- Wednesday, June 07, 2023
Perhaps the most surprising British Asian book published in 2022 was 'Sex Bomb: The Life and Loves of an Asian Babe'. Apart from being an accomplished debut, the acclaimed memoir tackled taboo subjects, presented a unique protagonist, and offered up the kind of comedy not seen before. The widely acclaimed…
The head of the Royal Air Force (RAF), Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, has said increased diversity in the armed forces is “mission critical” in future battles as he vowed to attract the “brightest and best of every single community”. Currently, 2.1 per cent of all RAF service personnel…
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has topped Time magazine’s poll for its annual TIME100 list, bagging more reader votes than football ace Lionel Messi, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. According to the American publication, the “Pathaan” star got over four per cent…
The delightful debut from Farhana Islam is a celebration of Muslim women, diversity, and inclusivity, which opens, up new worlds for young readers and parents alike. The book gorgeously illustrated by Nabila Adani, brings bright colour and lovable characters to the young readers. Eastern Eye caught up with the Birmingham…
INDIA imposed by far the highest number of internet shutdowns in the world in 2022, internet advocacy watchdog Access Now has said, as the country topped the list for the fifth successive year. Out of 187 internet shutdowns globally recorded by Access Now, 84 took place in India, including 49…
Police have been looking for a man who is accused of assaulting a Muslim woman on racist grounds on board a bus in London in November last year. According to a report by MyLondon, the woman faced the racially-aggravated attack while wearing a hijab in a Route 207 bus around…
Member parliamentarians of the Women and Equalities Committee of the UK parliament was on Wednesday (18) told that that game of football has been 'used to fuel racism, far right activity and misogyny'. According to a report by the Mirror, campaigner Shaista Aziz told the committee that there were "two…
The ‘hijabi receptionist’ of The Apprentice has drawn the attention of social media users as the latest series of the BBC’s iconic reality show has kicked off.Khadeejah Khan is the new right-hand woman of the show host and ‘boss’ Alan Michael Sugar. The Pakistani woman shared a video of herself…
Dozens of Afghan academics have quit teaching in protest against the Taliban’s widely condemned order barring university education for women.Women in Afghanistan endured a challenging environment on campuses even before a decree last month completely excluded them from higher education, a move that triggered international outrage.At least 60 Afghan academics…
Over 600 film personalities, including filmmaker Mira Nair, Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo, and Oscar winners Mark Rylance and Kate Winslet, have signed a petition calling for the release of Iranian actor Taraneh Alidoosti. Ruffalo shared the news in a post on Instagram on Monday and posted an image that included…
Taliban-appointed Education Minister in Afghanistan on Thursday said Afghan women were banned from university 'for not following dress code' which has sparked a global backlash. The continuation of co-education and lack of observation of hijab by students were among the reason cited by Taliban minister Neda Mohammad Nadim for banning…
Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begum has won the 2022 Young People’s MP of the Year award by the Patchwork Foundation at the MP of the Year awards ceremony. The event was hosted and presented by the Patchwork Foundation’s Patron and speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle in Speaker’s House. Begum was…
The Taliban is banning women from using gyms in Afghanistan, an official said on Thursday, the religious group's latest edict cracking down on women's rights and freedoms since they took power more than a year ago. The Taliban overran the country last year, seizing power in August 2021. They have…
London has evolved as a diverse city over the decades with more than 300 languages spoken in the British capital now. While Transport of London allows its staff and others to wear any religious symbols today, the situation was different earlier. A look at its transformation as a multicultural city…
On a soccer pitch in a central London park, Sisterhood Football Club - a Muslim women's team - is making a substitution. "Your hijab, tuck it in. It can't get in the way," a teammate calls out as the replacement player runs on. Despite the warmth of the afternoon, all…
Glasgow councillor Fyeza Ikhlaq has revealed that she experienced hate crime following 7/7 bombings in London in 2005. While debating a motion to tackle hate crime in the Scottish city, Ikhlaq said that she had her hijab ripped from her head on Argyle Street and was spat on after the…
BRITAIN’S first hijab wearing police officer is hoping she can inspire more people from the south Asian community to join a “very diverse” force. Khadeejah Mansur joined the Leicestershire Police force in October 2020 because she wanted to “represent our diverse communities, especially here in Leicester”. “The message I want…
EU companies can ban the visible wearing of religious signs, including headscarves if the rules apply to all workers, the European Union's top court said on Thursday, the latest ruling on an issue that has divided Europe for years. However, it said that if one religion is effectively discriminated against…
Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas has lent her support to the ''courageous women'' of Iran who have been protesting over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Priyanka posted a message for the Iranian protestors on Instagram, saying she is in awe of their courage as they fight for their rights. ''The…
British-Egyptian Mohammed Hijab, who has a sizable presence on social media platforms including YouTube and Twitter, responded to the accusation of mocking reincarnation, a key tenet of the Hindu faith. “I wasn't actually mocking reincarnation in that situation, I was saying that if I believed in reincarnation. I have to…
The Iranian security forces arrest a woman for eating at a restaurant in public without her hijab, according to her family. Donya Rad was arrested after a photo of her and another woman eating at a Tehran restaurant without their headscarves was widely circulated online, reported CNN. The photo emerged…
Hollywood star Angelina Jolie wants the world to divert its attention to what is happening in Iran, which is currently gripped by protests from women following the death of a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini. Amini died on September 16 in Iran after being detained by the country's Morality Police…
Hadis Najafi, a young Iranian woman, whose video of tying her unscarved hair back and boldly stepping into the middle of a protest went viral, was allegedly shot dead in the country, according to reports. https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1573963922306129920?s=20&t=74G-k2lK9F4xByJT5TUBvA A video of her funeral has gone viral, which shows people weeping over a…
Over 700 people have been arrested in one province of Iran since the protest erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after her arrest for allegedly failing to comply with Iran's strict rules on women's dress by wearing an "improper hijab". According to Tasnim…
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday cancelled the scheduled interview with the US journalist as she refused to wear a hijab for the interaction. This comes amid massive protests in Iran that escalated after the death of a woman in police custody for breaking hijab laws. An interview of Iranian…
Protests have spread across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini after the young woman was arrested by the morality police, as a rights group said Wednesday (20) two more protesters were killed overnight, raising the toll to six. Public anger has flared since Iranian authorities on Friday announced the…
Five people were killed in Iran's Kurdish region on Monday when security forces opened fire during protests over the death of a woman in police custody, a Kurdish rights group said, on the third day of turmoil over an incident that has ignited nationwide anger. Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old from…
A slew of protests erupted in Iran on Sunday over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, following her detention by the country's morality police as women protesters cut their hair and burnt hijabs to protest against the mandatory veiling of women, media reports said. Masih Alinejad, an Iranian…
History-making Muslim model Halima Aden was seen posing for a selfie with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry while attending the One Young World Summit in Manchester this evening. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were present to deliver the keynote address at the event at Bridgewater Hall. The royal couple…
The secretary of Iran’s Headquarters for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, Mohammad Saleh Hashemi Golpayegani, said Tehran is planning planning to use facial recognition technology to enforce the country’s tough new law which makes wearing hijabs in public compulsory. The women breaking the law signed by President Ebrahim Raisi on…
Taliban on Sunday said that it is ready for engagement with the international community, but if "they are against Islam, are not acceptable." "We just follow Allah, Prophet Mohammad, the Caliph of Rashidun and Companions in implementation of our law. We don't accept anything from anyone which is against Islam,"…
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear next week appeals challenging Karnataka High Court's order which upheld the state government's decision to ban wearing hijabs in school and college classrooms. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli said it…
BRITISH Sikh MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, best known as Tan Dhesi, has met US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in London. Last week, Tan Dhesi shared a picture of their meeting on Twitter. "When first hijab wearing woman elected to US Congress @IlhanMN meets first ever turbaned Sikh elected to any European…
Ahead of the religious scholars' grand gathering of Taliban, the deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban, Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi announced on Wednesday that the meeting will convene without the participation of women. Over 3,000 religious scholars, tribal elders, intellectuals, influential figures and national traders will attend the gathering at…
Mandana Karimi was at the receiving end of criticism for posting an Instagram Reel wearing a Hijab. The actress was seen twerking and dancing as she was recorded on camera in a mall. It was all probably a part of the shoot but the actress was dressed in a burqa…
A group of Afghan women protested in Kabul against the Taliban for the violations of their rights and the removal of women from government institutions. The group protested on Thursday (9) under the banner of Female Civil Service Employment of Afghanistan and urged the Taliban to allow women to return…
WITH great power comes great responsibility,’ are words etched in Marvel folklore, thanks to Spiderman. But now, these words are just as important to Iman Vellani, Marvel’s first-ever Muslim superhero. The 19-year-old plays Kamala Khan, aka Ms Marvel, in the new Disney+ series of the same name. “We’re really shifting…
THE All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has said that "India belongs to Dravidians and Adivasis", and not to him, or Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP head Sharad Pawar and prime minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a rally in Bhiwandi town here in Maharashtra on Saturday (28) evening, the…
This month Afghanistan's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a diktat for women to cover up fully in public, including their faces, ideally with the traditional burqa.The Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice ordered women television presenters to follow suit.Presenters relent after defianceAfter defying the order a day…
A niqab-wearing mother-of-four will contest Blackburn's Bastwell and Daisyfield ward in May’s local council elections as a Tory candidate, according to reports. Fajila Patel, 36, says she wants to 'inspire' more women to get into politics - including those who adopt the full veil, reported MailOnline. She is backed by…
Days after her remarks on hijab made headlines, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu on Wednesday said as a youth of the country she simply shared her perspective when asked to comment on the issue. The 24-year-old, who won the coveted pageant earlier this year, said the matter in question was…
INDIA’S Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging a lower court order which upheld a local ban on wearing the hijab in educational institutions.It said it will consider listing the case after the Holi festival which is celebrated on Friday (18).The petitioners - a group of schoolgirls - moved the country’s…
HARDLINE Hindu groups are demanding restrictions on wearing the hijab in classrooms in more Indian states after a court upheld a ban on the traditional Islamic head-scarf in Karnataka state, worrying Muslim students who had protested against the ban. The Karnataka High Court decision on Tuesday (15), backing the southern…
AN INDIAN court upheld on Tuesday (15) a ban on wearing the hijab in classrooms in the southern state of Karnataka, a ruling that could set a precedent for the rest of the country which has a big Muslim minority.The ban last month by the state sparked protests by some…
A NUMBER of remarkable women were amongst the winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (8). Bina Mehta took home the coveted GG2 Hammer Award, presented to a BAME person who has smashed the proverbial glass ceiling, for her rise…
UN rights experts have called for an end to "misogynistic and sectarian" online attacks against a female Muslim Indian journalist, asking the authorities to investigate the harassment. Rana Ayyub, a fierce critic of prime minister Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist government of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been…
MOB violence broke out in a south Indian city, leaving several people injured, following the murder of a Hindu activist over the weekend.Harsha, 26, a member of the hardline outfit Bhajrang Dal, was allegedly stabbed to death by a group in Shivamogga, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) from Bangalore, on…
Former Bollywood actor Zaira Wasim, who shot to fame after playing an important role in Aamir Khan’s Dangal (2016), has reacted to the ongoing hijab controversy that erupted in the Indian state of Karnataka a month ago at a college in Udupi. She said that hijab is not a choice…
INDIA'S home minister said he favoured students wearing uniforms in school rather than any religious attire, but that his position might change once a court decides on the merits of a ban on the hijab in schools in the state of Karnataka. The ban imposed by Karnataka on Feb. 5…
SCHOOLS reopened in southern India under tight security on Wednesday (16) with public gatherings banned following protests over Muslim girls wearing the hijab in classrooms. Tensions have been high in Karnataka state since late last year when at least four schoolgirls were prevented from wearing the Muslim headscarf, sparking protests…
A dispute over restrictions on the wearing of the hijab by female students in a southern Indian state has now reached India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, with a group of youngsters asking a college to ban the head covering. Authorities closed colleges in Karnataka in India's south last…
A state in southern India re-opened some schools on Monday (14) that had been closed following protests last week over female students not being allowed to wear hijabs, or head-to-toe burqas, in class. The issue, widely seen by India's Muslim minority community as a bid to sideline it by authorities…
Facing a choice between her schooling and her religious beliefs, A.H. Almas says she had no choice at all. The 18-year-old Muslim pupil at the Women's Pre-University College in Udupi in majority-Hindu India has been wearing the Islamic headscarf since she was a child. But in December, authorities banned her…
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE winner Malala Yousafzai has said disallowing the hijab (Islamic headscarf) in schools is “horrifying”, referring to a row over the controversy in a south Indian state. Yousafzai's observation comes amid protests in Karnataka after a college in the temple town of Udupi banned the hijab. Six students…
Authorities in southern India ordered schools to shut on Tuesday (8) as protests intensified over a ban on Islamic headscarves that has outraged Muslim students. The stand-off in Karnataka state has galvanised fears among the minority community about what they say is increasing persecution under the Hindu nationalist government of…
PREVIEW OF READING LIST RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE YEAR AHEAD A WONDERFUL array of brilliant books turned 2021 into a great year for south Asian writers and early indications are that this impressive momentum will continue in 2022. Eastern Eye has compiled a list of interesting books that are on the…
A top chef in the UK has been accused of religious discrimination after he allegedly told a catering manager to remove a Sikh bangle so that it would not get caught in a ladle, The Times reported. Niranjit Moorah Singh said that Herbert Berger, the former executive chef at the…
ETHNIC minority employees at Leonardo, an aerospace engineering company which employs more than 7,500 people across the UK, said the company's commitment to diversity has helped them grow and achieve their career goals. Hania Mohiuddin, who started as a systems engineer, is currently part of Leonardo's most transformational project, Tempest.…
ATTIYA KHAN DISCUSSES HER COMING-OF-AGE DEBUT NOVEL HAVING a novel published is something Attiya Khan had wanted since she was a little girl, and that dream finally came true earlier this month with her delightful debut book Ten Steps To Us. She wrote an opening scene during a creative writing…
A woman who lost her British citizenship after joining the Islamic State (Daesh) group said on Wednesday (15) she would be prepared to return to face terror charges so she can prove her innocence. Shamima Begum was 15 when she travelled from her home in London in 2015 with two…
AFGHAN taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi competed in the Paralympic Games on Thursday (2), becoming the first female Afghan to do so since Athens 2004, after a secret international effort to help her get out of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The 22-year-old and her compatriot Hossain Rasouli arrived in Tokyo on aug 28…
A FEMALE police officer, hailed as a hero for tackling anti-lockdown protesters last year, is under investigation for allegedly posting a series of racist tweets. Ruby Begum mocked the 9/11 terror attacks and called for a retribution for Israel during its conflict with Palestine in 2014. “Must be stupid if you…
ASIAN campaigners have urged authorities to take action against racism within football, as their viral petition to ban perpetrators permanently from matches in England garnered more than one million signatures last month. Footballers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were the targets of racial abuse and online trolling after…
AN Asian author has expressed hope her debut graphic memoir will “become a safe space” for others. Sabba Khan’s The Roles We Play is described as a “vivid snapshot of contemporary British Asian life” which “investigates the complex shifts experienced by different generations within migrant communities.” It explores her Mirpuri…
THE PARENTS of a missing 11-year-old girl have said they are in a "state of shock" and urged her to let them know she is safe. The girl allegedly left home without their knowledge on Thursday (22) night and police are still searching for her. Fatuma Kadir, from Bolton,…
A GROUP of more than two dozen US lawmakers have written to secretary of state Antony Blinken, urging him to appoint a special envoy to combat the alleged rise in attacks against the Muslim community in different parts of the world, including China, India and Myanmar. Terming Islamophobia a "global…
A LONDON court was scheduled to begin on Wednesday (21) the trial of Apsana Begum, the Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, in a case of alleged council housing fraud. Snaresbrook Crown Court is expected to hold the hearing for six to eight days and the MP is exempted from…
A TOP court in the EU on Thursday (15) ruled that companies can ban employees from wearing a hijab headscarf, if they need to do so to project an image of neutrality to customers The Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice (CJEU) was ruling on cases brought by two Muslim women…
MUSLIM women in India, who found themselves listed for “auction” on a controversial site earlier this month, have spoken out how the incident has taken a toll on their mental health as they constantly fear for their safety. Dozens of Muslim women were being offered for sale in fake…
Southgate’s inclusive England must be defended from hatred This is our England. Disappointed in defeat. Proud to have seen our national team contest a major tournament final. More confident this month about the appeal of an inclusive England – open to everybody who calls England home – than it has…
AHEAD of England's Euro 2020 semifinal clash against Denmark on Wednesday (7), a new campaign, #EnglandTogether, is calling on fans to show their support for the team and also back the idea for an inclusive England that is shared by people of all backgrounds. Supporters from faith, diversity and cohesion…
Running in groups helps tackle threats and gives confidence BRITISH Asian runners have revealed the racist and sexist behaviour they have suffered and how local clubs have helped them tackle safety fears. A recent survey found that 60 per cent of women said they had been harassed while out jogging…
SHAMIMA BEGUM still remains at the al-Roj camp in northern Syria with her British citizenship stripped, and in a latest interview for a documentary says she does not need to be rehabilitated. She said she would rather 'love' to help rehabilitate others. During the interview with journalist Andrew Drury, she…
PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan has called for action against Islamophobic websites and urged the international community to holistically counter the “prejudice” against Muslims. He said the pattern of recent attacks on Muslims in western countries pointed to “growing Islamophobia” and this requires a better understanding of the community to…
THE principal at Pimlico Academy in Westminster, central London at the centre of a row over the school's “racist” uniform policies has backed down following student protests on Wednesday (31). In a letter to parents last night, Daniel Smith, promised to revise the ban on hairstyles that "block the view…
by LAUREN CODLING THE murder of Sarah Everard has “reinforced the fear” of travelling and going outside alone, women have said, as they detailed the measures they take to feel safe. The body of Everard, 33, was found last week in a woodland area of Kent. The marketing executive was…
Imams across Britain are helping a drive to dispel coronavirus disinformation, using Friday sermons and their influential standing within Muslim communities to argue that Covid-19 vaccines are safe. Qari Asim, chairman of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) which is leading a campaign to reassure its faithful, is…
BRITAIN’s first hijab-wearing judge wants to ensure “the sound of diversity is heard loud and clear”, and inspire young Muslims to “follow their dreams”. Raffia Arshad, 40, who has been appointed as deputy district judge in the Midlands circuit, said her elevation was “not just a personal success”, but an…
by ASJAD NAZIR SHE has done great work in film and television, but British actress Manjinder Virk is perhaps at her best on stage and is showing just why with a lead role in the play A Kind Of People at Royal Court Theatre in London. The new play from…
By Sarwar Alam FOOTBALL organisations should unite in the fight against racism and discrimination in the game, the new chairman of Kick It Out, Sanjay Bhandari, has said. He also announced a three-month Strategic Review which he hopes will enable him to understand the role Kick It Out can play…
A Labour candidate for the West Midlands metro mayor has vowed to continue to fight on in the face of "vicious character assassination." Salma Yaqoob is reportedly being pressurised to stand down in the race to become Labour's candidate for West Midlands mayor. But she has no intention of doing…
A LABOUR MP has once again opened up about being diven to "contemplating suicide" by a West Midlands mayoral candidate from her own party. Naz Shah, the shadow minister of state for women and equalities, took to Twitter on Tuesday (22) to reiterate her claims that Salma Yaqoob, who ran…
NEW theatre play Stardust is a Bollywood-inspired musical that revolves around the theme of reincarnation. The latest production from British production company Phizzical has a multi-cultural cast and been a passion project for director Samir Bhamra, who has worked hard to bring it to the stage. Eastern Eye caught up with Samir during rehearsals…
Some 200,000 Rohingya rallied in a Bangladesh refugee camp on Sunday (25) to mark two years since they fled a violent crackdown by Myanmar forces, just days after a second failed attempt to repatriate the refugees. Around 740,000 Rohingya from Myanmar's Rakhine state escaped in August 2017 during the brutal…
by LAUREN CODLING A PERSON’S race or ethnicity is most likely to provoke online hate, a new study has shown, as a leading academic warned virtual abuse can severely affect a victim’s “offline world”. The new report, led by the University of East London (UEL) and released last month, revealed…
A PHOTO of a smiling woman in hijab wearing a peace sign in front of anti-Muslim protesters is going viral. Shaymaa Ismaa'eel, 24, was attending the Islamic Circle of North America convention in Washington, D.C. over the weekend when she came across a group of anti-Muslim protesters holding signs against…
ASDA has reached out to British Asian food bloggers and chefs to recreate the global flavours of Ramadan with ingredients bought from the supermarket retailer. Inspiration for Ramadan recipes can come from around the world and these days it's not just traditional dishes such as chai and samosas that adorn…
by LAUREN CODLING AN IMMERSIVE “escape room” experience aiming to question power and privilege will be staged at London’s Royal Court Theatre this month. Entirely audience led, Dismantle This Room is an hour-long experience which will see individuals collaborate to “interrogate the established power structures in theatre”. They will be…
THE bodies of victims from New Zealand's mosques mass shooting were carried in open caskets on the shoulders of mourners into a large tent at Christchurch's Memorial Park Cemetery on Wednesday (20) - the first burials of the 50 victims. The majority of victims from Friday's (15) attack in the South Island…
A MAN has been arrested after police investigated a video that shows a man following Muslim schoolgirls and calling for them to be sterilised. A male in his 60s was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on Monday (28) on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. In the video,…
Sajid Javid has revealed the attack on a young Syrian refugee at a school in Huddersfield reminded him of the racist abuse he suffered when he was at school. In a video that shocked the nation, 15-year-old Jamal was headbutted and waterboarded by another pupil at Almondbury Community School on October 25. In a separate video recorded at the same…
by ROSHAN DOUG THE Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) Tartuffe centres on the household of Imran and Amira Pervez (played by Simon Nagra and Sasha Behar, respectively). The classic is recontextualised to make the ideas topical and more relevant to the concerns of Britain's post-Brexit, 21st-century multiculturalism. Hence, instead of the…
A student from Huddersfield University has become the first hijab-wearing finalist of the Miss England beauty pageant in Nottinghamshire. Sara Iftekhar, who is studying law, came up against 49 other hopefuls last night for the crown after she had won the Miss Huddersfield 2018 title in July. Though she lost…
by LAUREN CODLING PRIME minister Theresa May has been cautioned against “whitewashing” any inquiries on former foreign secretary Boris Johnson’s remarks about burqas, as a leading charity has warned hate crime aimed at Muslim women had spiked since his divisive comments. In a letter on Monday (13), the Muslim Council…
Hate crimes against Muslim women in Britain could jump after former foreign minister Boris Johnson likened burqa-wearers to “letter boxes” and "bank robbers”, activists said on Thursday (9). Anti-hate crime groups said the comments by Johnson, who resigned last month, would encourage Islamophobic and sexist abuse at a time when attacks were…
by LAUREN CODLING A NEW play hoping to challenge perceptions about religious stereotypes premiered at a London theatre earlier this month. Alkaline focuses on two friends, Sophie and Sarah, who attempt to reconnect at a dinner party. Sarah has recently converted to Islam and Sophie struggles to understand her friend’s…
by NADEEM BADSHAH SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS TOLD TO MAN UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY SOCIAL media giants need to monitor their content better to stop the spread of fake news that can spread “resentment and anger” between communities, experts have urged. They have also called for tougher libel laws to punish…
by NADEEM BADSHAH STUDENTS have revealed the scale of racism in universities and accused institutions of failing to do enough to tackle the issue. Last week, Warwick University expelled three students as it investigates complaints of alleged instances of racial slurs discussed among some students on social media. Figures show that incidents of racism in…
A 28-year-old student in has been racially attacked by a white man, shouting "Brexit, go back home" after the man made sexist remarks towards a hijab-clad woman. Rickesh Advani, a political science student at Cambridge University, confronted the man for his comments towards the woman, only to be hit with…
A 28-year-old Indian-origin man's decision to defend a hijab-clad woman in the UK has resulted in him being racially abused. Rickesh Advani, a political science student at Cambridge University, confronted a white man when he made sexist remarks towards a Muslim woman. But the man responded by shouting "Brext, go…
by ANDY MARINO RAMADAN NOW BIG BUSINESS IN UK BRITAIN’S Muslim population is just under three million, according to the latest census (2011), and accounts for about five per cent of the total population. It is estimated that a third of the Muslim population lives in London. This is a…
Muslim women across the country are being urged to hide their hijabs on Punish a Muslim Day, which encourages violence against Muslims. April 3 has been set as Punish a Muslim Day by haters whereby people are "rewarded" for attacking Muslims. Acid attacks, torture and assaults are encouraged. Messages on…
The UK’s largest teaching union today warned against pressuring schools into banning hijab for very young girls for fear of increasing backlash from the local communities. The National Education Union (NEU), which is debating the issue at a meeting in Brighton over the weekend, criticised the country’s schools watchdog for…
Four Muslim MPs have been targeted with similar suspicious packages containing a mysterious sticky liquid and a letter calling for 'Punish a Muslim Day'. MPs Rushanara Ali and Rupa Huq and their colleagues Afzal Khan and Mohammad Yasin are the four Labour party MPs to receive the same kind of…
Britain's counter-terrorism officers are investigating a series of anti-Muslim letters circulated across the country calling for people to participate in a 'Punish a Muslim Day' on April 3. Residents in London, Yorkshire and the Midlands regions of England have reported receiving the letters branded as "malicious correspondence" by police. West…
POLICE are investigating the alleged online abuse of an Indian-origin school principal who was characterised as German dictator Adolf Hitler following her attempt to ban the hijab for very young pupils. Neena Lall, the head-teacher of St Stephen’s School in east London, was forced to reverse her decision to ban…
A school headteacher, who was forced to withdraw a ban on wearing of hijab by young girls after vitriolic abuse on social media, has received crucial support of a minister who said bullying or intimidation of school staff was completely unacceptable. Lord Theodore Agnew, Minister for schools systems, faith and…
February 1 is World Hijab Day, an initiative started by New York native Nazma Khan to end religious intolerance. Nazma Khan, a New York native, initiated this global movement with the intent of bringing awareness on why Muslim women across the world wear hijab. Khan was reportedly abused both emotionally…
A head teacher at one of the UK's leading state-funded schools has been branded as "Hitler" on social media over her efforts to ban the hijab for very young students. Neena Lall, head teacher of St Stephens School in Newham, east London, was forced to reverse the decision to impose…
One of the UK's leading state-funded schools which had hit the headlines as one of the first to impose a ban on the hijab for girls under eight has been forced to reverse its decision after widespread criticism. St Stephen's School in Newham, east London, had been planning to extend…
One of the UK's leading state-funded schools has called on the government to take a firm stand on children wearing hijab and fasting during Ramadan. St Stephen's School in Newham, east London, became one of the first schools in the country to ban the hijab for girls under eight in…
by LAUREN CODLING ACTRESS Meera Syal has said a much-loved song from her latest West End venture is relevant to the “sorry state” of the world today. Syal, who took over the iconic role of Miss Hannigan from Craig Revel Horwood in the hit musical Annie on Monday (27), said…
Britain's schools watchdog today announced that its inspectors will question primary schoolchildren on the decision to wear garments of faith like the hijab. The move follows concerns that girls as young as four are being forced to wear the Muslim headscarf to school. Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman fears that schools…
by LAUREN CODLING A SARI and salwar kameez are among south Asian attire that have been included in an exhibition in New York that showcases garments which have had a “profound” effect in the world. Is Fashion Modern? premiered at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) last month and features 111…
Girls as young as five-years-old are being allowed to wear the hijab across thousands of schools in the UK despite growing concern about the headscarf appearing in a primary school uniform list, a media survey revealed today. The UK's schools watchdog, Ofsted, believe head teachers have come under growing pressure…
A Muslim woman in the US, who was forced to remove her hijab when she was in police custody has been awarded $85,000 as settlement by authorities. The incident happened last year when Kirsty Powell and her husband were pulled over by police for driving a “low rider” car, according…
A Muslim woman's hijab was pulled off allegedly by a man in a vicious assault in London, amid a spike in hate crime incidents following a series of terror attacks by Islamists in the UK. Aniso Abdulkadir was waiting for a tube at Baker Street station on July 16 when…
by REENA KUMAR ATTACKS against Muslims have become more aggressive and fear of being assaulted is spreading among some in the community following the series of terrorist attacks in the UK, according to campaigners, as Islamophobic crimes rose by 13 per cent in London in the last year. Imaan Atta,…
Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal rejected rumours Wednesday (12) that he quit English county cricket club Essex because of a hate crime targeting his family and said it was down to personal reasons. The 28-year-old opening batsman cut ties with Essex after just one match, but dismissed suggestions his sudden departure was…
by Lauren Codling 'More Muslim children abused since terror attack' Children as young as nine are being branded terrorists following the spate of recent terror attacks across the UK, Childline has revealed. The 24-hour counselling service, offered to young children in need, reported that children saying that the "bullying has…
A Muslim woman has filed a religious discrimination complaint against her employers at a UK tribunal for allegedly ordering her to remove her black hijab because it signified “terrorist affiliation”. The estate agent, who has not been named, had been working for Harvey Dean in Bury, Greater Manchester, for about…
A woman in the UK was allegedly pushed to the ground and her hijab ripped off amid a spike in hate crime incidents following the two terror attacks by Islamists that claimed 30 lives. The assault took place in Fengate, Peterborough, after the woman had just got out of her…
The election campaign launch of Britain's eurosceptic UKIndependence Party got off to a troubled start on Friday, when protesters accused its leader Paul Nuttall of promoting racist propaganda after he promised to ban full face veils. UKIP, whose former leader Nigel Farage helped drive support for Brexit before last year's referendum,…
A group of Muslim women formed a human chain along the iconic Westminster Bridge in a show of solidarity with the victims of deadly terror attack outside the Parliament that killed four people. The women, many of whom wore blue to symbolise peace, were joined by supporters who stood in…
THERE has been an “explosion” in Islamaphobic crime with a 200 per cent rise in incidents in 2015, a new report has found. The investigation carried out by Tell MAMA, which monitors attacks, stated the “statistics paint a profoundly bleak picture of anti-Muslim hate online and on our streets with…
RACIST ATTACKS RISE AFTER EU VOTE PEER: UK HAS TAKEN STEP BACKWARDS POLICE officers have been put on alert following the dramatic rise in race-related hate crime, which has shot up 57 per cent following Britain’s decision to leave the EU. Political leaders have con- demned the spate of…
Five Sikhs have been granted approval to serve in the US Army with their religious insignia intact, days after the army issued a new regulation under which servicemen who wear turbans, hijabs or beards can be enrolled in the military. This is the largest induction of Sikhs into the US…
Women from an Asian Muslim background should be offered childcare subsidies to help them tackle workplace discrimination, according to the chair of the Muslim Women’s Network. Shaista Gohir was responding to a Social Mobility Commission report which analysed school performance and career prospects along ethnic, gender and socioeconomic lines. It…
The US Army has issued a new regulation under which servicemen who wear turbans, hijabs or beards can now be enrolled in the military, making the force more inclusive of minority religions and cultures. The new set of rules, issued by Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, allows religious accommodations…