Monday 14 December 2015

Shaker Aamer Interview

"Hip-hop hijabis" Poetic Pilgrimage

Independent, Britain’s first Muslim hip-hop duo on 'uniting people' with rap

Post about living alongside a Muslim community

Metro, Gay man's touching blog post about living alongside a Muslim community, 9 Dec 2015 "He has observed some beautiful moments in the daily lives of British Muslims, as well as managing to show that their presence can have a positive influence on a neighbourhood."

Shaker Aamer

Daily Mail, Guantanamo Briton Shaker Aamer reveals 14-year ordeal

A Muslim man has been forced off the Tube for acting 'suspiciously' with an iPad

Independent, A Muslim man has been forced off the Tube for acting 'suspiciously' with an iPad, 10 Dec 2015 "A Muslim Tube passenger has reportedly been forced off a train after a commuter accused him of using an iPad suspiciously."

Ofsted targets ‘growing threat’ of unregistered schools

Guardian, Ofsted targets ‘growing threat’ of unregistered schools "In his latest letter, sent on Friday, Wilshaw said Ofsted teams had discovered three unregistered schools in Birmingham last month where there were serious fire hazards and, on one site, “unhygienic and filthy conditions”. The schools had a “narrow Islamic-focused curriculum”, with evidence of misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic teaching material, Wilshaw said. Staff were not properly checked to work with children."

Friday 30 October 2015

"This Map Shows How Large Europe’s Refugee Crisis Really Is"

takepart.com, This Map Shows How Large Europe’s Refugee Crisis Really Is

Racist Guards and the Myth of Radicalisation

Maya Oppenheim, Vice, Racist Guards and the Myth of Radicalisation: What It's Like Being a Muslim in British Prison  "In case you weren't aware, the number of Muslim prisoners has more than doubled in a decade. To put this into context, one in seven prisoners in the UK is Muslim, whereas just one in 20 of the general population is Muslim. As you'd expect, this increase has led to an onslaught of Daily Mail headlines citing prisons as self-styled hotbeds of radicalism."

Thursday 29 October 2015

The evolution of TV for British Asians, according to Citizen Khan

The evolution of TV for British Asians, according to Citizen Khan - BBC News

Abbey Mills Mosque planning rejected

Guardian, Plans for 9,000-capacity mosque in east London rejected, 29 Oct 2015 "The Department for Communities and Local Government dismissed appeals against the refusal of planning permission for the mosque in Newham, which goes by various names, including the Riverine Centre, the Abbey Mills Mosque, London Markaz and Masjid-e-Ilyas." This was the subject to series o sustained online campaigns (on all sides)

Wednesday 28 October 2015

IS Charges

huffingtonpost.co.uk, Teen Charged With Trying To Join IS 'Watched Beheading Of British Aid Worker Online' "Ednane Mahmood searched for "British man beheaded" on his laptop before downloading a video showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines, alongside fellow captive Alan Henning, kneeling on the ground, Manchester Crown Court was told."

Friday 23 October 2015

'Islamic assemblies' held at 'Trojan Horse' school 'without consultation'

BBC News,'Islamic assemblies' held at 'Trojan Horse' school 'without consultation' "Islamic assemblies were held without consultation at a Birmingham school involved in the "Trojan Horse" affair, a misconduct panel has heard.



"Razwan Faraz, former deputy head teacher at Nansen Primary, also, on one occasion, had girls sitting at the back and boys at the front, it was claimed."

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Father with pram launches racist attack on elderly Turkish man on London bus

Independent, Father with pram launches racist attack on elderly Turkish man on London bus "Police and transport officials are investigating reports of an Islamophobic attack on a London bus after a video emerged appearing to show a father with a pram verbally assaulting an elderly Turkish man."

Simone Joseph admits viral racist bus rant

BBC News, Simone Joseph admits viral racist bus rant, 19 Oct 2015 "A woman has admitted screaming racial abuse at a pregnant Muslim woman after footage was posted online."

Monday 19 October 2015

'Counter-extremism'

BBC News, Counter-extremism: May targets 'all those who spread hate'  "The home secretary has vowed to "systematically confront and challenge extremist ideology" as she detailed new curbs on those who "spread hate"."


Guardian, Government launches hunt for extremists across public sector "A major drive is to be launched against “entryist” infiltration of the public sector, charities and businesses by Islamist and other extremists as a key part of the government’s new counter-extremist strategy."  Muslim Council of Britain, ‘One Nation Counter-Extremism Strategy’ Risks Further Undermining Fight Against Terrorism , 19 Oct 2015

Faith, hope and Call of Duty: 21st century spirituality

referred to in BBC News, Faith, hope and Call of Duty: 21st century spirituality "From the young Muslim YouTubers teaching fashion and beauty to women who must remain modest, to the art of mindful computer gaming and the Jewish students using Google Translate to learn Hebrew - lots of young people are looking online for ways to embrace both their religion and their interests."

Britain First Anti-Mosque Demonstrators Told To Calm Down With Very British Sign

huffingtonpost.co.uk, Britain First Anti-Mosque Demonstrators Told To Calm Down With Very British Sign, 17 Oct 2015

Tuesday 13 October 2015

Thursday 8 October 2015

"What It’s Like to Grow Up as a Closeted Gay Extremist Muslim in East London

Sohail Ahmed, as told to Thomas Hornall, Vice, What It’s Like to Grow Up as a Closeted Gay Extremist Muslim in East London, 8 Oct 2015, "Sohail Ahmed, 23, was raised in a hardline Islamist household in London's East End. He was taught to despise his country of birth, all of Western culture and everyone who wasn't Muslim. Conversely, he was always gay and, at heart, a humanist, struggling for years with the intractable problem of holding the chauvinistic views of radical Islam, which were directly opposed to his nature."

Aberdeen

pressandjournal.co.uk, Aberdeen terrorism accused ‘hates’ those who have ‘hijacked Islam’ "The 29-year-old denies the charges, and told a jury during his evidence that he had downloaded the Al Qaeda propaganda found on his computer for research purposes so he could counter the terrorists’ arguments."

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Derby

Derby Telegraph, Derby women lead way in push to tackle Islamic terrorism "Tazim Fayaz, one of the founders of Tackling Terrorism through Women, said she had been inspired by mums coming to her with fears about their children spending excessive time in their bedrooms on the internet."

Monday 28 September 2015

Friday 11 September 2015

Birmingham: Jail for 'brutal' Islamic school teachers who beat boy, 10

birminghammail.co.uk, Jail for 'brutal' Islamic school teachers who beat boy, 10, 10 Sep 2015 "Two Islamic school teachers who beat a 10-year-old pupil so badly he started losing his hair with worry, have each been jailed for 12 months."

British Muslims are losing the war against ISIL

Sunny Hundal, qz.xom, British Muslims are losing the war against ISIL "When British Muslims who challenge extremism are being shouted down, when secularism is dismissed and joining a caliphate is praised, and when fighting abroad is glorified, it’s not difficult to see why British Muslims are still losing the war against ISIL."

Wednesday 5 August 2015

'Homegrown' cancelled

Guardian, Controversial Isis-related play cancelled two weeks before opening night, 4 Aug 2015 "Creators of Homegrown, about radicalisation of young people, claim to have been given no prior warning and that external pressure was applied for decision."

Anjem Choudary

Guardian, Cleric Anjem Choudary charged with encouraging support for Islamic State "Choudary, 48, and another man, Mohammed Rahman, 31, both facing charges of inviting support for proscribed organisation in lectures published online."

Thursday 16 July 2015

Derby community leader: up to 12 extreme Islamic radicals in our city

Derby Telegraph, Derby community leader: up to 12 extreme Islamic radicals in our city "A LEADING member of Derby's Muslim community says he believes there are up to 12 extreme Islamic radicals in the city who he fears are using the internet to groom young people to go to Syria."

Monday 13 July 2015

Younger generation of British Muslims showing shift in attitude to gender roles

Guardian, Younger generation of British Muslims showing shift in attitude to gender roles "Thinktank report shows majority of 16 to 24-year-old UK Muslims disagree that ‘a husband’s job is to earn money, a wife’s is to look after the home and family’"

Sunday 5 July 2015

Missing UK family 'safer than ever with Islamic State'

Missing UK family 'safer than ever with Islamic State' - BBC News "A UK family of 12 who went missing have joined so-called Islamic State and feel "safer than ever", according to a statement said to be on their behalf."

Monday 29 June 2015

Tunisia attacks

Reports on the 'Islamic State' attacks in Tunisia (and elsewhere) are collected on my other blog: Virtually Islamic

TV: My Jihad, 1. A Bus & A Burka

BBC iPlayer, My Jihad, 1. A Bus & A Burka first in a series, with some good performances and lines (and some potentially controversial issues). The other episodes are on iPlayer (haven't seen them all yet)

Friday 19 June 2015

Michelle Obama in Tower Hamlets

Daily Mail, Michelle Obama inspire hundreds at London school contrasting coverage from the Daily Mail, with Richard Littlejohn's piece on 19th June, Did Michelle Obama not see the irony in delivering a speech on female emancipation to a school full of girls in headscarves in the Islamic Republic of Tower Hamlets? (And is this the face Britain wants to show the world?)

Qari Asim: Why ISIS is a bloody betrayal of Islamic faith

Qari Asim: Yorkshire Post, Why ISIS is a bloody betrayal of Islamic faith  "As an imam in Leeds, just a few miles from Dewsbury, each week at prayers I have the privilege of speaking to young people who are the future of our community. Talking to and inspiring those who will become doctors, teachers, business people and leaders is hugely rewarding – and I know many of them will make a great contribution to society."

Thursday 18 June 2015

Cardiff - student prosecuted

BBC News, Cardiff student pleads guilty to terror charge, 17 June 2015 "Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse QC said in the weeks following the demonstration, Choudhury accessed websites about travelling to Syria and another one that was entitled "10 reasons to join ISIS"."

Exposure - Jihad - A British Story

itv.com, Exposure - Jihad - A British Story "A personal investigation by Deeyah Khan into the roots of Islamic radicalism in Britain, including interviews with former extremists who embraced hatred and fought jihad." Attracting mixed reviews; I haven't seen it yet, so cannot comment.

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Forced marriage jail first as Cardiff man sentenced

Forced marriage jail first as Cardiff man sentenced - BBC News "The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was jailed for 16 years after admitting making a 25-year-old woman marry him under duress last year."

Schools monitoring pupils' web use with 'anti-radicalisation software'

Guardian, Schools monitoring pupils' web use with 'anti-radicalisation software' "Software flags up trigger words and phrases such as ‘jihadi bride’, ‘jihobbyist’ and ‘you only die once’"

Thursday 4 June 2015

The story of an elderly Jewish lady and her Muslim neighbours that will warm your heart

Independent, The story of an elderly Jewish lady and her Muslim neighbours that will warm your heart

'Young, British and Imam-in-Training'

Young, British and Imam-in-Training - BBC Radio 4 "Almost half of Britain's Muslim population is under 25 and born in Britain. Yet many of the country's imams are foreign-born and elderly, leading to claims that they can be out of touch with their communities." BBC Radio 4 programme, broadcast on 25 May 2015.

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Muslim activists denounce Mak Chishty’s call to monitor Muslim children

5pillarsuk.com, Muslim activists denounce Mak Chishty’s call to monitor Muslim children

Non-violent extremism: some questions about laws and limits

Non-violent extremism: some questions about laws and limits - Robert Gleave and Lawrence McNamara "Sajid Javid’s reported objections to the Government’s pre-election proposals on countering extremist ideas uncover just how controversial the new laws will be. He had objected, it seems, to a mooted expansion of Ofcom’s powers to take pre-emptive action to prevent the broadcast of programmes with ‘extremist content’ before they are transmitted."

Monday 18 May 2015

Contextualizing Islam in Europe and North America

brookings.edu, Contextualizing Islam in Europe and North America: Challenges and Opportunities "The Working Group “Muslim Communities in Europe & North America: A Transatlantic Dialogue on Contextualized Religion” convened scholars, civil society actors, and community leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss the nature and significance of key challenges in achieving a contextualized understanding of their religion that is suited to the unique circumstances, challenges, and opportunities that face religious minorities in contemporary Western societies." I have yet to read the findings of this report, which is available in English and Arabic.

Thursday 14 May 2015

Three British teenage Jihadi brides are now on the run from Isis

Daily Mail, Three British teenage Jihadi brides are now on the run from Isis "Home Secretary Theresa May has suggested three British schoolgirls believed to have escaped the clutches of ISIS may not be allowed back into the UK even if they manage to return."

Thursday 26 March 2015

The Britons signing up for Jihad

Dominic Casciani, BBC News, The Britons signing up for Jihad "BBC News has been tracking the story of these men and women - and boys and girls - for the past few months in an attempt to map the scale of the jihad in Syria and Iraq."

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Theresa May set to urge UK's Muslims to help fight extremism

Guardian, Theresa May set to urge UK's Muslims to help fight extremism "The Home secretary will say the freedoms on offer in the UK come with “responsibilities” to respect the way others live, democracy, equality and the rules of law."

Thursday 19 March 2015

Hip hop hijabis

Mail Online, Hip hop hijabis: Meet the Muslim women who rap in headscarves Also see:

Anti-Muslim prejudice is real, and it’s scary

Matthew Parris, The Spectator, Anti-Muslim prejudice is real, and it’s scary "Something dangerous is brewing beneath the surface in our country, and it worries me that warning lights are not flashing in the minds of many of those I respect most. After the discrediting of anti-Semitism, after the discrediting of discrimination against black people, after the discrediting of prejudice towards the Irish, I hadn’t expected to live to see a powerful generalised antipathy against any race or religion gather popular force here without stirring at least the more liberal of my fellow citizens into resistance. I expected a sense of alarm. There is none."  opinion piece

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Families of schoolgirls who joined ISIS in Syria appear before MPs 

Daily Mail, Families of schoolgirls who joined ISIS in Syria appear before MPs 

Leading Welsh Muslim tells how villagers called police when he planned a visit

Wales Online, Leading Welsh Muslim tells how villagers called police when he planned a visit "A leading Welsh Muslim has told how locals made a call to the police when they heard he was to give a talk at a meeting at their village hall.



"Saleem Kidwai, secretary general of the Muslim Council For Wales, was invited to speak to the community of Tregroes in Ceredigion but said the people he met afterwards told him the police had been informed he would be attending."

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Halal Slaughterhouse Animal Welfare Issues

Huffington Post, Sick Halal Slaughterhouse Men Caught Kicking And Abusing Terrified Animals "The Muslim Council of Britain said it is appalled at reports of animal mistreatment at an abattoir purportedly following the principles of halal methods of slaughter. A spokesman said: "Animal cruelty is wrong and criminal wherever it may occur. That it is being carried out in halal slaughter makes it even more incredulous. Animal welfare should be observed by all slaughterhouses.



"The findings certainly are abhorrent in Islamic practice, and the abattoir must be subject to the full force of the law. In the past, Animal Aid has reported on similar abuses taking place at non-religious UK slaughterhouses. There are urgent questions this case raises: since each abattoir is under veterinarian supervision, how were these practices overlooked? We call on the Food Standards Agency to look into this abuse and the flagrant disregard of the very principles of humane slaughter as a matter of urgency.



"These revelations will undermine Muslim consumer trust. It is now of paramount importance, as the Muslim Council of Britain has said repeatedly in the past, to work towards a national set of agreed standards and accreditation in halal methods of slaughter that abides by established Islamic precepts.



"We also believe, to increase trust for the consumers, that the use of CCTV cameras in abattoirs should be seriously considered."

Monday 2 February 2015

Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman is turned away from mosque

Mail Online, Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman is turned away from mosque "A spokesman for the South London Islamic Centre apologised for the incident and vowed to review their procedures.



"Visit My Mosque Day, organised by The Muslim Council of Britain, is a nationwide event, where a number of mosques across the country are opening their doors to the general public."

Bradford Jewish-Muslim Relations

thetelegraphandargus.co.uk, City's synagogue council appoints first Muslim member as 'strikingly close' relations between two faiths deepen further " A spokesman for the synagogue in Bowland Street, Manningham, said the addition of Mr Rashid to the council marked another chapter in the "strikingly close relationship" between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Bradford.

"In 2013, community groups, including Bradford Council for Mosques, rallied together to save the Grade II-listed building - an example of Moorish Victorian architecture dating back to 1880 - when dwindling funds put its future in danger."

Thursday 29 January 2015

Diary of a Badman

BBC, Trying to prevent radicalisation with humour "In an unlikely partnership, counter-terrorism police have teamed up with a Muslim comedian in an attempt to prevent British teenagers being radicalised by extremists."

Monday 19 January 2015

PM Cameron defends letter to mosques

BBC News, PM Cameron defends letter to mosques "David Cameron has defended a letter urging senior Muslims to explain how Islam "can be part of British identity", amid criticism from leaders."

Monday 12 January 2015

Far too many Western Muslims speak of freedom as a sin

Yasmin Alibhai Brown, Independent, Far too many Western Muslims speak of freedom as a sin, 11 Jan 2015

The Battle for British Islam

The Battle for British Islam, Panorama - BBC One



This is on tonight. Let's hope they get the balance right:



"As France tries to come to terms with the deaths of the 12
people murdered in the Islamist attack at the office of Charlie Hebdo
magazine in Paris, Panorama investigates the battle for the hearts and
minds of British
Muslims. John Ware hears from Muslims facing an angry backlash for
trying to promote a form of Islam which is in synch with British values.
They believe that the way Islam has been practised here has more in
common with extremist ideologies than some police officers, politicians
or Muslim leaders have been prepared to admit."





#FoxNewsFacts

Independent, Twitter responds to Fox News’ Muslim Birmingham claims in the most British way possible "Talk about poking a tiger. Steve Emerson, a so-called ‘terrorism expert’, got slightly more publicity than he intended after claiming on Fox News that Birmingham was “totally Muslim” and a “no-go zone” for non-Muslims."

Also see the wonderful responses in:

Huffington Post, Fox News Commentator Just Claimed Birmingham Is A Muslim-Only City #FoxNewsFacts

Express, Fox News terror expert forced to apologise after claiming Birmingham is 'totally Muslim'  

Guardian,  Fox News expert ridiculed over Birmingham is ‘totally Muslim city' claims