A group of Muslim women from Bradford, including prominent local leader Bana Gora, were caught in the terrifying escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict last week while on a peace visit to Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem and they say they were left with no meaningful help from British authorities in their time of greatest need.
The women, part of a peace delegation organised by the Muslim Women’s Council (MWC), travelled to one of the holiest and most politically sensitive sites in the world, never imagining they would become trapped under the shadow of sirens, missiles, and war.
Now safely in Jordan but still battling flight cancellations and fear, the women say they feel traumatised and abandoned.
Bana Gora, CEO of the Muslim Women’s Council, shared a video message from Jordan where she described the “harrowing” journey the group had endured, crossing borders, missing sleep, and witnessing violence just metres away.
“We never expected that we were walking into a war zone,” she said. “We’ve suffered a great deal of trauma. We just want people to see what we’ve gone through and hope no one else has to.”
But the sharpest sting for the women came not only from the conflict itself, but from the silence they faced when they asked for help. Gora stated clearly in her message: “We are so disappointed, we can’t express how disappointed we are. We haven’t had safe passage, we haven’t been evacuated… no flights, no nothing.”
Despite repeated appeals for assistance, Gora says the group received “zero” meaningful support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Local MPs including Imran Hussain, Naz Shah and Judith Cummins were praised for doing what they could, but their efforts reportedly led to no action on the ground.
In one particularly powerful moment, Gora questioned whether race and religion had played a part in the lack of response from the UK government. “If this was a group of white British citizens, would the response have been the same?” she asked. “We feel like we’ve been ignored because we’re Muslim women, because we’re people of colour.”
Cllr Ishtiaq Ahmed (Bradford Independents, Heaton) called the lack of intervention “a betrayal of their rights as British citizens.”
“This is unimaginable,” he said. “To be left to fend for themselves in an active war zone is not something we should accept. The government must be held accountable.”
When contacted by Asian Standard, the office of MP Imran Hussain confirmed they are not providing a comment at this time.
Asian Standard are currently awaiting a statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and remain on hold with their press team.
Update: A spokesperson for the FCDO later provided the following statement:
“This is a distressing time for British nationals in the region, their safety and security is our top priority. The Foreign Office is working around the clock to respond to the crisis and support British nationals affected. We have launched ‘register your presence’ so that we can share important information on the situation and leaving the country, and we are sending specialist teams to Egypt and Jordan to bolster our presence near the border, which has already been supporting British Nationals on the ground.”
“This is a fast-moving situation that has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning. That is why we are encouraging British nationals to register their presence and pay close attention to travel advice.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed this message on social media, writing:
“The safety and security of British nationals is my top priority. We are asking all British Nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to Register their Presence with the FCDO so that we can continue to share Travel Advice updates.”
Asian Standard have also reached out directly to members of the delegation for a first-hand account of what they experienced.
As of now, the group remains stranded in Jordan, with flights frequently delayed or cancelled. The emotional toll is clear. “We didn’t sleep. We didn’t eat properly. We cried, we prayed, we tried to stay strong,” said one member in a voice note shared with community supporters online.
The Muslim Women’s Council is known for its tireless work in promoting peace, unity, and women’s empowerment across the UK. Their visit to Masjid Al-Aqsa was intended to build bridges and bring back a message of solidarity. Instead, they return with stories of fear, frustration, and abandonment.
As pressure mounts on the UK government to answer why these women were not helped sooner, the community in Bradford is rallying around them demanding not just answers, but accountability.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more responses are received from the FCDO and members of the delegation.
