Conference: Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice: Strategies for Inclusion

Next month, I’ll be presenting a paper at the “Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice: Strategies for Inclusion” conference held at London South Bank University on Thursday 18th March. As the blurb for the event goes:

The University of Southampton (School of Education, Pedagogy and Curriculum Research Centre) and London South Bank University (Gender Research Forum, Department of Social and Policy Studies) are organising a one day conference on Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice: Strategies for Inclusion at London South Bank University.

The conference brings together scholars under the following themes:
- Educational Inclusion: Difference and Diversity
- Policy, Practice and Social Justice
- Professional Experiences of Inclusion

My contribution to the conference will be a paper entitled, “Towards greater inclusiveness? A critical review of the ‘religion or belief’ equality strand”

The conference is FREE to attend but you do need to book in advance. To do so, contact the Conference Administrator Melanie Walters via email waltersm@lsbu.ac.uk by 5th March to avoid disappointment.

A flyer for the conference can be downloaded here

A conference programme can be downloaded here

EHRC’s Religion or Belief E-Newsletter

The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have today published the first edition of its ‘Religion or Belief E-Newsletter’. Included in this is a short review of the Islamophobia and religious discrimination symposium held at the University of Birmingham last December. The review is pasted below:

Islamophobia & Religious Discrimination: new perspectives, policies and practices

A symposium in December at the University of Birmingham – hosted by the Institute of Applied Social Studies (IASS) – brought together key individuals from the Department of Communities & Local Government, the Equality & Human Rights Commission, the Houses of Parliament, Birmingham City Council and the University of Birmingham amongst others, to consider the extent to which religious discrimination was on the rise and whether the current legislation and policies were working.

Interview for Voice of America (United States): “Radical Islamic Group Banned in Britain”

Following an interview with the American journalist Selah Hennessy earlier today on the banning of Islam4UK under anti-terror legislation, some of my comments have been published as part of an article for Voice of America entitled, “Radical Islamic Group Banned in Britain”. The full article is reproduced below but you can also listen to it by clicking here.

Voice of America is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the US Government and broadcasts approximately 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of 125 million people.

RADICAL ISLAMIC GROUP BANNED IN BRITAIN

The British government has banned an Islamic group under the country’s counter-terrorism laws. Islam4UK had planned to stage a march through the British town Wootton Bassett to honor Muslims killed in Afghanistan.

Britain’s home secretary has announced that from Thursday it will be a criminal offense to be part of the radical Islamic Group Islam4UK or its “parent” organization, al-Muhajiroun.

Spot the difference: Islam4UK & the Westboro Baptist Church

The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is a ‘Christian’ church based in Kansas, United States. It was established in 1952 by one Fred Phelps. The church is essentially a ‘platform’ for the views and teachings of Fred Phelps.

Islam4UK is a ‘Muslim’ organisation based in the United Kingdom. It was established circa 2005/6 by – amongst others – one Anjem Choudary. The group has been described as a ‘platform’ for the now proscribed Al-Muhajiroun.

The WBC is primarily known for its sensationalist protest activities: gay events, Kansas City Chiefs football matches, pop concerts etc.

Islam4UK is primarily known for its sensationalist protest activities: Jesus4Shariah, its calls for Buckingham Palace to be converted into a mosque etc.

Beyond the norm…? “17-year-old sentenced for raping 12-year-old Tottenham ‘wife’ “

Back in September ‘08, I posted about the conviction of Syed Mustafa Zaidi who was found guilty of child cruelty for forcing two boys to beat themselves with a bladed whip during a Shia Muslim ceremony.

Today the story of a 12 year old girl forced into illegally marrying her 16 year old cousin and then being subsequently raped by him – all at the behest of both children’s fathers and the mother of the boy – raises many of the same questions. As I put it back then – and in recognising the loaded nature of the language – how far can a society ‘tolerate’ certain cultural (and religious) practices when they go against the ‘norms’ of that society?

As with the Zaidi case, all parties were successfully and rightly prosecuted. But what about when practices are not criminal but still go against what might be seen to be the norm? How do we – or indeed should we – respond to them?