A 'Punk Iftaar' Is Making Space For Muslim & South Asian Identity In Hardcore Punk

The intersection of Ramadan and hardcore punk might seem unlikely to some, but for the Infilaat Collective, it's about claiming space and community. In Urdu, “infilaat” means a state of slackness or looseness where discipline, morals, or social and political order have broken down, leading to decay or degeneration in society.

The Infilaat Collective describes itself as a politicized community committed to rebuilding punk as a space for “action, education, and genuine inclusivity." Their mission goes beyond booking shows, as they organise workshops on democratic rights, create political zines, and support liberation struggles from Palestine to Sudan. It's punk as praxis.

The collective has announced a ‘Punk Iftar’ on 21 February, ahead of London hardcore band King Street’s 'Parting Shots' EP release show. Attendees are invited to share “dates and pizza” whether fasting or not, while the event flyer nods to Ramadan nostalgia by using imagery from vintage Rooh Afza ads.

King Street is one of the few UK hardcore bands with more Asians than white members in their lineup. Named after a culturally diverse area of London with significant Pakistani and Indian communities, the band views their presence on stage as inherently political. Their latest 'Parting Shots' EP showcases some meaty guitar tones and relentless energy that define hardcore, while making space for voices often marginalised in the scene.

Similarly, London band Mashaal's demo EP directly addresses the immigrant experience through a hardcore lens. With song titles like 'I.M.M.I.G.R.A.N.T.' and 'Where Are You From', and the inclusion of Urdu/Hindustani samples and spoken word, they're creating music for "anyone who always felt out of place in whatever space they're in". The production is crisp, the lyrics unflinching in their brilliant examination of alienation and discrimination faced by diaspora South Asians and Muslims.

Of course, over the decades, hardcore has influenced everything from metal (thrash) to grunge and we've also seen some great bands emerging from South Asia and the diasporas.

Since its origins in the late 1970s as a reaction against both the established music industry and the “mellowing” of punk into new wave, hardcore punk and many of its offshoots have been inherently political. As Steven Blush documented in American Hardcore, the scene emerged from the frustration and political disillusionment of youth rejecting Reagan-era affluence and consumerism. Today, that confrontational spirit lives on through bands like King Street, Mashaal, and the broader South Asian hardcore movement.

For Malik from Infilaat Collective, this first-time event represents something bigger. "We've had people messaging us saying that they are fasting in solidarity,” he says. “It’s a really nice opportunity for us to get to know everyone. Talk to people and get to know the community better.”

The timing of Punk Iftaar during Ramadan is significant. By centering underrepresented identities within a historically white-dominated scene, the event challenges assumptions about who belongs in hardcore. It also breaks monolithic ideas about South Asian and Muslim identity. A reminder that punk's DIY ethics and anti-establishment politics resonate across cultures.

The hardcore scene has also actively evolved to push out racist, bigoted, and fascist elements while working to create a safe space for all. The mosh pit becomes a place to release angst about the cost of living crisis, Brexit, and the rise of the far-right, while simultaneously building solidarity and community.

Nadia of Infilaat Collective, a Pakistani queer person born and raised in the UAE who moved to London six years ago as a student, explains that the idea for the Punk Iftar was catalyzed when Riz from Unite Asia (guitarist of King Street and Mashaal), suggested getting together for food before the show. For her, the Punk Iftaar is about bringing people together and getting to know the POC hardcore community outside the confines of shows.

“We are not interested in empty representation”, she says. Because of her background, she points out that she doesn’t have the same security at demonstrations as many of her peers. "We don’t want to be the collective where we put on shows and that’s it. We want a sense of community, we want to bring people together, we want to encourage people to take action, and we want to create a safe space."

The Punk Iftaar takes place on February 21st at 5 PM at New River Studios, London ahead of King Street's 'Parting Shots' EP release show at 6 PM. The lineup also includes the bands Warden, Mashaal, Bullet, and Make Way.

If you enjoyed reading this, here’s more from Homegrown:

Beedi Wars: How The Humble Beedi Sparked Decades Of Bloody Conflict In Kerala & Karnataka

Documentary 'The World Before Her' Confronts The Illusion Of Choice In Women’s Lives

Abbey 301: How A 200-Year-Old Chapel In Khandala Found Its Artistic Voice