Monday 26 December 2016

British Asians 'struggle for top jobs despite better school results'

Guardian, British Asians 'struggle for top jobs despite better school results', 27 Dec 2016 "Social Mobility Commission study says group’s lower likelihood of being employed in managerial or professional jobs is down to workplace discrimination" The Social Mobility Commission report Ethnicity, gender and social mobility is available as a pdf here

Monday 19 December 2016

'Crusader' hate graffiti daubed on Scottish mosque

heraldscotland.com, 'Crusader' hate graffiti daubed on Scottish mosque "The graffiti was seemingly inspired by the Crusades, with the words "Saracen go home" and "Deus Vult", a rallying cry for Crusader knights meaning 'God Willing', spray-painted on the walls of the mosque in Cumbernauld. Officers are treating the incident as a hate crime."

Tuesday 13 December 2016

#MuslimsLikeUs

BBC, Muslims Like Us, 12-13 Dec 2016

The first episode aired last night. An interesting programme, dominated (inevitably?) by Abdul Haq and his leaflets. Go beneath the surface, and some important issues and dialogues emerge - even within the 'reality' format.  Here are some comments and opinions (not necessarily my own); I've also been tweeting on this.

Mail Online, ISIS supporter on BBC show 'has important voice' insists TV boss: Production chief defends decision to include him despite his 'incredibly offensive' comments

Evening Standard, Muslims Like Us viewers slam ‘prejudiced’ Abdul Haqq and praise Mehreen in BBC2 reality show, 13 Dec 2016 

Telegraph, Muslims Like Us is a wake-up call for Islamophobes everywhere

Metro, Viewers praise ‘genuinely excellent’ BBC Two documentary Muslims Like Us

Episode 2 airs tonight (13th December 2016) - and is available on iPlayer.

Friday 9 December 2016

‘Unsettled Belonging – A Survey of Britain’s Muslim Communities’

Independent, This week a report which gathered data on what British Muslims really think was released – and the results were surprising, 4 Dec 2016 [by Saeida Rouass, Project Manager at the Quilliam Foundation], 4 Dec 2016 "Today, a report was quietly released by the Policy Exchange that examined exactly what Muslims living in Britain really think about the country and its people. Its title was ‘Unsettled Belonging – A Survey of Britain’s Muslim Communities’, and it confirmed what many British Muslims have been saying for a long time: “We are just like everyone else, with similar concerns, aspirations, hopes and fears.”

Report link here:

Martyn Frampton, David Goodhart and Khalid Mahmood MP, Unsettled Belonging: A survey of Britain’s Muslim communities (Policy Exchange)  I have yet to read this report. 

Sunday 4 December 2016

'Muslims Like Us' TV programme

Guardian, Islamist, gay man, teacher: TV housemates bid to show the diversity of British Muslims, 4 Dec 2016 "Filmed over nine days, the two-part documentary will be broadcast next week. The BBC describes it as a “social experiment” looking at the diversity of the Muslim experience in Britain."

Friday 2 December 2016

'Extremist' is the patron of a Muslim school in Leicester

Daily Mail, 'Extremist' is the patron of a Muslim school in Leicester "The school is one of six that operate out of the Jame'ah Uloomul Qur'an institution, in east Leicester. It is the only one that provides full-time education – between 8am and 2.30pm, Monday to Friday."

Monday 24 October 2016

Radicalisation issue

Sky News, Teenage Tube alert suspect Damon Smith 'in love with IS' "Friends say the poker-loving teen was enamoured with Islamic State and watched videos of executions that the group posted online."

Thursday 20 October 2016

Birmingham’s Muslims

Chris Allen, Birmingham’s Muslims: A City Of Challenges And Opportunities, 20 Oct 2016 " "Perceptions of Birmingham can be oppositional when it comes to Muslims and Islam. On the one hand, Birmingham has been somewhat infamously referred to by a Fox News ‘expert’ as a place that is “totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don’t go”. On the other, it is the “best place in Europe to be pure Muslim”.

C4 presenter issue

Guardian, Channel 4 presenter says hijab ruling means it's 'open season' on Muslims

Monday 3 October 2016

'Exposure' documentary

Independent, Islamic communities contain 'tsunamis of atheism' that are being suppressed, says leading ex-Muslim "Speaking ahead of the release of Exposure, an ITV documentary that explores the lives of ex-Muslims faced with abuse and discrimination, Ms Namazie told The Independent: “There is a large group of people who are not seen and heard. Many young people living in Britain have left Islam and are facing huge ostracisation and isolation from their communities as a result." I haven't seen the programme or data on this.

Tuesday 20 September 2016

Wednesday 7 September 2016

British Florist's Picture Used In IS Magazine

Sky News, British Florist's Picture Used In IS Magazine "A florist has described his shock after being featured in an Islamic State propaganda magazine which calls on jihadis to "strike terror into the heart of disbelievers"."

Wednesday 24 August 2016

Hijab approved as uniform option by Scotland Police 

Telegraph, Hijab approved as uniform option by Scotland Police, 24 Aug 2016 "The hijab has become an optional part of the Police Scotland uniform as the force works to encourage Muslim women to join the service."

Abdullah Quilliam

BBC iPlayer, 'Ripper Street'

As I'm sure others have observed, there were references to Abdullah Quilliam and 'The Crescent' in last night's episode of 'Ripper Street' - including Inspector Drake reading the newspaper.

Thursday 18 August 2016

Going undercover against extremism

BBC News, Going undercover against extremism, 18 Aug 2016 "A long-running undercover police operation in the Bedfordshire town of Luton, which has contributed evidence to two recent counter-terrorism trials, helped build up an incredibly detailed picture of the depths of loathing for Britain felt by the men at the heart of the investigation."

Friday 29 July 2016

Birmingham 'street preacher' case (ongoing)

MailOnline, Islamic street preacher, 31, arrested after screaming abuse at officer "An Islamic street preacher has been arrested and charged after allegedly screaming abuse at a woman for wearing 'tight jeans' and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' in a police officer's face."


Amina al-Jeffery case (ongoing)

Press Association/Guardian, Man who 'imprisoned' daughter loses legal bid to restrict media, 29 Jul 2016 "Amina al-Jeffery – who grew up in Swansea and has dual British and Saudi nationality – said her father, Mohammed, locked her up because she “kissed a guy”."

Friday 1 July 2016

Pakistani clerics declare transgender marriages legal in Islam

Telegraph, Pakistani clerics declare transgender marriages legal in Islam, 27 June 2016

Chakrabarti Inquiry

Keith Kahn-Harris, Guardian, CIF, This antisemitism report deserves Labour’s calm, close attention. No chance opinion piece: "It’s a measure of how intense the last week has been that the antisemitism controversy that engulfed the Labour party in the spring seems a long time ago. Thursday’s publication of Shami Chakrabarti’s inquiry into antisemitism in the party seems in some ways to be a jarring voice from the past. Inevitably though, given the civil war in the party, some will try to use the report as a tool in this conflict." A copy of the report is here. Details of the press conference here: Standard Labour MP Ruth Smeeth storms out of anti-Semitism report launch 'in tears'

Tell MAMA Report

Guardian, Incidents of anti-Muslim abuse up by 326% in 2015, says Tell MAMA, 29 June 2016 "“The statistics paint a profoundly bleak picture of the explosion of anti-Muslim hate both online and on our streets, with visible Muslim women being disproportionately targeted by cowardly hatemongers,” said Shahid Malik, chair of Tell MAMA." Also see the Report, which is here [pdf] Also follow Tell MAMA on Twitter

Wednesday 29 June 2016

Halal butchers firebombed with Molotov cocktail

Independent, Halal butchers firebombed with Molotov cocktail, 28 June 2016 "Kashmir Meat & Poultry in Wednesbury Road, Walsall, West Midlands, was left badly damaged after the man threw a lit bottle of "accelerant" at a staff member around 5.25pm on Monday."

Wednesday 22 June 2016

BBC announces plans for reality show following Muslims living together

Standard, BBC announces plans for reality show following Muslims living together "Muslims Like Us will invite 10 members of the public including Sunni, Shia and those who have recently converted to the faith, to live in a house."

Tuesday 21 June 2016

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi defects from Leave to Remain

Independent, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi defects from Leave to Remain "Former Conservative Party chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has defected from the Leave campaign and opted for Britain to remain within the EU.

"She cited "hate and xenophobia" as the reasons for changing her position."

New and Noted: Constructing “British Values” Within a Radicalisation Narrative

Elizabeth Poole, Constructing “British Values” Within a Radicalisation Narrative, Journalism Studies, "This article examines the reporting of the “Operation Trojan Horse” affair in two British newspapers, the Daily Mail and The Guardian, in 2014. I argue that this high-profile case was a vehicle for the Conservative-led Government, and parts of the United Kingdom’s press, to advance their doctrine of muscular liberalism, an ideology that locates the rise of extremism in the policies of multiculturalism. In this interpretation of the event, it was argued that, under a Labour council, schools in Birmingham had been given the freedom to practise a segregationist agenda, resulting in an infiltration of Islamist ideology. Through a radicalisation narrative, that locates the causes of terrorism with extremist thought, an issue of local governance and agency was transformed into an argument about terrorist radicalisation. This allowed Government agencies to intervene, at a local and national level, promoting an assimilationist agenda through conceptualisations of national identity, here constructed as “British values”."

Jo Cox was working on report on anti-Muslim attacks before her death

Guardian, Jo Cox was working on report on anti-Muslim attacks before her death, 20 June 2016 "She was planning to address parliament later this month to introduce a report she had been working on with the Islamophobia watchdog Tell Mama (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks), the group’s director said. The study is expected to conclude that there were about 80% more attacks on Muslims in Britain in 2015 than the year before."

Key facts about the world’s refugees

Pew Research, Key facts about the world’s refugees "The United Nations adopted a resolution in 2000 marking June 20 as World Refugee Day. With the number of displaced people at a record 65.3 million in 2015 – a total that counts both those living inside and outside of their home countries – World Refugee Day has gained new prominence as countries, including the U.S., have taken in large numbers of people."

Friday 17 June 2016

'Bradford comes of age'

Akbar Ahmed, thefridaytimes.com, Bradford comes of age, 17 June 2016 "For several decades, the image of the Muslim community of Bradford, and the region around it, has been depicted in the media as that of angry-looking, white-bearded Pakistani men dressed in shalwar-kameez demanding the death of Salman Rushdie. Today, however, it is that of educated, intelligent smart women – also with a Pakistani background."

Friday 27 May 2016

Women are the first to pay the price of Islamophobia

European Network against Racism, Women are the first to pay the price of Islamophobia



"Muslim women experience the same inequalities as other women in
employment and in relation to verbal and physical violence, but they are
compounded by additional factors of (perceived) religion and/or
ethnicity. However, very little is done to collect comprehensive data
and tackle this intersectional form of racism. This is the conclusion of
the European Network Against Racism’s new report “Forgotten Women: the impact of Islamophobia on Muslim Women”, covering eight European countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom."

Wednesday 25 May 2016

'Britain First announce 'direct action' against elected Muslim politicians' such as Sadiq Khan

Metro, Britain First announce 'direct action' against elected Muslim politicians such as Sadiq Khan, 24 May 2016 "Their call to action described Muslims in positions of authority as ‘occupiers’ and urged people to ‘focus on all aspects of their day-to-day lives and official functions, including where they live, work, pray and so on.’



"It appears to be a genuine document and has been widely shared online, but the group has not yet responded to Metro’s request for confirmation."

UK attitudes towards Islam 'concerning' after survey of 2,000 people

BBC, Newsbeat, UK attitudes towards Islam 'concerning' after survey of 2,000 people "Just over two thousand British adults were questioned online by ComRes for the charity Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association." Not sure how the survey was constructed...

Thursday 12 May 2016

Gani sues Fallon

Guardian, Suliman Gani sues Michael Fallon over claim he backed Isis, 11 May 2016 "Defence secretary is facing legal action after saying, during London mayoral race, that Muslim cleric supported Islamic State."

Wednesday 11 May 2016

'ISIS cell' prosecution in UK

Evening Standard, Isis-inspired Muslims 'plotted to behead British citizens after fatwa issued', 10 May 2016 "The alleged terror cell shared gruesome pictures of beheadings they had downloaded from the internet as well as images of the killers of Drummer Lee Rigby, the Old Bailey heard."

Thursday 5 May 2016

IS phone scam

BBC News, Gang jailed over pensioner phone scam, 4 May 2016 "Eight men from London have been jailed for a phone scam that defrauded UK pensioners out of more than £1m.

"Police say some of the money funded travel from the UK to Syria. There are fears some of those who travelled had links to so-called Islamic State."

IS Files: The Families UK Jihadis Left Behind

Mark White, Sky News, IS Files: The Families UK Jihadis Left Behind, 4 May 2016 "Sky News knocks on the doors of addresses in the documents and finds relatives of British recruits are confused by their leaving." Report + videos

Wednesday 4 May 2016

Imam accused of being an ‘Isis supporter’ demands apology from David Cameron

Independent, Imam accused of being an ‘Isis supporter’ demands apology from David Cameron " Imam Suliman Gani demanded 'a serious, immediate apology' from the Prime Minister"

Revealed: UK's covert propaganda bid to stop Muslims joining Isis

Guardian, Revealed: UK's covert propaganda bid to stop Muslims joining Isis, 2 May 2016 "In a sign of mounting anxiety across Whitehall over the persuasiveness of Islamic State’s online propaganda, a secretive Home Office unit has developed a discreet multimillion pound counter-messaging operation that it says privately is running at “industrial pace and scale”."

Altab Ali: The racist murder that mobilised the East End

BBC News, Altab Ali: The racist murder that mobilised the East End, 4 May 2016 "On the 4th May 1978, a young Bangladeshi textile worker was murdered in east London. It was a racially motivated killing - not unique at the time - but one that awoke a community. Now locals are dedicating a day in memory of Altab Ali." Also see Altab Ali Foundation

Friday 15 April 2016

'Citizen Khan'

BBC News, BBC sitcom Citizen Khan 'Islamophobic', says MP, 14 Apr 2016 "A BBC sitcom has been criticised as "Islamophobic" during a Commons debate about whether the BBC's programmes and staff reflect UK diversity."

Counter-terrorism drive

Guardian, Counter-terrorism drive for public to report online Isis propaganda, 15 Apr 2016 "British counter-terrorism officials are launching a campaign to try to drive back Islamic State’s efforts to use the internet to foster extremism. Isis has turned the internet into a frontline of its jihad, using it to spread propaganda to gain recruits and embolden its supporters. However, 300 items a day are being taken down by a special police unit."

Thursday 14 April 2016

#towerlives - focus on Butetown

BBC Wales, #towerlives: Butetown's festival of storytelling - links through to several interesting videos, interviews and discussions relating to Butetown. Also see #TowerLives on Twitter "#towerlives is a week-long festival of storytelling and music, on air and on the ground, around the council estate tower blocks of Butetown in Cardiff." also see the photos here Recommended!!

'Drama in the age of Prevent'

Guardian, Drama in the age of Prevent: why can't we move beyond Good Muslim v Bad Muslim?

'What British Muslims really think about Channel 4's show'

Guardian, What British Muslims really think about Channel 4's show, 14 Apr 2016 "We asked British Muslims to review Channel 4’s show: What British Muslims Really Think. Here’s what they said." Some excellent comments here. They should be read by anyone planning to research/write about Muslims in the UK.

Wednesday 13 April 2016

So, What Do British Muslims Really Think?

Kenan Malik, Pandamonium, So, What Do British Muslims Really Think?
opinion and analysis

The Deobandis, Episode 2

BBC Radio 4, The Deobandis, Episode 2 "In part two of The Deobandis, the BBC's former Pakistan correspondent Owen Bennett Jones reveals a secret history of Jihadist propagation in Britain."

#WhatBritishMuslimsReallyThink

BBC News, What some Muslims think of 'what British Muslims really think', 11 Apr 2016 "What do British Muslims really think? It's a question that news organisations have repeatedly tried to answer since the terror attacks of 9/11 and 7/7, and one that suggests that maybe the person asking isn't a British Muslim." Also see Channel 4, What British Muslims Really Think

'Kill Ahmadis' leaflets found in UK mosque

BBC News, 'Kill Ahmadis' leaflets found in UK mosque, 10 Apr 2016 "Leaflets calling for the killing of a sect of Muslims have been found in a south London mosque."

Wednesday 6 April 2016

Anti-Radicalization Website Controversy

Vice News, Exclusive: UK Did Not Consult Any Muslim Organizations About Flagship Anti-Radicalization Website "A Freedom of Information (FOI) response shows that the government consulted 29 organizations including government departments, faith-based groups, various teaching associations, and charities over the content of the Educate Against Hate website — but none representing Britain's Muslim community."

'Life as a Muslim schoolgirl in Manchester'

Manchester Evening News, Feminism, the Kardashians and being dissed on the tram - life as a Muslim schoolgirl in Manchester 


 

"It’s an attitude that seems to pervade at Manchester Islamic High School for Girls.

"They might all wear head scarves and pray five times a day - but one label they can’t stand is oppression."

ISIS UK Threat video

Independent, Isis supporters threaten UK with terror attacks in new propaganda video, 4 Apr 2016

Women and discrimination

The Conversation, Hard Evidence: Muslim women and discrimination in Britain

Masood Azhar

BBC News, Masood Azhar: The man who brought jihad to Britain "Masood Azhar, today the head of one of Pakistan's most violent militant groups, was once the VIP guest of Britain's leading Islamic scholars. Why, asks Innes Bowen."

'The Deobandis'

BBC Radio 4, The Deobandis "The BBC's former Pakistan correspondent Owen Bennett Jones investigates which strands of Deobandi opinion have influence in the UK, speaking to people from within the British Deobandi community, from scholars to missionaries to madrassa students.

"In the first of two programmes he explores claims that Deobandi Islam is intentionally isolationist and that its strict beliefs put it at odds with mainstream British culture, leaving the community segregated from wider British society. Though if true, is that really the fault of Deobandi Muslims?"

This is worth a listen, with some interesting points on religious authority, gender and education.

Reading List: Sufis, Salafis and Islamists

Sadek Hamid, Sufis, Salafis and Islamists: The Contested Ground of British Islamic Activism (IB Tauris) "British Muslim activism has evolved constantly in recent decades. What have been its main groups and how do their leaders compete to attract followers? Which social and religious ideas from abroad are most influential?"

Muslim Women’s Guide to Mosque Governance, Management and Service Delivery

Faith Associates, Muslim Women’s Guide to Mosque Governance, Management and Service Delivery

Butlin's

Mirror, Watch Butlin's 'race hate' wrestling show as families asked to cheer Union Jack-clad 'good guy' fighting flag-waving Muslim "Butlin's has apologised after families were asked to boo bearded baddie 'Hakim' and chant "En-ger-land" at opponent Tony Spitfire wearing Union Jack shorts"

Thursday 31 March 2016

Police probe Scottish mosque figures' links to banned sectarian group

BBC News, Police probe Scottish mosque figures' links to banned sectarian group "A BBC investigation has found that Sabir Ali, head of religious events at Glasgow Central Mosque, was president of Sipah-e-Sahaba (SSP)."

Tuesday 22 March 2016

Saturday 19 March 2016

This Orient Isle: Elizabethan England and the Islamic World

Independent, This Orient Isle: Elizabethan England and the Islamic World by Jerry Brotton, book review "With Henry VIII's break with Rome and then (in 1570) Elizabeth's excommunication as a "heretic" by Pope Pius V, England found itself shunned as a rogue state by Catholic Europe. It needed friends with clout in strategic locations. Around the Mediterranean and the Middle East, only the lands of Islam could supply them. Thus the stage was set for an extraordinary half-century of adventures, deals, conspiracies and misunderstandings: a little-known story that Brotton chronicles with scholarship, assurance, and not a little charm."

Wednesday 9 March 2016

The British Islam Conference 2016

The British Islam Conference 2016 "This is a weekend event to promote collaboration and thinking around the idea of a British Islam and to encourage the development of British Muslim thought, identity and culture; to create a space for development of networks and partnerships."

Wednesday 2 March 2016

Shah Jahan in Salt Lake City

getsurrey.co.uk, Salt Lake City mosque to be based on Woking's Shah Jahan "Principal architect Kimly C Mangum said it was an Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake director who had his eye on the Shah Jahan."

Monday 22 February 2016

Rochdale: Imam murder - update

Guardian, Imam murder: police arrest two in Rochdale, 22 Feb 2016 "A 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of an imam in Rochdale." [the 31 year old man arrested on Friday has been released without charge]

'Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World'

The new edition of the 'Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World', edited by Richard C. Martin (Gale, 2016) is out. It includes a small contribution from myself, on Islam and social media.

'Normative Islam' report

rt.com, 94% of influential British Muslims say ISIS is ‘illegitimate’ – report "The report, released by Islamic forum 5Pillars on Wednesday, found that more than 90 percent of high-profile British Muslims agreed that killing civilians is unlawful, and that Islam promotes “compassion and justice for all people regardless of religion, social status, race or any other context.”" The 'Normative Islam' report is here [pdf]. Also see: 5PillarsUK. I have yet to read the report.

'Freesia' - film

Keighley News, Theatre company in Keighley makes feature-length film tackling the subject of Islamophobia "Arakan Creative has made Freesia. The film had a £27,000 budget and features a 34-strong cast."

Sunni Shia Splits?

Radio 4, File on 4, Sunni Shia Splits?    "Are international conflicts creating tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims in the UK?

"Shabnam Mahmood reports from both Sunni and Shia communities and reveals how divisive messages from the Middle East are fuelling intolerance here."

I thought this was a useful programme. There was some content in relation to the role of the internet in promoting diverse agendas (and in some cases discord)

Saturday 20 February 2016

Rochdale Mosque

BBC News, Murder arrest after prominent Rochdale mosque member's death, 19 Feb 2016 " ... a Facebook post on Friday from Jalalia Jaamé Mosque said Koran reader Jalal Uddin "passed away last night"."

Friday 12 February 2016

preventresources.com

preventresources.com "For the public interest, CAGE presents this website in order to provide the raw materials for academics, researchers, campaigners, journalists and students to study and analyse."

'Why British Muslims should vote to leave the EU'

Telegraph, Why British Muslims should vote to leave the EU " Muslims for Britain is a new campaign group that aims to win support for Brexit among the UK's 3 million Muslims."

Monday 8 February 2016

' Two British Members of Islamic State 'Beatles' Have Been Identified'

Vice News, Two British Members of Islamic State 'Beatles' Have Been Identified, 7 Feb 2016 On Sunday, a Washington Post and BuzzFeed investigation named a member of the group known as "Jihadi Ringo" as 32-year-old Londoner Alexanda Kotey, while an ITV News investigation also named Kotey as well as identifying a third member of the group as Aine Davis, a drug dealer who converted to Islam and left the UK in 2013.

Sunday 7 February 2016

Mosque 'Open day'

BBC News, Mosques across UK open doors to public, 7 Feb 2016 "More than 90 mosques across the UK have opened their doors to visitors to allow Muslims to "explain their faith beyond the hostile headlines"."

Friday 5 February 2016

Muslim women 'stopped from becoming Labour councillors'

BBC News, Muslim women 'stopped from becoming Labour councillors', 5 Feb 2016 "A Muslim women's group has written to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claiming women have been stopped from becoming councillors by Muslim men in the party."

Thursday 4 February 2016

'Narratives of Conversion to Islam in Britain'

HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies (Cambridge), Narratives of Conversion to Islam in Britain: Male Perspectives "Narratives of Conversion to Islam in Britain: Male Perspectives brought together forty-six male Muslim converts to discuss aspects of their conversions to Islam, to reflect on their journeys
and experiences and to produce a report to inform Muslims and non-Muslims about the topic."

Friday 22 January 2016

'The Jihadis Next Door'

Independent, Watch the moment ordinary Muslims shut down ‘jihadis’ trying to spread radical message outside mosques, 20 Jan 2016 "The protest, outside Southall Mosque on Pakistan Independence Day, was filmed as part of Channel 4 documentary, The Jihadis Next Door, in which filmmaker Jamie Roberts investigates British fundamental Muslims as the government continues to clampdown on radicalisation in the UK."