Covid-19: PM praises Islamic centre for debunking anti-vaccine myths as mosques host vaccine clinics

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has praised the staff at Al-Hikmah Centre in Batley for their efforts in dispelling myths around Covid-19 vaccines. The Islamic centre, one of several mosques to turn their premises into pop-up clinics, has been vaccinating about 600 patients a day since it opened.

Issue 382

Editorial: All must play part in vaccine breakthrough and not blame BAME and Muslim communities

Whilst it is true that fake news has deterred some ethnic and Muslim minorities from taking the vaccine, the main culprit is the failure of the Government to reach these communities.

Editorial: Derisory and contemptible appointment aimed to scupper Prevent review

It is blatant the current Tory Government has little intent in conducting an independent review of the utterly discredited Prevent programme.

Editorial: Time overdue to stop scapegoating Muslims

Building a way out of the pandemic requires Johnson engages with Muslims in addressing persistent structural inequalities, rather than leading an un-listening team of ministers, ruling by their own dictates often ignoring and neglecting local bodies that have the necessary expertise so essentially needed.

Muslim boy, 4, referred to anti-terrorism programme after talking about video game

A four-year-old Muslim boy from the West Midlands was referred to the Government’s anti-extremism programme Prevent after he spoke about a video game at an after-school club.

Shawcross appointment ‘toxic’ for Prevent review

The controversial appointment of William Shawcross to replace Lord Carlile to head a review of the Government’s Prevent Extremism programme has come under stringent criticism.

British Muslims deserve better, says parliamentary report

The report further called for work needed to “alleviate socio-economic hardships amongst ethnic minority and Muslim communities to address the social determinants of ill-health and poor health outcomes.”

UK’s largest Muslim charity cleared of institutional anti-Semitism

The UK’s largest Muslim charity has been acquitted of institutional anti-Semitism in an independent report after its reputation was badly damaged and government funding suspended over the social media posts of two trustees and a senior member of staff.

£160k research into Covid-19 impact on Birmingham’s Muslim communities

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Birmingham’s Muslim communities and the community-led responses to it will be explored in new research by social scientists at Birmingham City University.

Coventry University and Yusuf Islam Foundation partner in exploring peace

Coventry University and the Yusuf Islam Foundation (YIF) have partnered to explore the meaning of peace in 2021.This year marks the 50th anniversary of the hit song Peace Train by Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens).

Biden’s suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE pressurizes UK to follow suit

The White House temporary suspension of arms sales agreed by President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia and the UAE has put pressure on the UK and other European countries to follow suit

Independent regulator confirms safety of Covid vaccines

The latest data published by the UK’s independent medicines regulator has this month confirmed that the country’s two approved vaccines meet strict regulatory standards for safety.

Muslim households urged to take part in Census 2021

Muslim households in England and Wales are being urged to participate in the next Census on March 21 to help aid policy-makers conduct decisions based on the latest information possible.

NHS reorganisation is less a ministerial power-grab and more a Tory apology to NHS

The NHS reorganisation is not a Tory power grab at play, but rather a belatedly implicit apology for the last decade of the wrong done to the NHS and social care.

Muslim Council of Britain elects its first female leader

The Muslim Council of Britain has elected its first female, Scottish as well as its first youngest leader on January 31.

In conversation with Thahmina Begum, one of UK’s youngest headteachers

At just 33, Thahmina Begum is believed to be one of the youngest headteachers in the country, she heads up Forest Gate Community School, an ‘outstanding’ secondary school with GCSE results in the country’s top 50.

South African military lifts ban on wearing headscarves

The South African Defence Force has revised its uniform policy to permit Muslim women to wear the hijab, an army spokesperson said.

France: Anti-Muslim attacks surge as UN is petitioned to intervene

Islamophobic attacks in France surged by more than 50 per cent last year, a monitoring group announced on January 29, the news comes amid controversy over President Emmanuel Macron’s Government’s stance towards Muslims.

Germany: Over 900 anti-Muslim attacks recorded

More than 900 Islamophobic offences were recorded in Germany in 2020, a two per cent increase from the previous year. Last year also saw the highest rates of far-right related crimes in the last four years. More than 23,000 crimes committed by the far-right afflicted people last year, an increase of several hundred from 2019.

Denmark: mosque vandalised with insulting graffiti about Qurʼān

A mosque in Denmark suffered an Islamophobic attack when someone wrote insulting message on its walls, an official at the facility announced on January 23.

UK universities failing to recognise and act on Islamophobia, says London Met report

Universities in the UK are failing to recognise or tackle the growing Islamophobia on their campuses, according to a report released last month by London Metropolitan’s Centre for Equity and Inclusion.

ICC rules it has jurisdiction over Palestinian Territories, paving way for probe of Israeli alleged war crimes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled on February 5 that it has jurisdiction over war crimes and atrocities committed in the Palestinian territories, paving the way for a criminal investigation.

Uyghur group among coalition calling for boycott of Beijing Olympics

Pro-Uyghur activists have joined a coalition of more than 180 human rights groups, among them representatives of Tibetans, Inner Mongolians, and Hong Kong residents in calling for the boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics.

Criminality through undercover policing operations and investigations

Our police and security services exist to uphold the rule of the law not to break it, the Covert Human Intelligence Services (CHIS) Bill, will decriminalise criminal conduct by intelligence or undercover-agents.

Anniversary of Khojaly massacre commemoration

Armenia committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide against Azerbaijani civilians, the most atrocious of them being in the town of Khojaly where they killed more than 613 civilians, including 106 women and 63 children in one night.

Merryl Wyn Davies, an eminent and introspective thinker

Merryl Wyn Davies was a writer and thinker, whose ideas helped shape the landscape of Muslim intellectual thought for over 40 years. She died on February 1 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after suffering a heart attack following a period of ill health.

Rubabbai Master: an educator, mentor, Qur’ān teacher and author

It is with profound sadness that we announced the passing of Rubabbai Master on January 15. Rubabbai, an educator and mentor who had dedicated her life to community service, was born in Tanzania and lived in Birmingham, UK, for the last 35 years.

Germany: Neo-Nazi charged for planning attacks targeting mosques and pro-refugee NGOs

A far-right extremist woman has been charged for planning terror attacks in Bavaria, German prosecutors announced on January 27.

Covid-19: Variants, vaccines and masks

The Government’s vaccine programme seems on course to reach its target of offering a vaccine to everyone over the age of 70 by mid-February.

Biden’s work of making America green again

Donald Trump’s presidency was unconventional in several ways, but as the world appeared to be taking climate change more seriously, his contempt for environmental safeguards was particularly contrarian.

Covid-19: Sri Lanka lifts forced cremation policy following global outcry

Sri Lanka has lifted its policy of forced cremation of Covid-19 victims, following national and international outrage by Muslim groups over the protocol practised exclusively in the predominantly Buddhist country.

Harvard Law Review elects its first Muslim president

Harvard Law Review, the world’s most prestigious law journal, has elected a Muslim president, a first in its 134-year history. 2

Remembering the 1994 Sarajevo market massacre victims

Bosnians marked the 27th anniversary of a massacre that killed 68 people and injured 150 on February 5.

Kosovo becomes third country to open embassy in Jerusalem

Kosovo and Israel established diplomatic relations on February 1 with a virtual ceremony.

Book Review: Reliving Covid through the eyes of journalists

Reporting Coronavirus is a backstage pass on the biggest stories of our lives, a collection of personal essays by ITV journalists as the most momentous story developed on their news desks.

Musings of a Mum: Pink bathroom

There was a bathroom at the far end of a house that plays a big role in my life. It’s where my cousin and I would lock ourselves in and update each other on family gossip, talking about our aspirations and what (or what not to do) to achieve them. It was our secret hideout, and it was pink

Poets Corner: The Virus

To submit a poem for publication please email editor@muslimnews.co.uk

Kamaru Usman cements UFC welterweight title

Undisputed welterweight champion Kamaru Usman cemented his position at the top of the 170-pound division by beating top contender Gilbert Burns.

Legal Corner: Can an employer defend itself where employees made inappropriate comments?

Why employers need to implement strict anti-harassment policies, training and practice

Sri Lanka cremates its global reputation

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President Biden is no different from Obama on Israel

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