FGM

Guardian, Female genital mutilation cases more than double in a year in UK "The number of girls in England who have experienced or are believed to be at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) has more than doubled in a year, according to assessments by council social workers."

Syrian refugee attack

Lizzie Dearden, Independent, Syrian refugee attack: Family plan to sue Tommy Robinson over allegations against teenage victim

Islamophobia Defined

APPG, Islamophobia Defined - The inquiry into a working definition of Islamophobia [PDF]

Report from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims

This is an important step in seeking a working definition of 'Islamophobia'.

Related links:

ITV News, Islamophobia is so prevalent in the UK it has become the country's 'bigotry blind spot', MPs say, 27 Nov 2018

Lizzie Dearden, The Independent, Islamophobia driving belief in myths about Muslims in British society, MPs say

Building Resilience to Extremism and Exploitation Conference - event

I'm participating in the 'Building Resilience to Extremism and Exploitation' event in Cardiff on 28 November:

I am co-delivering (with Dr Yvonne Howard-Bunt) a short paper on responses to 'smartphone jihad' in the context of radicalisaton and extremism.   Details: Building Resilience to Extremism and Exploitation

Inclusive mosques

Salma Haidrani, Style, The role of women in mosques is finally changing. Here’s why that matters Important initiative from MCB. "The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has announced a groundbreaking new scheme to train women to run mosques, after slamming the current lack of women in visible leadership positions as ‘unacceptable’." Good article.

FGM Campaign

BBC News, The village that's eradicated FGM, 23 Nov 2018 "It comes as the British Government announces £50m to tackle the issue across the continent. The BBC's Senior Africa Correspondent Anne Soy went to meet some of the people turning their back on the practice and witnessed the change they are bringing to their communities."

Hollyoaks character to be groomed in far-right plot

BBC, Hollyoaks character to be groomed in far-right plot, 23 Nov 2018 "The Channel 4 soap has worked with experts and charities to help tell the story, where Ste, played by Kieron Richardson, becomes radicalised by newcomer Jonny, played by Ray Quinn."

Mitzvah Day (and associated controversy)

BBC News, Mitzvah Day: Jews and Muslims come together to cook chicken soup 

"Volunteers from Muslim Aid and Stoke Newington Shul came together to make 1,000 bowls of chicken soup for the local homeless population."

Also see opinion/speculation: Middle East Eye, Was the Jewish-Muslim 'chicken soup challenge' cooked up by UK's Home Office?

"Jews and Muslims from youth groups, mosques and synagogues attempted to cook a thousand portions of the traditional Jewish dish as part of a programme organised by Mitzvah Day, a charity that promotes a day of social action led by the Jewish community.

"But the Chicken Soup Challenge was also backed by the UK Home Office, through a programme that provides funding and support for counter-extremism projects, a detail that went unmentioned in reports produced by BBC News and The Guardian. "

Meghan Markle returns to kitchen to see Grenfell survivors

MSN, Meghan Markle returns to kitchen to see Grenfell survivors as cookbook is hailed a success, 21 Nov 2018 "Meghan, expecting her first child, came up with the idea for the cookbook in January after going to the kitchen at the Al Manaar Muslim cultural heritage centre where a group of women came together to cook in the aftermath of the fire."

Recitation in Cathedral

The Sun, Imam recites Muslim call to prayer during a Church of England cathedral’s Armistice concert WITHOUT PERMISSION, 18 Nov 2018 I don't often link to The Sun. "The recital took place in Blackburn Cathedral the night before Remembrance Sunday."

TellMama graphic (from Twitter)

TellMama graphic (from Twitter)

MCB Graphic

MCB Graphic on anti-Muslim prejudice

Asia Bibi case

BBC News, Asia Bibi: British imams join calls for UK to give asylum, 13 Nov 2018

"Prominent British Muslims, including three imams - Qari Asim, Mamadou Bocoum and Dr Usama Hasan - have written a letter to Home Secretary Sajid Javid asking him "to make a clear and proactive statement that Britain would welcome a request for sanctuary here"."

'How to be a Muslim Woman'

Sayeeda Warsi, BBC Radio 4, 'How to be a Muslim Woman' 

"Sayeeda Warsi explains how to be a Muslim woman in 21st-century Britain."

This will be broadcast on Friday 16th and then available on BBC Sounds. 

Tell Mama, Islamophobic hate mail targets schools and mosques in London and Yorkshire

Armistice Day Observation

You'll find substantial coverage of Muslim approaches to the observation of Armistice Day on my Twitter feed @garybunt - below are some highlights

 Welsh Muslim Cultural Foundation's visit to Belgium

Asian Image, Tauheedul pupils mark World War centenary

 BMA, The consultation: soldiers' sacrifice

 Abdullah Rehman congratulates Birmingham Quran Academy for introducing materials associated with WW1 and WW2 into its curriculum [Twitter post]

In addition, here's Yvonne Howard-Bunt's poem marking Armistice Day

How Muslims are being targeted in new Counter-terrorism bill

Asian Image, 'Criminalising thoughts': How Muslims are being targeted in new Counter-terrorism bill 

"Clicking just once on a link that that is deemed to contain terrorist material or displaying images online could lead to Muslims being prosecuted. That is according to lawyers who have been investigating some of the possible impacts of the new Counter Terrorism and Border Security Bill."

Twelver Shia networks in Britain

Oliver Scharbrodt, Aminority within a minority?: the complexity and multilocality of transnational Twelver Shia networks in Britain, Contemporary Islam

"To analyze the multilocal spatial manifestations and connections of these network, the article utilizes Werbner’s notion of ‘complex diasporas’ (2002, 2004, 2010) and recent contributions to the development of a spatial methodology in Religious Studies (Knott 2005; Vásquez 2010; Tweed 2006; McLoughlin and Zavos 2014). The article thereby constitutes the very first attempt to apply recent contributions on the nature of diasporic religions and their spatial multilocality to the case study of Twelver Shia networks based in London."

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).

Islamophobia Awareness Month

#IAM2018 Campaign launched. There are ongoing discussions on formalising the definition of 'Islamophobia'. In the interim, this is a relevant campaign, promoted by MCB

Also see their graphic:

Cardiff 'Race Riots'

ITV Cymru News, "'One thousand people came rioting down the street': Reliving a notorious chapter in Cardiff’s past." "They were sparked by racial tensions during a period of acute unemployment. In Cardiff’s docklands, servicemen who had returned from war found themselves competing for jobs with a local workforce of largely black and Asian men, who were also desperate to make ends meet."

Mosque Security Issues

Middle East Eye, Revamping security at London mosques: ‘We are completely on our own’ "Increased Islamophobic attacks on London's Muslim community are forcing mosques to step up security and be more vigilant."

Men and Mental Health

Mental Health Foundation, Men and Mental Health 

"While many of the same difficulties are experienced by both men and women, some difficulties and influences on mental health may be especially relevant for men."  This is an important issue too in relation to Muslim societies in the UK.