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."