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"