'Islamic Centre of England'

The National, Rishi Sunak urged to act against Iran-linked cultural groups "The UK government has been urged to launch an inquiry into groups posing as charities and cultural centres over their potential links to the Iranian regime." Also see The National, Watchdog opens inquiry into Iran-linked UK centre, 24 Nov 2022 The 'Islamic Centre of England''s website shows their activities and links to related organisations.

Islamophobia adviser ignored

Kaya Burgess, The Times, PM and Gove have ignored me, says Islamophobia adviser "Imam Qari Asim, who was asked to help draw up a definition of Islamophobia, says letters and emails have gone unanswered in the more than two years since the government appointed him."

Foster Friday Khutbah drive.

Foster Friday Khutbah drive. pic.twitter.com/j4YBh2BodL

— The British Board of Scholars & Imams (BBSI) (@BBSIOnline) May 19, 2021

Mental Health Issues

Attendees will receive hard copies of the mental health toolkit for Imams and scholars - join our next webinar. Details will be posted soon. pic.twitter.com/E88owh025Y

— The British Board of Scholars & Imams (BBSI) (@BBSIOnline) February 23, 2021

Vaccinations

⁦@EnfieldCouncil⁩ community Covid vaccine webinar. Qari Asim from MINAB informs us that the Covid vaccine is completely halal & having a vaccine in Ramadan does NOT break your fast “If anyone saves one life, it is like saving the whole of humanity” (Quran) #getthejab pic.twitter.com/VM6vgQNUwx

— Farzana Hussain (@fhussain73) February 17, 2021

Bradford Central Mosque to become a Covid-19 vaccination centre https://t.co/vMjPuzzsD5

— Telegraph & Argus (@Bradford_TandA) February 17, 2021

Bradford Central Mosque has become the latest mosque to open its doors to become a community COVID-19 vaccination centre.

It follows the likes of other mosques in the region, such as the Jamia Ghausia Centre in Sheffield and Keighley Mosque.https://t.co/6FVTfG8tZL

— Miqdaad Versi (@miqdaad) February 17, 2021

Vaccination

Here's some important advice on the vaccination situation in the UK from Qari Asam. It's significant how social media is being utilised to promote these messages - and one hopes they get through to vulnerable audiences.

Important advice on the vaccine from @QariAsim https://t.co/21ABK4Hi3f

— Gary Bunt (@garybunt) February 2, 2021

Covid-19

A significant thread on Covid-19 and its impact, based on ITV reports

This is a significant thread. https://t.co/735kgI2yy1

— Gary Bunt (@garybunt) January 25, 2021

Covid-19 responses

Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds-based Imam urges for places of worship to be used as vaccine hubs to inspire 'confidence' in communities

"Leeds-based Imam Qari Asim, chairman of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, said some people who were initially hesitant about getting a vaccine have decided to get one since the first vaccination site in a Mosque opened at Al-Abbas Islamic Centre in Birmingham."

Vaccination Advice

Challenging social media rumours and 'fake news' on vaccinations:

🚨Imams challenging vaccine misinformation

Imams Online Senior Editor, Imam @QariAsim’s important message about the #COVID19 vaccines being halal & permissible for use, building on the ‘Verify Before You Amplify’ campaign, challenging misinformation related to the #Vaccine pic.twitter.com/Ll8CgJ9s2z

— Imams Online (@ImamsOnline) January 17, 2021

Maulana Yusuf Motala

Yahya Birt, Medium, Maulana Yusuf Motala (1946–2019): Founder of the UK’s first Islamic seminary "Maulana Yusuf Motala (may God have mercy on his soul) (1946–2019) passed away last night in Toronto. He was one of the giants of Islam in Britain, and like the Tablighi Jamaat leader Hafiz Mohammed Patel (1926–2016), he had a huge influence upon the development of Muslim communities in Britain in the latter half of the twentieth century and after." Obituary of a significant figure in Muslim life in the UK.

British Muslims Navigating between Individualism and Traditional Authority

New and noted: Hira Amin, 'British Muslims Navigating between Individualism and Traditional Authority', 'Religions' Journal (haven't read it all yet!)

Mosques

Imams Online, The Role of the Mosque in Community Building and Promoting Citizenship

Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities

I attended the Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities conference in Cardiff.  More information on my involvement is here

New national council to issue progressive rulings for Britain's Muslims

Guardian, New national council to issue progressive rulings for Britain's Muslims

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"

'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.

Hafiz Patel Funeral

Yorkshire Post, 20,000 people expected at Dewsbury man’s funeral "20,000 people expected at Dewsbury man’s funeral"

The truth about Sharia courts in the UK

Independent, The truth about Sharia courts in the UK, 5 Dec 2015

Haqiqah Launched

imamsonline.com, Haqiqah – What is the Truth Behind ISIS? links to a new online magazine. Also see BBC News, Imams try to 'reclaim the internet' with Haqiqah magazine 

Forced Marriage Issues

Soeren Kern, Gatestone Institute, Britain's Underage Muslim Marriage Epidemic, October 15, 2013 "More than a dozen Muslim clerics at some of the biggest mosques in Britain have been caught on camera agreeing to marry off girls as young as 14." Also see ITV, Underage marriages 'agreed' which includes disclaimer from one of the mosques in the documentary. The full report is here. The ITV Exposure programme is still available to view via ITV Player until (around) 13 November 2013 for UK viewers.