Muslim life in the UK

The Guardian, What is it like to be a Muslim in Britain today? "We asked Muslim bloggers to tell us their experiences of living as a Muslim in the UK today. Do you agree? Share your thoughts and experiences."

The Platform launched

MCB, The Platform is Raised: Celebrating the launch of a revolutionary new site, 7 Jun 2011 "The event celebrated the launch of a blog designed to facilitate a space for expression, promote proactive engagement and encourage a renewed and dynamic thinking for progress. The Platform is a site that unites talented Britons of diverse ages and backgrounds in the common cause of bettering Britain."

And here's the site itself (logo shown):

The Platform

'Report on Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime'

Robert Lambert's and Jonathan Githens-Mazer's previously announced Report on Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime is now available. Here's the press release from the European Muslim Research Centre (the full release also has a related al-Jazeera clip):

"The report 'Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime: UK Case Studies' is published by the European Muslim Research Centre at the University of Exeter and The Cordoba Foundation, and is sponsored by the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies."

"Download a copy of the the report 'Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime' (PDF: 4MB)"

There's substantial comment on this report online, from a range of perspectives, including in today's Telegraph blog by Andrew Gilligan. Being wrapped up in WikiLeaks at the moment, I've yet to read the report - it's on my ever-expanding reading list.

'The civil war among Muslims in Britain'

opinion piece: Michael Mumisa | Independent Editor's choice Blogs, Independent blogs, The civil war among Muslims in Britain, 1 Dec 2010: "Not wanting to be accused of promoting extremist ideas, soon after the 7/7 bombings most Sunni Mosque committees across the UK imposed a total ban on political discussions in the Mosques. This means that young Muslims are now without an open and safe platform where they can express their political views and have such views examined or challenged by others. They have instead retreated into their bedrooms to search for answers on extremist internet forums."

"Top 20 most influential "pro-Islamic" political bloggers"

Alan Travis, Guardian, Government names most influential 'pro-Islamic' bloggers, 23 Mar 2010 "The Home Office's counter-terrorism communications unit has named its top 20 most influential "pro-Islamic" political bloggers.

"The list forms part of a mapping exercise carried out on behalf of the Home Office to estimate and track the scale and influence of Islamic bloggers in Britain."

The report (pdf) is here I haven't had a chance to read this report yet, so will reserve comment. The data was compiled in April 2008, so there has been a delay in the information emerging into the public sphere.

Some details on the Home Office Research, Information and Communications Unit activities are here The author is David Stevens of Nottingham University, who has previously published related works:

# STEVENS, D., 2009. In Extremis: A Self-defeating Element in the 'Preventing Violent Extremism' Strategy. Political Quarterly, 80(4), 517-526.

# STEVENS, D. and O'HARA, K., 2009. The Devil's Long Tail: Religious Moderation and Extremism on the Web. IEEE Intelligent Systems, 24(6), 37-43.

Interview: Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Zahed Amanullah, altmuslim, “Life is on hold until you get married” "British blogger Shelina Zahra Janmohamed wants to tell you a story. Preferably with a cup of coffee – cappuccino, no sugar – and an open mind. In the years since she got married, she spilled her thoughts on Muslim issues and life in Britain into her blog Spirit 21, eventually winning a Brass Crescent Award for Best Blog in 2007, as voted on by readers. Encouraged by the reception she received by this and in the Muslim press, she looked back on her often tumultuous path to marriage and consolidated her thoughts into her first book, Love in a Headscarf, published in March by Aurum Press. In it, she discusses her thoughts on the disparities between how Muslim men and women are treated during the marriage process, a process that has become infinitely complicated by the diasporadic modern Muslim world. Taking her up on her offer (outlined in the prologue to her book), I sat down with her in a West London coffee shop near her home to find out more about her thoughts on the state of Muslim marriage and gender relations in today's society."

Spirit21 is recommended. I plan to read the book in due course.