If you’re looking for a formal biography and complete biography about myself, then you can visit my Wikipedia page by clicking here.

If however you’re looking for something slightly more irreverent albeit just as self-indulgent and egotistical, then read on…!!!

I’m Director of Research & Policy at brap, an equalities and human rights charity based in Birmingham where I’m involved in various projects that to turn ‘equality into reality’.

In addition to working at brap, I’ve also beenteaching at the University of Wolverhampton as a Visiting Lecturer on the ‘Contemporary Religious Landscape in Britain’ module in the Religious Studies department. Previously I taught the ‘Religious Communities in the West Midlands’ and ‘Islam’ modules also.

I am also an Associate Lecturer at the Open University for a course entitled, ‘Islam and the West: the politics of co-existence’.

I have a PhD in Theology (Islamic Studies) from the University of Birmingham where I was AHRC (Arts & Humanities Research Council) funded. Whilst there I explored the discourse and theory of Islamophobia which has provided me with a lot of opportunities to speak on this subject and to publish pretty widely.

Whilst at Birmingham, I taught for two years in the University’s Sociology department on a variety of different modules: ‘Introduction to Multiculturalism’, ‘Media, Culture & Society’ and ‘Research Skills & Methods’. I have also taught postgraduate students at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education (MIHE) on its ‘Muslims in Britain’ course as well as developing a ‘Study Skills’ module specifically for overseas students.

As mentioned previously, I have published and presented my research both here in the UK and across Europe. I was co-author of the EUMC’s synthesis report into Islamophobia in the EU following 9/11 but am now finalising the manuscript for a forthcoming book on Islamophobia (Ashgate) for publication next year. I’ve also been commissioned to edit a three series collection of books entitled ‘Muslim Diversities’ (Routledge) which should begin being published in 2008. I have a number of other chapters awaiting publication including one in Belgium and one in the United States. I also like to ‘keep my hand in’ journalistically and have a monthly column in the Birmingham Post.

Over the years, I’ve worked for a number of organisations and institutions in a range of different capacities on various projects. I’ve been commissioned either by or submitted to, the House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offences, the British Council and the Higher Education Academy’s Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies amongst others. More recently I have worked on projects for the European Commission on Security Issues in Europe, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Centre for European Policy Studies and Football Unites Racism Divides amongst others.

As a broadcaster, I have graced the camera on a number of occasions for Channel 4, the BBC, Central (ITV), Islam Channel, Sky News and Press TV. I take some pride in having been turned down for ‘The Heaven and Earth Show‘ with Gloria Hunniford for telling their researcher that as regards interfaith, you can only do so much over tea and biscuits. With the ‘face for radio’, I have been a broadcaster for the BBC’s Asian Network, 5 Live, Radio WM and Radio London amongst others. I also co-produced and co-presented a satirical radio show on Birmingham’s, Unity FM with my good friend Musab Bora as well as producing and presenting a show on South Birmingham Community Radio.

Other interesting things include the fact that I am the Chair of Birmingham County Football Association’s ‘Race Equality Action Group‘ and that I am an Executive Member of the Muslims in Britain Research Network.

At present, I live in the beautiful urban conurbation that is the West Midlands and drive a brown and cream VW Camper Van called Brian.