Birmingham Pride

The Independent, Saima Razzaq: First Muslim woman to lead Pride says life’s mission is to promote inclusivity, 26 June 2023, "An activist, who was the first Muslim woman to lead a Pride parade in Britain, says her mission in life is “to promote the inclusivity of sexuality and gender”."

Mosque Fire Attacks: Update

BBC News, Man in court charged with mosque fire attacks in Birmingham and London, 23 March 2023 "A suspect has appeared in court charged with two counts of attempted murder after attacks on men set alight outside mosques in Birmingham and London."

Birmingham Muslim Communities

BirminghamLive, How Brummie Muslims are embracing Shab e Barat in preparation for Ramadan

"Shab e Barat 2022 is observed by Muslims across the world including in the UK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere - and is seen as an opportunity to prepare for Ramadan."

Updated: the Trojan Horse Affair (podcast)

Updated: here's a link to my Virtually Islamic blog page on the Trojan Horse Affair podcast.
New York Times, Why Claiming British Identity Is Complicated

This long-read looks interesting, and has an accompanying podcast series.

"This article was produced in collaboration with a new podcast from Serial and The New York Times.

“The Trojan Horse Affair,” an eight-part mystery, investigates a strange letter that transformed Britain — and the lives of many British Muslims."

Direct link to podcast (from different providers)

And here's the trailer on Spotify:

Nurse's Legacy

BBC News, Coronavirus: Dying nurse told sister 'follow in my footsteps'

"Nurse Areema Nasreen was one of the youngest NHS workers to die from coronavirus at the start of the pandemic. Almost a year on from her death, her sister reveals how Areema's last words changed the course of her life."

Birmingham Covid-19

At least 10 Mosques set up temporary mortuaries to cope with surge in COVID-19 deaths

One mosque in Birmingham told Sky News they are now carrying out 25 funerals a week, which is what they'd normally do in a year.
https://t.co/aB0oK5BYbT

— Miqdaad Versi (@miqdaad) May 3, 2020

Ofsted Sued

Guardian, Birmingham Islamic school sues Ofsted after being failed for leaflet "Ofsted rated Birchfield independent girls’ school in Aston as “inadequate” after inspectors found an “inflammatory” leaflet about a 1994 Islamic conference in the library."

Mosque Safety

Recommended listening from Radio 4 on mosque safety and anti-Muslim prejudice. I hope this gets an outing on BBC World Service, as it deserves a wide audience. BBC Radio 4, 'My Name is Samayya: How Safe Are Our Mosques?'

LGBT Protests Update

BREAKING: A judge has permanently banned anti-LGBT equality teaching protests from taking place outside a primary school in Birmingham.

Follow the latest on this story here: https://t.co/ug7VWnNosf pic.twitter.com/e0R7IVbqyB

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 26, 2019

Birmingham Mosques Vandalised

Mirror, Birmingham mosque attacks: Five holy buildings vandalised 'with sledgehammers' "The terrified Birmingham Muslim community is linking sledgehammer attacks on five mosques around the city overnight to the deadly New Zealand terror massacres."

Mosque in Birmingham

Independent, A man complained about Muslims buying a church and using it for prayers, and it backfired badly "Not only did it quickly go viral, receiving almost 3,000 views, but most comments were supportive of the mosque's decision, claiming that the deserted church would have otherwise not been put to use." I saw (and posted) the original tweet, and thought the recitation was beautiful, and in keeping with the building. Here it is: "Muslims bought this beautiful Church in Birmingham & have converted it into a Mosque. This is how the UK is being transformed." Twitter, @MarkACollett

'Don't back down on LGBT guidance, faith leaders urge DfE'

Guardian, Don't back down on LGBT guidance, faith leaders urge DfE Something of a controversial issue here, which would make for a lively seminar. Other opinions are available on this critical issue. "The argument over whether schools should teach children about LGBT issues arose in a Birmingham state school last month when 400 predominantly Muslim parents signed a petition calling for the topic to be dropped from the curriculum."

Photographic legacy

BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs, Vanley Burke 
"Lauren Laverne interviews photographer Vanley Burke, known as the godfather of black British photography." 
Burke's important portfolio includes many religion related photos, including from Birmingham's Muslim communities. It's an incredible legacy. Do check it out (I can't reproduce any here for copyright reasons).

Muslim teaching assistant wins unfair dismissal

Guardian, Muslim teaching assistant wins unfair dismissal case over 9/11 footage "Suriyah Bi was sacked after she objected to a teacher showing children footage of people jumping from the Twin Towers after the terror attack."

Islamic school's gender segregation is unlawful, court of appeal rules

Guardian, Islamic school's gender segregation is unlawful, court of appeal rules "Schools in Britain will no longer be able to substantially segregate boys and girls, after the court of appeal ruled that a co-educational faith school in Birmingham had caused unlawful discrimination by separating the two sexes."

Trojan Horse affair: remaining disciplinary proceedings dropped

Guardian, Trojan Horse affair: remaining disciplinary proceedings dropped, 28 Jul 2017 "The government has given up its two-year-long attempt to ban teachers caught up in the Trojan Horse affair in Birmingham, after those in the remaining cases were told disciplinary action against them has been halted."

Court case

Guardian, Court lifts ban on naming faith school in segregation case "Al-Hijrah named as Birmingham Muslim school that Ofsted had penalised for separating boys and girls." UPDATED: Also see islam21c.com, Ofsted to appeal high court defeat by Birmingham Muslim school

Five teachers accused in Trojan horse affair free to return to classroom

Guardian, Five teachers accused in Trojan horse affair free to return to classroom "Panel cites repeated failure on part of government lawyers to share crucial evidence in case of alleged Islamist takeover of schools in Birmingham"

Birmingham protests

Vice.com, Checking in with Saffiyah Khan, the Woman Who Faced Down the EDL 

BBC News, EDL Birmingham protest photo woman 'surprised' by viral reaction  

Birmingham Mail,  Behind the scenes at Birmingham Central Mosque's British Tea Party on the day one powerful photo went viral

#ExtremelyBritishMuslims

Trailer for new Channel 4 series, starting on 2 March 2017.