MEND Community (@mendcommunity) March 26, 2018

What the Twitter Community said?

Thread: As an aspiring journalist that has always seen investigative journalism as a hard, unbiased form of reporting. I’m quite taken back and shocked at Channel 4’s fragmented and slanted #Dispatches programme tonight.

— MaƦiyah (@mariyahzaman) March 26, 2018

If the dispatches show last night taught us anything – it’s that we need to continue to build the infrastructure that allows us to push back, speak out and change the narrative.

Please support those already part of that change@themuslimvibe @amaliah_tweets@WritersofColour

— Nafisa/ ????????AMALIAH.COM???????? (@Nafisa_Bakkar) March 27, 2018

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We don’t understand why #dispatches is falling into the anti Muslim rhetoric of the worst parts of the press- we support @mendcommunity and are proud to have them as a sponsor https://t.co/bPUpuU95uV

— Byline Festival (@BylineFest) March 26, 2018

Finally watched #Dispatches and regretfully won’t get those 26 mins of my life back. Didn’t actually address the #WhoSpeaksForBritishMuslims topic but attacked @mendcommunity for promoting voting, democracy, civic engagement and working with the police. Time #JohnWare got a life.

— Fahad Ansari (@fahadansari) March 26, 2018

@mendcommunity There’s an old saying that needs to be dusted down; take people as you find them. In all my dealings with MEND I can say I have not met a single person with any questionable motives or intentions other than to promote justice and cohesion.

— Arakan Creative (@ArakanCreative) March 27, 2018

I see a pattern emerging here ???????????? … #Dispatches and #WhoSpeaksForBritishMuslims pic.twitter.com/7vWhXAPKR2

— Yusra (@yhussai7) March 26, 2018

I suggest you to watch the full video to which I was featured at … to see the real work that @mendcommunity does @C4Dispatches #dispatches #WhoSpeaksforMuslims #MuslimsSpeakForMuslims https://t.co/6sTD1sFqyF

— Sahar Al-Faifi (@SaharAlFaifi) March 26, 2018

Fiyaz Mughal, Amina Lone, Sara Khan, Majid Nawaz do NOT represent Muslims and have ZERO credibility in the Muslim community. #Dispatches programme only increased our support for @UK_CAGE and @mendcommunity!#WhoSpeaksForBritishMuslims#MuslimsSpeakForMuslims

— زاهد أختر (@AHudhayfah) March 26, 2018

Hm. Disappointed with #Dispatches this eve. The title is “Who speaks for British Muslims”, so I was expecting a programme that had researched the different groups that represent and provide a voice for British Muslims. This just feels like a witch hunt ???? #Dispatches #inclusion

— Harsha Patel (@HarshaPatel_) March 26, 2018

#Dispatches wrote to us about #WhoSpeaksForBritishMuslims saying @mendcommunity was secretly filmed but @UK_CAGE wasn’t. Was this because your ‘undercover’ reporter broke down and came clean? @C4Dispatches Please watch & reply https://t.co/vfHYGlYDcO

— Moazzam Begg (@Moazzam_Begg) March 26, 2018

British media seeks to squash groups like @UK_CAGE and @mendcommunity, because liberal discourse welcomes only quiet, toe-the-line, conformist Muslims.

That's how Islamophobia from the left works.

Media fears Muslims who criticize the excesses and injustices of the state.

— CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) March 26, 2018