We thought that we would bring you a monthly round-up of cases that have been referred to IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. These are complaints made on topics including Islam, mosques, Muslim communities and events that have involved people from Muslim communities. 0048-14 Adams v Metro – Not Upheld (02/12/14) Daniel Adams complained that
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Continue ReadingOrganisers of the ‘Mohammed Cartoons Exhibition‘ have cancelled the event citing security concerns. After talking up the event and inviting Geert Wilders and far right Liberty GB leader, Paul Weston, the event is no longer. We have also highlighted the association of the Lawyers’ Secular Society in the event through this article. Today, we have also
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Continue ReadingIt is almost unthinkable to speak of violence without equating it with religion. This is true in many ways as Mark Juergensmeyer notes: “Violence has always been endemic to religion. Images of destruction and death are evoked by some of religion’s most popular symbols, and religious wars have left through history a trail of blood. The savage martyrdom of Husain in Shiite Islam, the crucifixion of Jesus in Christianity, the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur in Sikhism, the bloody conquests in the Hebrew Bible, the terrible battles in the Hindu epics, and the religious war attested to in the Sinhalese Buddhist chronicles indicate that in virtually every tradition images of violence occupy as central a place as portrayals of non-violence. This raises two haunting questions: why are these images so central, and what is the relationship between symbolic violence and the real acts of religious violence that occur throughout the world today”.[1] Juergensmeyer raises some interesting questions and René Girard believes “that [his] mimetic theory offers an exhaustive explanation of the phenomenon of religious-inspired violence”.[2] In contrast, Michael Kirwan confidentially claims that Girard anticipated ‘religiously-inspired’ violence and atrocities (including 9/11).[3] Therefore, one does not need to look further to understand this [...]
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Continue ReadingToday we were contacted by a young woman who recently converted to Islam and who has been through a number of issues, not of her own doing, though where she is struggling to be accepted. A few months ago, this young woman, who has transitioned and who is living her life as a woman, suffered
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Continue ReadingOver the last 3 years we have systematically showed that the on-line world and social media present significant challenges to those working on tackling anti-Muslim hatred. The challenge is not only significant, it certainly changes fast as language and actions are affected by local, national or international incidents. Yet, what is deeply concerning is when
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Continue ReadingA recently discovered manuscript at Birmingham University could be one of the world’s oldest fragments of the Quran, thanks to scientific analysis. Tests at Oxford University’s Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit dated the parchment between AD 568 and 645 with 95.4 per cent accuracy. That timeline is a close match to the time of the Prophet Muhammad (AD 570 and 632). This accidental discovery gives new significance to the study of Islam in Birmingham. A PhD researcher, Alba Fedeli, decided to get the parchments tested. The manuscript was misbound with leaves of a similar seventh century Quran manuscript. Susan Worrall, Director of Special Collections (Cadbury Research Library), at the University of Birmingham, said: “We are thrilled that such an important historical document is here in Birmingham, the most culturally diverse city in the UK” The manuscript, which consists of two parchment leaves, contains parts of Suras 18 to 20, written in Hijazi, an early Arabic script. According to Professor David Thomas, Professor of Christianity and Islam, the findings are significant. With a ‘degree of confidence’ the parchment text is traceable to less than two decades after Muhammad’s death. “These portions must have been in a form that is very close to the [...]
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Continue ReadingIn an odd and provocative tweet, Richard Dawkins shared this image without context: pic.twitter.com/XlynBMwk9e — Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) July 13, 2015 A lack of context left some followers confused. Some tweeted, ‘ISIS brides?’ and ‘@RichardDawkins Oh you ‘islamophobe’ Richard! Sharing the plight of Muslim women like this. How dare you! #sarcasm’ @RichardDawkins A powerful and haunting image, but could we have some context? — Tom Towler (@tjatowler) July 13, 2015 @RichardDawkins Contextualize, please — Janne Strang (@jannestrang) July 13, 2015 Others provide context: @RichardDawkins These women are not enslaved; they're participating in a passion play. See caption in attached image. pic.twitter.com/Gyiwvx53Cv — George Maschke (@georgemaschke) July 13, 2015 @RichardDawkins This is Shiite Muslim community commemorating Ashura in Lebanon. It's not about women slavery in Islam. — Adel (@Alcon_Naphcon) July 13, 2015 The truth behind the tweeted image dates back to 2011. Ali Hashisho took the photos during the Ashura procession in the village of Saksakieh, southern Lebanon. It is important to view Hashisho’s other photos of the event. What is Ashura? The day of Ashura holds special significance for Shia Muslims. It falls on the 10th of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic calender). It commemorates the martyrdom of [...]
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Continue ReadingHow many times has the extremist group Britain First skirted right to the edge of the legal limit? How many times have its ‘supporters’ and those anti-Muslim bigots gone over the line and made assertions of violence against Islamic institutions. The link between extremist propaganda and violent ‘calls for action’ can be best summarised here:
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Continue ReadingBuddhist monks in Dhaka, Bangladesh are distributing food parcels to Muslims this Ramadan. Outside the Dhammarajika Monastery, in the Basabo neighbourhood, monks distribute hundreds of iftar parcels. Suddhananda Mahathero, the monastery’s head monk told the AFP: “Buddhism taught us that serving humanity is the ultimate religion. We are feeding the poor Muslims who cannot afford to buy proper meals to break their fast”. Some individuals travelled several kilometers on foot to cue for food. When the AFP observed, over 300 Muslims sought food parcels. A measured police presence ensures peaceful transactions. Muslims in Bangladesh colour the majority of the country’s religious makeup (86.6 per cent). The noted Buddhist minority mainly occupies the southern regions (near the border with Myanmar). In 2012, in the southeast of Bangladesh, Muslims protested a blasphemous image on Facebook. Rumour spread that the individual responsible was Buddhist. In response, protesters burnt at least four Buddhist temples and 15 homes of Buddhists. As some sought to ease community tensions, Amnesty International condemned the violence.
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Continue ReadingThanks to Sheffield Indymedia, it seems that we have found out who @bigsteve1911 is after he trolled the TELL MAMA account yesterday with the following tweet: https://twitter.com/bigsteve1911/status/617428040008749056 What is also interesting to note is that he linked to a tweet from a female resident in Scotland who previously tweeted from the @dowheater account. We are currently
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