Recently in Religion Category

Reproduced below is my latest blog for Standpoint:

The Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) has been the subject of much scrutiny since Andrew Gilligan's investigation into them revealed that the group was using effective entryist tactics to infiltrate and influence local politics in East London. Local MP Jim Fitzpatrick even went so far as to say that the IFE was "trying to get individuals selected and elected" so that they could eventually achieve their goal of establishing an "Islamic social and political order" in Britain.  The IFE and its parent organisation the East London Mosque (ELM), have since been protesting against accusations of extremism.  Despite this, senior IFE member, Azad Ali, wrote a blog yesterday in which he suggested an ideological affinity between his group and Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT).

Article for the Independent by Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens & Houriya Ahmed

This is not the first time that such a condemnation has been issued by a senior Islamic authority. Yet there are two aspects to this one which set it apart from the rest.

It is an unequivocal denunciation of suicide bombings and terrorism. Dr Qadri criticises others who condemn acts of terror, while at the same time providing a catalogue of excuses for it. Addressing the audience at the fatwa launch in Westminster he said: "A total condemnation should come from the Muslim world without playing with ifs or buts. No pretext, no foreign policy, no talk of occupation."

This is a guest post by CSC Research intern, Deborah Garel.

The program to build a huge mosque next to London's Olympic site was brought to an end by Newham council yesterday.

Reproduced below is my latest blog for Standpoint magazine:

Yesterday, Home Secretary Alan Johnson banned Islam4UK in what seemed a knee-jerk reaction to their planned march in Wootten Bassett.  Although the ban has come late and was quite clearly done with the upcoming election in mind, it is still the right move.

This is a guest post by CSC Research intern, Deborah Garel:

The response to the Swiss ban on minarets has triggered extensive criticisms from most other European governments. Nonetheless, it has inspired European nativist parties to take similar measures, revealing a fear of Islam felt by some European communities and the desire of extremist parties to exploit this.

This is an article which first appeared on my Standpoint Focus on Islamism blog

Readers may remember that back in April, counter terrorism officers arrested 12 students in the North West of England as part of Operation Pathway.  The government has now released an update about the arrests and subsequent detentions, which have caused much consternation among some British Muslims, who (in some cases justifiably) saw the arrests as another example of the increased suspicion and victimisation of Muslims in the UK.

The Scottish Islamic Foundation (SIF), Scotland's primary Islamist pressure group, was forced this week to return £128,000 of public money.

This is a blog which first appeared on my Standpoint Focus on Islamism blog.

Jim Fitzpatrick, the Labour MP for Poplar and Canning town was offended this week when he was asked to sit separately from his wife at a private Muslim wedding.  He has taken the wrong fight to the right people.

The Stop the War Coalition's latest campaign, Kafa, was officially launched last Friday. Click here to read my account of the event.

Hizb-ut Tahrir (HT) Britain, a global Islamist revolutionary group calling for the establishment of an Islamic state (Khilafah), has recently issued a press statement titled 'Brown welcomes the butcher of Buner to Downing Street' - denouncing Pakistani President  Zardari's visit to the UK. Taji Mustafa HT Britain's media representative said: