Good Muslim Citizens? Conceptualisations of British citizenship among Muslims (original) (raw)
Related papers
Good Muslim Citizens? Conceptualisation of British citizenship among Muslims
TO CITE: Sobolewska (2012) "Good Muslim Citizens? Conceptualisation of British citizenship among Muslims" Studia Erasmiana Wratislaviensia, Vol.V, 251-267. After September 11 th the European Muslim minorities became subject to increased hostility, suspicion and prejudice. Since then, following the war in Iraq, 7/7 London bombings, 21/7 attempted London bombings, and the affair over the Danish cartoons, it has gotten progressively worse. Increasingly, the 'strongly voiced if imprecise doubts (…) on their loyalty as citizens' 1 became a huge part of this prejudice. Numerous surveys questioning Muslim Britons on issues of Sharia law and freedom of speech were published and despite being most seriously flawed in their methods, gained mainstream influence and fuelled the fear-mongering atmosphere surrounding the Muslim minorities in Britain (all these surveys aside from the policy exchange). The left wing media has been particularly critical of Muslims as a result of the assumption that Islam is inherently illiberal. 2 Islam is often perceived as a threat to British values and as incompatible with British democracythe wider public supports this view in surprisingly large numbers: a MORI poll from August 2005 showed 27% Britons believed in such incompatibility, and a PEW GLOBAL poll from June 2006 confirmed that 54% of Britons saw a conflict between being a devout Muslim and in living in a modern society. Fuelled by the everpopular notion of the clash of civilisations, 3 doubts over how the allegedly illiberal and culturally alien Islam will fit into modern British democratic values are growing. One consequence of this perception of Islam is the suspicions that British Muslims are not 'good citizens'. There are two reasons why this is not only interesting but also important to address. Firstly, the notion of British citizenship is at best fluid and 1 T. Modood, Muslims and the Politics
2004
I Is sl la am mi ic c H Hu um ma an n R Ri ig gh ht ts s C Co om mm mi is ss si io on n Dual Citizenship: British, Islamic or Both? Obligation, Recognition, Respect and Belonging S Sa ai ie ed d R R. . A Am me el li i A Ar rz zu u M Me er ra al li i B Br ri it ti is sh h M Mu us sl li im ms s' ' E Ex xp pe ec ct ta at ti io on ns s o of f t th he e G Go ov ve er rn nm me en nt t Dual Citizenship: British, Islamic or Both? Obligation, Recognition, Respect and Belonging S Sa ai ie ed d R R. . A Am me el li i A Ar rz zu u M Me er ra al li i www.ihrc.org.uk
Islamic citizenship in Britain after 7/7: tackling extremism and preserving freedoms
The state we are in: identity, terror and the law of jihad, 2006
THE WEEKS AFTER the London bombings of 7/7, the most deadly to strike the capital since the Second World War, have been testing times for British Muslims. We struggle under a threefold burden. Like others, we nervously rang family and friends to find out if they were all right. The mangled and twisted frame of the familiar double-decker bus and the unseen horror in the Tube tunnels below London's streets signalled a new and bloody era. We learnt with shock that our own community had produced Britain's first homegrown suicide bombers, seemingly integrated British lads. Our feelings of moral outrage were tempered by profound disquiet that this had been carried out in the name of our religion. Finally, we have felt the consequences, the most fearsome part of which has not been the six hundred per cent rise in faith-hate crimes in London during the first four weeks, 1 but a lurch towards draconian legislation amid talk of the failure of British multiculturalism from across the political spectrum. 2
Muslims in Western States: The British Experience and the Way Forward
Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 2008
Almost one third of the world's Muslims live as minorities in non-Muslim states. This article examines the position of Muslims in the West with special reference to Muslims in the United Kingdom. First, an overview of Muslims in Western states is presented, concentrating on Muslims in the United States, Canada, Australia and Western Europe. Second, the demographic and socioeconomic position of Muslims in Britain is discussed, particularly highlighting various issues facing them. Third, the issues of religious discrimination and the feeling of insecurity among British Muslims, as well as state policies towards Muslims, are examined. Finally, it is argued that Western states, including Britain, have a long way to go in terms of their policies to accept Muslims as equal citizens and, in this context, several lines of action are proposed.
Sociology Compass, 2007
This essay explores the issues of multiculturalism, Islamism and the experiences of Muslim minorities in Western Europe and in Britain in the light of the events of 9/11 and 7 July London bombings. First, the experience of immigrants and minorities and the key historical and cultural debates in which the idea of Europe has emerged is contextualised. Second, the debate in relation to how multiculturalism in Western Europe is conceived and problematised is focused upon. Third, a detailed discussion of the British experience of multiculturalism is elaborated upon, exploring the various shifts in discourse and policy-maker thinking. Finally, suggestions for moving ahead are discussed, and how it might provide impetus to academic, governmental, civil society and practitioner action. In conclusion, it is argued that the challenges that Muslim minority youth face in Western Europe are many but not insurmountable if one takes into consideration the needs and aspirations of a society that is inclusive and forward looking but also aware of the historical and contemporaneous factors involved in the alienation and the marginalisation of variously incorporated Muslim minorities.
Citizenship, participation and identity construction: Political mobilization amongst British Muslims
Recent thinking on the topic of citizenship addresses the diversity to be found in contemporary societies. In so doing, it draws attention to issues raised by the assertion of group identities. Correspondingly, developing conceptions of citizenship move beyond considerations of individuals’ legal rights and obligations, and highlight the importance of exploring the processes by which collective rights are asserted. This puts the issue of identity and identity-related action centre stage. In this paper we develop a social psychological perspective on collective identity and action that contributes to these developments. Using data gathered from Muslims living in Britain, we explore the arguments taking place within this community concerning their relations with the non-Muslim majority (especially as manifested in a debate concerning participation in UK General Elections). We show that Muslim identity is a site of contestation with different identity constructions being advanced by those seeking to organise divergent forms of claims-making and collective action. More specifically, we show how contrasting forms of action (designed to bring about different social relations) are advanced through different invocations of Prophetic example when Muslims were social and numerical minorities. Overall, we hope to illustrate the importance of conceiving of identities as constructed in the context of articulating, and mobilising support for, political claims.
Multiculturalism, Muslims and Citizenship: A European Approach
2006
1. European Challenges to Multicultural Citizenship: Muslims, Secularism and Beyond Anna Triandafyllidou, Tariq Modood, Ricard Zapata-Barrero 2. Multiculturalism, citizenship and Islam in problematic encounters in Belgium Hassan Bousetta and Dirk Jacobs 3. British Muslims and the Politics of Multiculturalism Tariq Modood 4. French Secularism and Islam France's Headscarf Affair Riva Kastoryano 5. The Particular Universalism of a Nordic Civic Nation: Common Values, State Religion, and Islam in Danish Political Culture Per Mouritsen 6. Enemies Within the Gates - The Debate about the Citizenship of Muslims in Germany Werner Schiffauer 7. Religious Diversity and Multiculturalism in Southern Europe: The Italian Mosque Debate Anna Triandafyllidou 8. The Muslim Community and Spanish Tradition: Maurophobia as a Fact, and Impartiality as a Desideratum Ricard Zapata-Barrero 9. Secularism and the Accommodation of Muslims in Europe Tariq Modood and Riva Kastoryano 10. Europe, Liberalism and ...
Islam and Muslim Communities in the UK: Multiculturalism, Faith and Security
The International Spectator, 2013
This piece examines the relationship of Muslim communities to the UK mainstream between 2005 and 2010. Using the dual backdrop of the country's embedded multiculturalism policy and its counter-terrorism strategy implemented through the Prevent agenda, the authors brush a picture of a tense yet ultimately resilient relationship. While Prevent was often accused of leading to a securitisation of community policy, it is arguable that tensions have led to increased visibility and leadership capacity from the Muslim community, and a recognition of their role and diversity on behalf of the public and the government.