POLITICAL INTEGRATION OF MUSLIMS IN THE UK: WHAT TO KNOW AFTER THE HISTORIC ELECTION OF HAMZA YOUSAF

Humza Haroon Yousaf was sworn in as Scotland’s new First Minister on March 29, 2023. He become the first ever racial minority and Muslim to lead the country since it was created in 1999. He takes over from Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first female leader and the country’s longest-serving one yet.  The leader of the Scottish…

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The Public Acknowledgment of the Month of Ramadan in UK and France Amid Persistent Social and Economic Challenge

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim(lunar) calendar and the holy month of fasting and prayer started for Muslims in Europe on March 23 2023. Ramadhan lights, Charity, and Unemployment. For the first time  London’s Piccadilly Circus [fn]It’s a street illumination which runs from Coventry street and joins Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. The shapes…

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The Alarming Intensification and Globalization of Islamophobia

Jocelyne Cesari, University of Birmingham @jocelyne_cesari The first contemporary occurrence of the term Islamophobia appeared in the 1997 Runnymede report ‘Islamophobia: a challenge for us all’ to acknowledge discrimination against Islam and Muslim immigrants in the UK.  Since 9/11, it has gained political traction over Europe and the USA to decry all types of ethnic…

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The Contested Shawcross Review of PREVENT: Anti-Terrorism or Anti-Islam?

On 8 February 2023, the long-awaited report – The Independent Review of Prevent – conducted by the commissioner for public appointments William Shawcross, was published after much skepticism, delay and controversy, even from within the cabinet.[1]  The Prevent Duty, born in the wake of 9/11 as part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy, places a duty…

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Qur’an Burning in Sweden and The Netherlands: Freedom of Speech or Islamophobia?

Rasmus Paludan, a lawyer,  founder of the Danish far-right party Stram Kurs (Hard Line) established in 2017.Much of the party’s agenda focuses on building an anti-Islam narrative and engaging in  provocative acts t towards Islam and Muslims. The party uses social media platforms and public gatherings to further their agenda. The Stram Kurs also seeks…

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