'£1 Fish Man'

 "While 31-year-old Mohamed Shahid Nazir has built a reputation in an East London market for his ultra-cheap fish, it is his catchy sales jingle that has brought him a moment of global fame.

"Fans cannot stop carping on about his "One-Pound Fish" tune, recorded on a mobile phone and uploaded to YouTube. With more than five million views, some might say you do not have to be a brain "sturgeon" to see he has a hit on his hands."

I saw him 'in action' a few months ago at Queen's Market, Green Street, Newham.  Should have recorded him myself!  The journalists are enjoying this ...

'Tomorrow's World'

Tomorrow's World | Editorial | December 2012 | emel - the muslim lifestyle magazine "Technology has changed our world, but it has not changed the essence of the human condition. We still cry out when in need; we still hurt when we are unloved. With or without our computers, our telephones, our mobile devices, we still feel the emotions of being human."

Qur'an on billboards

Muslim Community Board UK on Facebook report that "Following numerous requests for the English translation of The Quran from non muslims who have seen the Billboards at the Major London Railway Stations and 5 Shahadas at Victoria Station on Saturday, Network Rail and Chiltern Railways have ordered our billboards to be removed on the grounds of no religious advertising on their premises despite allowing other faith groups to carry out similar campaigns. Its a move which can only be seen as discriminatory.

"It appears that the English Translation of The Quran is a book too controversial for them to allow to be advertised on their premises.
However, we know that "...And God is the best of planners." [Quran 8:30]

"By removing the billboards this has actually created a massive movement on social media in support of the billboard campaign and bought more attention on The Quran itself, which can only be a good thing God willing!"

Muslims demand gay marriage exemption

Muslims demand gay marriage exemption | Society | guardian.co.uk "The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), with more than 500 affiliated mosques, charities and schools, said it was "appalled" by "utterly discriminatory" legislation on same-sex marriage set out by the government."

Call for Papers: Collaborative Partnerships Project

"This is a call for papers for two conferences that are being organised as part of an ESRC funded follow-on project exploring Collaborative Partnerships between universities and Muslim institutions. This project builds on previous research around Muslim faith leadership, Islamic Studies in pluralist British contexts, women’s education and learning Arabic. Our research findings indicate that it is possible to address these issues at higher education level, focusing particularly on ways to forge a more cohesive society for Muslims and other Britons. This work will bring together Islamic Studies academics, scholars and practitioners (including professionals who may have aspects of Islamic studies in their work) to facilitate increased collaborative partnerships and linkages between UK universities and Muslim institutions, and is aimed both at academia and Muslim communities. We hope to publish a selection of these papers."

Full details: http://www.derby.ac.uk/collaborative-partnerships-project

Podcast: Religion in the 2011 UK Census - The Religious Studies Project

Podcast: Religion in the 2011 UK Census - The Religious Studies Project: "An ‘emergency broadcast’ from the Religious Studies Project… featuring George Chryssides, Bettina Schmidt, Teemu Taira, Beth Singler, Christopher Cotter, and David Robertson.

"The results of the 2011 census were published this Tuesday (11/12/2012), and immediately the media -old and new – were occupied with statistics about “religion” in England and Wales in 2011 as compared to 2001. We couldn’t avoid the opportunity to comment, and to apply the sort of analysis RS scholars are singularly qualified to apply. What did the census actually say, and how did the press report it? Why does it matter, and how can we use the data more constructively?"

Commentary on statistics and related issues

Ian Birrell: We have nothing to fear from our Muslim citizens - Comment - Comment - London Evening Standard:

Religion in England and Wales 2011

Office for National Statistics, Religion in England and Wales 2011: "The largest religion in the 2011 Census for England and Wales was Christianity with 33.2 million people (59.3 per cent  of the population). Muslims were the next largest religious group with 2.7 million people (4.8 per cent  of the population)."

The mosque combating domestic abuse

The mosque combating domestic abuse, Zoe Williams, The Guardian, 7 Dec 2012: "How a SureStart campaign by a women's centre translated into a quaint but convincing sermon to east London Muslims."

Black And Minority Ethnic Women 'Discriminated Against At Every Stage' Of Recruitment Process

huffingtonpost.co.uk, Black And Minority Ethnic Women 'Discriminated Against At Every Stage' Of Recruitment Process "People from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are twice as likely to be unemployed than white women - and are reporting having to 'Westernise' their names or removing hijabs to improve their chances of getting a job."

Rise in proportion of young Muslims in jail

BBC News - Rise in proportion of young Muslims in jail: "One in five males in young offender institutions (YOIs) identified themselves as Muslim in 2011/12, compared with 16% in 2010/11." [GRB: will post the report when I find it]

Cardiff: Mother killed son over Qur'an studies

BBC News, Yaseen Ali Ege murder: Mother killed son over Koran studies, 5 Dec 2012: "A mother who beat her seven-year-old son "like a dog" when he failed to memorise passages of the Koran has been found guilty of his murder."

Britain appeals court decision to block cleric Qatada's deportation

Reuters/Yahoo! News, Britain appeals court decision to block cleric Qatada's deportation, 3 Dec 2012: "Britain said on Monday it had appealed against a court decision to block the deportation to Jordan of radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada, accused by London of being a huge security risk and a spiritual inspiration for one of the 9/11 hijackers."

UK Scouts Consider Atheist Oath

UK Scouts Consider Atheist Oath - Europe - News - OnIslam.net:  "Versions of the oath have already been crafted for Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist members."

Before British India, there were Indian Britons - Telegraph

Before British India, there were Indian Britons - Telegraph: