Muslim Apologism and a Neo-Islam
In the wake of any putative"terror attack", many Muslims can be seen sitting with bated breath, keyboards and phones at the ready, waiting to condemn...
Why I am against grammar schools
Meritocratic Society or Politics in Play? On the 12th of September 2016, PM Theresa May unveiled plans to lift the near 20-year ban introduced by Labour in 1998 against opening new grammar schools. Plans not initially present in the 2015 election manifesto, May’s idea has been met with considerable opposition on all sides. In support of these plans, Schools Minister Nick Gibb explained that a new wave of grammar schools would “specialise in more academically able children” and would, in turn, facilitate their goals of wanting to join elite professions such as Law and Medicine. Addressing the ResearchEd National Conference…
The Playboy Hijab
Playboy: /ˈplāˌboi/ noun noun: playboy; plural noun: playboys A wealthy man who spends his time enjoying himself, especially one who behaves irresponsibly or is sexually promiscuous. Playboy Magazine: Founded by Hugh Hefner, Chicago 1953. Known primarily for its centerfolds of nude and semi nude models. First issue featured actress Marilyn Monroe as centerfold icon. Also publishes short stories, full-page colour cartoons, and interviews of significant figures. Hijab: /hiˈjäb/ noun noun: hijab; plural noun: hijabs A cloth covering the head and extended over the chest - worn in the presence of males outside a Muslim woman’s immediate family. Often worn as…
How does the media fuel Islamophobia?
Introduction We have to acknowledge that the media, more often than not, shapes and actively crafts public opinion rather than mirroring it. We still live in a time where the majority of people assume they are being fed facts as opposed to opinions or editorialised facts. They take the media, particularly the news, as the gospel truth. Most people accept the narratives unquestionably. So, if the papers say that we have a problem with Islamic extremism, it means we have a problem with Islamic extremism. If non-violent extremism is the same as violent extremism, then it is the same. If…
Freedom of speech is an ideological construct
The recent events in Paris have engendered a series of questions relating to “freedom of speech” and the role of the Muslim communities in the West. Subsequently, the responses resonating across the Muslim world have failed to engage with the underlying assumptions which inform the debates. Notions of “freedom of speech” and integration are left unquestioned whereas questions about Islām and identity are forced on Muslims across the world. In turn, our engagement remains self-defeating and apologetic. In this piece, we will aim at providing an alternative response which begins by putting under question the previously domineering assumptions that inform…