Research Excellence Framework 2014

UWTSD ranked joint first in the UK for the impact of it research in Theology and Religious Studies this relates to some of the research associated with this blog.

Why do internet companies have one rule for paedophilia and another for terrorism?

Why do internet companies have one rule for paedophilia and another for terrorism? - Spectator Blogs

Experts scour Derby's Facebook and Twitter traffic for extremist messages

Derby Telegraph, Experts scour Derby's Facebook and Twitter traffic for extremist messages

Muslims in Britain against extremists

Muslims in Britain against extremists | All media content | DW.DE | 10.12.2014 "Young British Muslims are appearing in videos to show their solidarity against IS, and to send the message that IS does not represent them or their values. The videos enjoy tens of thousands of supporters, while President Barack Obama has praised the campaign for its courage. But other Muslim groups have criticized the campaign. They say Muslims aren't responsible for the actions of extremists and shouldn't have to publicly distance themselves from extremists." Refers to Muslims in Cardiff

Mum jailed for Facebook terror posts

BBC News, Mum jailed for Facebook terror posts "A mother-of-six has been jailed for five years and three months for promoting terrorism on Facebook."

Funds audit 'clears Islamic charity'

BBC News, Funds audit 'clears Islamic charity' "Britain's biggest Islamic charity says an audit of its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has found no evidence to support accusations it has funded terrorism."

Is Chicago more dangerous than Riyadh?

Abdulrahman al-Rashed, alarabiya.net, Is Chicago more dangerous than Riyadh? "It is the height of contradiction to be a Saudi, a Kuwaiti or an Egyptian and worry that your children who are studying or working in the United States or Europe may turn into extremists who desire to join organizations like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)." Interesting discussion that applies equally in UK contexts.

Switzerland orders community service for returned Islamic State jihadist

Switzerland orders community service for returned Islamic State jihadist - Telegraph alternative approaches to UK (and elsewhere): " Switzerland has ordered a returned recruit of the Islamic State group to do 600 hours of community service and will not send him to prison, in the country's first sentencing of a foreign jihadist fighter."

Online dating and Islam

Lydia Green, BBC News, Why millions of Muslims are signing up for online dating, 10 Dec 2014 "Arranged marriages are standard practice in many societies, but the introductions and screening process can be an ordeal for the young people involved - even if they are pleased with the eventual outcome. Some Western Muslims have concluded that online matchmaking can help reduce embarrassment."



Also see: 



alarabiya.net, Online dating gains traction among Muslims in West "Adeem Younis, founder of matchmaking site Single Muslim, which boasts of having over one million members, told the BBC that he set up the service after to avoid the pain of family-orchestrated matchmaking – and as an alternative to the more casual hook-up culture prevalent with many secular dating sites."

Conservative Muslims, Liberal Britain - radio programme

Conservative Muslims, Liberal Britain, Analysis - BBC Radio 4 "The recent so called Trojan Horse dispute in some Birmingham schools shone a light on how separately from the liberal British mainstream a significant conservative bloc of British Muslims wants to live. Although some Muslim parents objected, most seemed happy to go along with rigorous gender segregation, the rejection of sex education and ban on music and arts lessons.



"Why is it that so many British Muslims - especially from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds - seem to be converging much more slowly, if at all, on liberal British norms? Is this a problem in a liberal society and what are the future trends likely to be?



"David Goodhart, of the think tank Demos, visits Leicester in search of some answers. He listens to many different Muslim voices from a mufti who advises Muslims on how to navigate everyday life in a non-Muslim society to a liberal reformer who is dismayed at seeing more women wearing the niqab."

European Muslim groups angered by inclusion on UAE's terror list

European Muslim groups angered by inclusion on UAE's terror list - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East

Cairo to Constantinople: London photo show frames Victorian travels

Cairo to Constantinople: London photo show frames Victorian travels "A new exhibition entitled “Cairo to Constantinople: Early Photographs of the Middle East” is currently showing at The Queen’s Gallery, in London’s Buckingham Palace. It’s a collection from 1862 which documents the first-ever visual record of a royal tour, when photography was relatively a new invention." Time for a visit to the Palace??

Malcolm X in Oxford, Archive on 4

Malcolm X in Oxford, Archive on 4 - BBC Radio 4 "Stephen Tuck discovers what brought Malcolm X to Oxford in 1964 just weeks before his assassination, and how the speech he made there was one of the most important of his life."

Nur joins Muhammad in top baby names list

Daily Mail, Nur joins Muhammad in top baby names list

Everyday Muslim|Archive and Oral History Project

Everyday Muslim|Archive and Oral History Project|London " "Khizra Foundation is pleased to announce the inaugural ‘Everyday Muslim’ symposium on the representation of British Muslim identities in museums, archives, media and arts in Britain, past, present and future. The keynote speakers are Humayun Ansari (Professor of History of Islam and Culture at Royal Holloway, University of London) and Navid Akhtar (Executive Director of Gazelle Media). Papers will be delivered by a range of speakers from the heritage, academic, media and arts sectors, including a presentation by Sarah Pickthall who will share her discovery of being related to Marmaduke Pickthall one of the earliest British translators of the Quran. There will also be opportunities for discussion and networking as well as exhibitions relating to the symposium themes and spoken word performances."

Terror suspect posts image of baby

BBC, Terror suspect posts image of baby "A terrorism suspect [Abu Rumaysah] who skipped bail in London has apparently released an image he claims shows him with his newborn son in the Islamic State (IS)."

Training camp leads to imprisonment

BBC News, Britons jailed over Syria terror camp, 26 Nov 2014 "Mohommod Nawaz, 30, and Hamza Nawaz, 24, both from Stratford, east London, were sentenced to four-and-a-half years and three years respectively."

Conservative Muslims, Liberal Britain, Analysis

Conservative Muslims, Liberal Britain, Analysis - BBC Radio 4 "The recent so called Trojan Horse dispute in some Birmingham schools shone a light on how separately from the liberal British mainstream a significant conservative bloc of British Muslims wants to live. Although some Muslim parents objected, most seemed happy to go along with rigorous gender segregation, the rejection of sex education and ban on music and arts lessons.



"Why is it that so many British Muslims - especially from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds - seem to be converging much more slowly, if at all, on liberal British norms? Is this a problem in a liberal society and what are the future trends likely to be?"

Lee Rigby murder ‘could have been prevented’ if online exchange revealed

Guardian, Lee Rigby murder ‘could have been prevented’ if online exchange revealed

Trojan Horse: Schools will have legal duty to fight extremism

Birmingham Mail, Trojan Horse: Schools will have legal duty to fight extremism "New laws will place every school under a legal duty to fight against extremism, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced."

Sharia law guidelines abandoned as Law Society apologises

Sharia law guidelines abandoned as Law Society apologises - Telegraph "Law Society apologises over advice to solicitors on how to draw up Sharia-style wills penalising widows and non-believers."

Ofsted chief: pupils at east London faith schools at risk of radicalisation

Guardian, Ofsted chief: pupils at east London faith schools at risk of radicalisation

'Extremist risk' at Muslim schools

BBC News, 'Extremist risk' at Muslim schools "Pupils at six small Muslim private schools in east London are at risk of extremist views and radicalisation, says Ofsted's chief inspector.



"Sir Michael Wilshaw said the pupils' "physical and educational welfare is at serious risk" following a series of emergency inspections."

East London school not protecting pupils from extremism, says Ofsted

Standard, East London school not protecting pupils from extremism, says Ofsted "Sir John Cass’s Foundation and Red Coat Church of England school, where 80 per cent of pupils are Bengali Muslim, will be put into special measures by Ofsted for not monitoring the activities of an Islamic society set up by sixth-formers."

YLP TV: Paying Respects On Remembrance Sunday

"Reporters from Active Change Foundation's Young Leaders Programme visit the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at The Tower of London, where poppies represent each of the British military deaths during The First World War. They reflect on the 400,000 Muslims who fought for Britain and The Commonwealth, and show the importance of respect for the sacrifices made, regardless of faith or belief."

YLP (Young Leaders Programme) is part of the Active Change Foundation

Jihadis who travel to Syria could be barred from UK return for two years

Guardian, Jihadis who travel to Syria could be barred from UK return for two years "Suspected jihadis, including teenagers, who travel to Syria will be prevented from returning to Britain for two years and only allowed to re-enter if they consent to face trial, home detention, regular police monitoring or go on a deradicalisation course."

The Pakistani village that gave its sons to fight for Britain

Daily Mail, The Pakistani village that gave its sons to fight for Britain

#MakingAStand

"Sara Khan meets with a group of Muslim women in Wandsworth who have gathered to discuss how they can take the lead in their community #MakingAStand against extremism, and what challenges they have faced trying to do so."

What's life like for British Muslims?

C4, What's life like for British Muslims? | Channel 4 News

Tower Hamlets in a Pickle

Evening Standard, Tower Hamlets: Eric Pickles orders takeover squad to run 'rotten borough' "In a blow to controversial mayor Lutfur Rahman, who seized control in 2010, a three-man team of commissioners will move into his headquarters. The commissioners will take over the power to give grants and must approve property sales and senior council officer appointments or suspensions."

Any Questions?

David Blunkett MP, Ratna Lachman, Allison Pearson, Nadhim Zahawi MP, Any Questions? - BBC Radio 4  "Jonathan Dimbleby presents political debate and discussion from the Al Mahdi Mosque in Bradford with the former Home Secretary David Blunkett MP, Ratna Lachman Director of the civil liberties pressure group Just West Yorkshire, Daily Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson, and Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi." This was an interesting location choice for the programme. Al Mahdi Mosque is run by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Bradford. Information here. The programme did not go into details regarding the position of Ahmadiyya Muslims. It did mention their campaign loveforallhatredfornone

'Street grooming' issues

Guardian, Muslim community must address issue of street grooming, says Nazir Afzal "Crown Prosecution Service’s lead on child sexual abuse urges community to report suspected cases of child sexual exploitation by Asian and Pakistani men and says ‘don’t walk by’"

Grayson Perry and The Ashford Hijab: White, Female & Muslim

sociologicalimagination.org, Grayson Perry and The Ashford Hijab: White, Female & Muslim "Grayson Perry’s new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery also presents a White British female convert to Islam. Who are you? depicts 14 modern day Britons and their complex identities. Kayleigh Khosravi, the subject of a silk screenprint with the title The Ashford Hijab, spent time with Grayson Perry in order for him to better understand her identity as a White Muslim convert." Also see the Channel4 Press Release

Poppy-print hijab

Independent, Poppy-print hijab launched for British Muslims to commemorate Remembrance Day

Condemnation of ISIS

RT, 'Violent and terrible’: UK Muslim leaders condemn ISIS "Leaders of Portsmouth’s Muslim community have condemned the Islamic State (IS formerly ISIS/ISIL) as a “violent and terrible regime” in an attempt to stop more young people travelling to join the fight in Syria."

Portsmouth Recruits

BBC News, Portsmouth men killed in Syria were 'radicalised online', 26 Oct 2014 "A faith equality leader in Portsmouth has blamed social media and the internet for "radicalising" young men fighting in Syria for Islamic State."

London raid update

Daily Mail, First picture of medical student dubbed The Surgeon who tweeted 'Oi lads I smell a war' hours before his was arrested as suspect in Jihadi terror raid "This is the trainee doctor dubbed 'The Surgeon' who tweeted: 'Oi lads... I smell war' shortly before he was arrested on suspicion of planning an Islamic State-linked murder plot on streets of Britain."

The Sun's campaign

The Sun, United against I.S. " THE Sun today calls on Britons of all faiths to unite to defeat IS fanatics — hours after an alleged plot by the terror group’s first UK cell was foiled by the security forces. " also see Nesrine Malik, The Guardian, The Sun’s ‘Unite against Isis’ campaign is a proxy for anti-Muslim bigotry I bought a copy (for academic purposes) - haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Everyday Muslim

Everyday Muslim "Everyday Muslim is a five-year project to create a central archive of Muslim lives, arts, education and cultures from across the UK.

"We will collect and document the presence of Muslims in Britain through images, interviews and documents. The aim is to build a comprehensive and unique portrayal of Muslim life that allows the community to take ownership of their history and heritage. The archive will be stored at Bishopsgate Institute in London but will also be accessible through our website."

#MakingAStand

#MakingAStand Launch: British Muslim Women Unite Against ISIS

Lewthwaite 'training Islamic State suicide bombers' |

White Widow Samantha Lewthwaite 'training Islamic State suicide bombers' | UK | News | Daily Express: "The 30-year-old widow of Jermaine Lindsay - who killed 26 people when he blew himself up in the July 7 terrorist attacks in London in 2005 - is also thought to be helping the militants with their propaganda campaign."

British 'Islamic State Recruiter' Arrested

British 'Islamic State Recruiter' Arrested - Yahoo News UK:

"Samiun Rahman, who is from London, arrived in the country in February to find fighters for both IS and the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, according to Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective and Criminal Intelligence Division (DCID)."

'Schoolgirl jihadis'

Schoolgirl jihadis: the female Islamists leaving home to join Isis fighters | World news | The Guardian "Hundreds of young women and girls are leaving their homes in western countries to join Islamic fighters in the Middle East, causing increasing concern among counter-terrorism investigators.


"Girls as young as 14 or 15 are travelling mainly to Syria to marry jihadis, bear their children and join communities of fighters, with a small number taking up arms. Many are recruited via social media."

KFC hand-wipes halal mix-up

KFC leaves Muslims baffled after branch drops alcohol hand-wipes in halal mix-up - Telegraph "Muslim leaders have voiced bewilderment after a branch of Kentucky Fried Chicken refused to give customers hand-wipes containing alcohol for fear that doing so would cause offence."

Islamic State and Rotherham abuse 'fuelling far right'

BBC News - Islamic State and Rotherham abuse 'fuelling far right': "Islamic State extremism and the Rotherham abuse scandal are fuelling a far-right backlash in the UK, one of the Home Office's most senior advisers on right-wing extremism has said."

Somalis in Leicester

Somalis in Leicester | Open Society Foundations (OSF):  "Somalis in Leicester explores the views and experiences of Somali communities living in Leicester, focusing on five areas of local policy—employment, education, health, political participation, and policing—as well as broader themes of belonging and identity."

New and noted: Writing the City in British Asian Diasporas

Writing the City in British Asian Diasporas (Hardback), Edited by Sean McLoughlin, William Gould, Ananya Jahanara Kabir, Emma Tomalin - Routledge, 2014



Looks interesting (rather expensive in Hardback)

Muslim students will be offered Sharia-friendly student loans

Muslim students will be offered Sharia-friendly student loans by government | Mail Online:

"Muslim students are to be offered Sharia-compliant interest free loans by the government in an attempt to get more Islamic pupils to go to university."

New and noted: Loyal Enemies: British Converts to Islam, 1850-1950

"Loyal Enemies uncovers the history of the earliest British converts to Islam who lived their lives freely as Muslims on British soil, from the 1850s to the 1950s. Drawing on original archival research, it reveals that people from across the range of social classes defied convention by choosing Islam in this period." Haven't seen this yet.

Jamie Gilham, Loyal Enemies: British Converts to Islam, 1850-1950 (Hurst & Co):

Note on Islamic State coverage

Coverage in relation to IS/ISIS issues can be found on the Virtually Islamic blog

Cemetery controversy

Daily Mail, Plans for Britain's largest Muslim cemetery with space for 11,000 graves on green belt land sparks fury

' The nun who took down an Isis flag – and stands up for east London's Muslims'

The Spectator, The nun who took down an Isis flag – and stands up for east London's Muslims "Sister Christine has worked on the Will Crooks Estate in Poplar, east London, for over 40 years. She accidentally got into the news in early August when she removed the black flag of radical Islam which was flying over the entry to the estate, and the press were fascinated that a small, lone woman aged 77, would take such a risk. But if they believed Sister Christine to be a crusader against Islamism, then they got it all wrong. Sister Christine is a committed Christian of course, but if she is fighting on behalf of anyone, it is the disenfranchised, ghetto-ised Muslim youth she finds herself living alongside."

Sandhurst and the Sheikhs

Sandhurst and the Sheikhs - BBC Radio 4 

"How does training at Sandhurst Academy bolster militarised monarchies of the Arab world?"

Rotherham

opendemocracy.net, Facing up to bitter truths: Rotherham child sex exploitation cases "The scale and severity of the child sex exploitation crimes in Rotherham warrants a constructive response which is more concerned with truth than evading blame, and with empathy rather than insularity, says Tehmina Kazi"

Babar Ahmad

BBC News - British cyber-jihadist Babar Ahmad jailed in US, 16 Jul 2014 also listen to this BBC Radio 4 documentary

Trojan horse inquiry

Guardian, Trojan horse inquiry: 'A coordinated agenda to impose hardline Sunni Islam', 17 Jul 2014 "An investigation ordered by the government has found a "sustained, coordinated agenda to impose segregationist attitudes and practices of a hardline, politicised strain of Sunni Islam" on children in a number of Birmingham schools."

Britain First ‘invades’ Crayford Mosque

Britain First ‘invades’ Crayford Mosque, protests against ‘segregated entrances’ - MEND:  "The Independent, the local paper, News Shopper and the Asian Image all report on Britain’s First’s latest ‘invasion’ of a mosque. The far right group and its “Kent battalion activists”  descended the North West Kent Muslim Association mosque in Crayford last Sunday at around 1pm."

Welsh Government standing by Muslim community in ‘difficult times’

Welsh Government | Welsh Government standing by Muslim community in ‘difficult times’:

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."

'Over 100 UK imams unite to sign open letter urging British Muslims not to travel to Syria and Iraq'

Imams Online, Over 100 UK imams unite to sign open letter urging British Muslims not to travel to Syria and Iraq This is the link to the letter.



Channel 4, Imams' plea to British Muslims: don't go to Syria or Iraq, 4 Jul 2014 "An open letter signed by more than 100 imams from across major theological backgrounds and cultural groups urged British Muslim communities "to continue the generous and tireless effort to support all of those affected by the crisis in Syria and unfolding events in Iraq", but to do so "from the UK in a safe and responsible way"." Also see

British jihadist calls for 'flag of Islam' over Downing Street and Buckingham Palace

Independent, British jihadist calls for 'flag of Islam' over Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, 4 Jul 2014 "BBC 5 live broadcast an interview with a man calling himself Abu Osama, who claimed that he had received military training and taken part in bomb-making and fighting with the extremist al-Nusra Front, an group which is linked to al-Qaeda and banned in the UK, for the past year." Also see/listen to BBC News, Man calls for 'black flag of Islam' over Buckingham Palace

Anti-terror police arrest and bail teenager in Cardiff

BBC News - Anti-terror police arrest and bail teenager in Cardiff `'In an online conversation with a reporter from BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme, he [Aseel Muthana] described seeing "martyrs" to militant group Isis's cause and said he would be "willing to die" for the cause.`'

Cardiff Muslims feed the homeless during Ramadan

Cardiff Muslims feed the homeless during Ramadan - MEND:

Il jihadismo nei Balcani

Giovanni Giacalone, Il jihadismo nei Balcani: i nuovi focolai bosniaci | ISPI article by one of my former MA students

Britain First members tell Kent Muslims to withdraw mosque planning application

Britain First members tell Kent Muslims to withdraw mosque planning application - MEND:



'via Blog this'

New and Noted: 'The Last of the Lascars'

Muslim News Book Review; The Last of the Lascars: Yemeni Muslims in Britain 1836-2012. By M S Seddon. Leicester: Kube Publishing. pp328. PB. 2014. £17.99 Book information from publisher here. I have yet to see this book, but it looks very interesting.

Mosques launch campaign to stop UK Syria fighters

BBC News, Mosques launch campaign to stop UK Syria fighters

'ISIS BBQ'

Daily Mail, 'Infidels must wear red collars and shave heads': 'Nazi' vision of Muslim Britain from Imam who ran 'Isis' barbecue in Cardiff, 28 Jun 2014 [posted retrospectively] "A radical hate preacher linked to the ‘brainwashing’ of three Welsh young jihadis fighting in Iraq and Syria has outlined his chilling vision of a Nazi-style, Islamic state in Britain on video, describing how non-Muslims will be forced to shave their heads and wear a red sash, in a land where the ringing of church bells is banned."

BBC Radio Wales - Good Morning Wales, 24/06/2014

BBC Radio Wales - Good Morning Wales, 24/06/2014 BBC Radio Wales - Good Morning Wales, 24/06/2014 Here's a link to the programme on BBC Radio Wales I was interviewed on this morning. My contribution starts at 01:12:45 (live from my kitchen table!), in which I briefly discuss 'radicalisation' issues.

A lethal new class of British jihadi

A lethal new class of British jihadi: Second fanatic in ISIS recruitment video went to same Cardiff college as the first and once dreamed of becoming prime minister. Now he says: 'Muslims who don't join us will die a painful death' | Mail Online:

Muslims in Britain to fast 19 hours during month of Ramadan - Al Arabiya News

Muslims in Britain to fast 19 hours during month of Ramadan - Al Arabiya News:

Did this Saudi preacher groom the jihadi Britons?

Did this Saudi preacher groom the jihadi Britons? | Mail Online:

Father of Isis volunteer: 'My son has betrayed Britain'

Father of Isis volunteer: 'My son has betrayed Britain' | World news | The Guardian:

Report: The Government Review into the Muslim Brotherhood in Britain: Unravelling the Motives

Cordoba Foundation. The Government Review into the Muslim Brotherhood in Britain: Unravelling the Motives "The Cordoba Foundation convened a timely and important seminar at the Royal Overseas League, Green Park in London, which analysed the British Prime Minister’s decision to conduct a “review” into the Muslim Brotherhood in Britain. The seminar examined the motivations and the potential outcomes of the review."

Foreign Fighters in Syria - report

Richard Barrett, Foreign Fighters in Syria | The Soufan Group  The pdf link is here  [I have yet to read this.]