World: Man who has lived around the world says the UK is the least friendly towards immigrants

A man who has lived across several continents says the United Kingdom is the least friendly country for immigrants, a claim that has sparked online debate. Ryan Zen, a corporate lawyer who has spent about 18 years living in northwest England, says his personal experience suggests integration is harder in the UK than in other countries.

Zen has lived in India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore, and he argues the UK presents the toughest environment for newcomers. He arrived in 2007 during a boom year when there was a demand for qualified lawyers; recruited from India via video interviews, he says the boom gave way to what he describes as a difficult period as the economy shifted.

Zen says that despite years in the UK he has not formed many white friendships and that attempts to be friendly were not reciprocated. He notes that outsiders are often blamed for not integrating and recalls telling his teenage daughter to expect some skepticism from others, even though she was born in the UK and is a British citizen.

He contends that racism in the UK tends to extend to outsiders broadly, with Muslims used as a scapegoat by some media and members of the public. He argues that stereotypes lead to the assumption that brown people are Muslims and potential terrorists, a perception he says fuels hostility and is framed as acts of patriotism by some who see themselves as defending the country.

Reaction online was mixed. Some readers agreed with his assessment or shared experiences of difficulty, while others defended the UK as a welcoming place. Comments ranged from reports of friendship found in Leeds to assertions that English people can be kind and caring, albeit more reserved.

Others said they were planning to move abroad, underscoring that experiences vary by region and community. The piece, republished in part from a Daily Mail travel feature by Erin Deborah Waks, highlights how attitudes toward immigrants differ across locales and among individuals.

Analysts and readers alike caution against drawing broad conclusions from a single account, noting that experiences of integration are diverse and that the UK remains a country where attitudes toward immigrants differ widely by city and community. Experts emphasize that language, support networks and local context significantly shape immigrant experiences, and that the broader debate over immigration and integration continues across society.