A right Charlie

One does not have to profess to be an expert of Cockney rhyming slang to understand the meaning of being a ‘right Charlie.’ For French satirical magazine renamed partly as a snub to the banning of its predecessor for mocking the death of former President Charles de Gaulle, ‘Je suis Charlie’ became a rallying cry following the insidious attack on its Paris offices. Muslims around the world joined in the mass condemnations of the brutal killings but were only to be rewarded with a neurosis of Islamophobia.

Terrorism legislation stifling Muslim charities

International aid agencies, particularly Muslim charities, are being stifled in securing and transferring funds to frontline services because of the draconian effects of the Government’s counter terrorism strategy.

Birmingham riots hero takes call for inquiry into his son’s death to Home Office

The father of one of three men killed in the 2011 Birmingham riots has told the Home Office he has lost faith in the UK’s justice system following police mishandling of the investigation into his son’s killing.

Twenty four Muslims recognised in New Years Honours

Twenty four Muslims were recognised in the New Years Honours for their varying contributions to society, four more than last year and 11 more than 2013.

Churchill’s fascination with Islam

Sir Winston Churchill’s family, fearing his fascination with Islam, had urged him not to convert, a newly uncovered letter has revealed. The surprise discovery on the young Churchill, who would later lead Britain in World War II, was dated 1907.

Harrow Muslims grill General Election candidates

Local hustings for Harrow East organised by the Muslim Forum of Middlesex (MFM) generated lively debate.

Primary schoolboy named world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Pro

A primary schoolboy from Coventry has become the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at the tender age of six. The test is normally taken by young adults aiming to be I.T professionals.

Mosques raise £17,000 for local children’s hospice

Fourteen East End mosques in Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest have joined forces to raise an incredible £17,000 for local children’s charity Richard House Children’s Hospice. The fundraising campaign took place on the busiest Friday prayers of the year, December 26.

Middle East faces its worst humanitarian crisis

Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan and the former UK Minister of State for International Development, Sir Alan Duncan MP, addressed the major political and humanitarian challenges facing the Middle East on January 12 in central London.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia dies

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, 90, died on January 22, weeks after he was admitted to hospital. Abdullah, who had ruled since 2005 had been suffering from a lung infection. His 79-year-old half-brother, Salman, has been confirmed as the new king.

CIA steps up drone strikes in Pakistan

According to data released by the Conflict Monitoring Center on December 30, drone strikes in Pakistan increased, killing 153 people during 2014.

Response to Islamophobia sweeping France inadequate, say group

A member organisation of the European Network Against Racism has branded the French authorities response to the “unprecedented” rise in violent Islamophobic attacks sweeping the country as “poor” and “inadequate”.

Islamophobic attacks in Birmingham mosque, university and shops

West Midlands Police have said they are linking two Islamophobic vandal attacks in south Birmingham. A series of Muslim-owned shops and businesses are reported to have been attacked by men armed with guns and hammers.

German mosque vandalised with swastikas

A mosque under construction in Dormagen, Germany, was spray painted with swastikas and Islamophobia graffiti. The act of vandalism comes as anti-Islamic demonstrations continue to grow across Germany.

Pork or nothing, French mayor tells Muslim schoolchildren

A mayor in a north-western town in France has introduced a “pork or nothing” code at school, even for 27 students who will get no meat substitute. The rule applied from January 1 in the town of Sargé-lès-Le Mans, and may apply to Jewish pupils as well – though there aren’t any in this particular school.

Pigs heads left outside Muslim home

West Yorkshire police are appealing for witnesses after four pigs’ heads were placed on the property of a Muslim family in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Fox News blunder sparks viral backlash

The Fox News terrorism ‘expert’ who claimed that Birmingham is “totally Muslim” and closed to non-Muslims triggered a viral reaction with many people taking to social media to ridicule his dazzling error.

Muslim inmate forced to attend church service

A Muslim woman is suing an Ohio jail for forcing her to attend a Christian church service.

Islamophobic slur painted on house in Belfast

A Belfast Muslim was left distressed when his home was daubed with sick Islamophobic graffiti on January 16.

Turkey’s president tells Europe to tackle growing Islamophobia

Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on January 6, warned the EU it should tackle “Islamophobia” amid rising anti-Muslim protests. Erdogan said Islamophobia is on the rise in Europe, complaining that racist organisations won sympathy in some Western societies with “each passing day”.

Swedes rally after series of arson attacks on mosques

Thousands of Swedes participated in anti-Islamophobia and anti-racism demonstrations in their country’s major cities on January 2 following three arson attacks on mosques. The crowds in Stockholm gathered outside the Royal Palace in the Old Town hold banners reading: “Don’t touch my mosque”.

Anti-Islam protesters swarm anti-Islamophobia conference in Texas

An anti-Islamophobia conference in Dallas, Texas, US, was met with demonstrators holding American flags and signs railing against Shari’a.

LEGAL CORER: Caste discrimination prohibited where it is an aspect of ethnic origin

In early 2013 I wrote an article about the various attempts to prohibit discrimination on grounds of caste. Specific provisions in this regard have not as yet come into force. However, the Employment Appeal Tribunal have just issued a judgment in the case of Chandok v Tirkey UKEAT/0190/14 which specifically deals with this issue.

BOOK REVIEW: Western defender of the Prophet of Islam

Stubbe and the Prophet Muhammad: Challenging Misrepresentation. By Nabil Matar. London, Richmond, Surrey: AMSS UK, 2012, pp25, PB

POETS’ CORNER: AWAITED

When the sun spits another unforgiving morning,
Rain erases – undisrupted
– Old dewdrops of regret.
What does it matter if a barkless dog
Bites bodies and their hearts?
Listen.

Who to target for satire

Despite the fact I write for the Press, I gave up news almost five years ago. The odd piece sneaks in, obviously, but, on the whole, I read only features, long-form and books. When the ‘odd bit’ does sneak in, it’s usually via Twitter. Thus I discovered what happened in Paris. My fears were confirmed: yet again, someone killed civilians and claimed to be acting on behalf of a much bigger group of people. Cue recriminations, sage words of advice from media bigwigs and the endless debate over press freedoms.

Environment: Green technologies we can expect to see more of in 2015

Each year, a host of new gadgets and gizmos are birthed into the market to satisfy any and all of our material whims. This year, we take a look at the technologies that we can expect to see more of in 2015..

Inactivity is killing more people than obesity

Physical inactivity is causing twice as many deaths as obesity, according to a new European study that documented people’s health over a 12 year period.

Sport Brief January 2015

Morocco will not be suspended from the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Qatar has won a bid to host Asian men’s handball qualifiers and Muhammad Ali has been readmitted to hospital for treatment.

Insulting faiths fans flames of Islamophobia

Need for tolerance

Late Dr Beg, passionate for Islamic history & culture

Muslimah not allowed to pray in mosque

Lib Dems working to raise profile of mental health service