There are no Muslims in Bradford

Or Muslims and Representation

There are no Muslims in Bradford
Well, to some at least
For them, there are only Asians
There were only Asians.

For others, there are some Muslims in Bradford
But only Muslim thugs
Or Muslim criminals
Or Muslim extremists
But otherwise, there are no Muslims in Bradford.

There are no Muslims in Bradford
But there are Sunnis, and Shia,
Deobandis and Barelvis
Oppressed Muslim women
And angry young Muslim men
But there are no Muslims in Bradford.

There are no Muslims in Bradford
Except where it doesn’t matter
A symbolic role a plenty
Muslims mayors by the dozen.

There are no Muslims in Bradford
Can’t see them anywhere
Except on the streets.

There are no Muslims in Bradford
But there are mosques
And there is halal meat
But there are no Muslims in Bradford.

There are no Muslims in Bradford
Unless it suddenly becomes tense
Then there are Muslims in Bradford
And they are the problem.

We cannot trust them
Don’t know what they’re like
Don’t know what they’ll do
Don’t give them any real power
Even in 2007.

But we can talk to you about them
Even if they don’t exist
Except as a problem
Talk to us, because we know.

There are no Muslims in Bradford
And whatever you do
Don’t talk to them
They might take over
They might convince you
To join them
Even though they’re not here.