In the wake of the shock Tory victory in the UK elections, Arzu Merali of the Islamic Human Rights Commission reflects on the problems of “British” political culture in a series of letters to some of the winners and losers. Dear Ed*, Commiserations. I didn’t vote Labour (not that it made a difference), as my incumbent
Arzu Merali looks back on a piece she wrote in 2001 – ‘My Lobby Ran Off With Kilroy, or Why Muslims Shouldn’t Emulate Zionist Politics’.* Printed below, a piece I wrote at the end of 2001. I don’t know whether I was naive or somehow deeply prescient (maybe both). Nearly 14 years
My paper on the co-option of ‘Islamic feminism’ by the Euro-Islam project translated into Spanish for Tabula Rasa. Read the full paper in Spanish here. Resumen: Este artículo sostiene que ha habido un cambio definitivo y negativo en la trayectoria delllamado feminismo islámico. Este cambio se ha efectuado en gran parte en
In the lead up to this year’s edition of the Islamophobia Awards, to be held this Friday, Arzu Merali offers some reflections on what the fight against Islamophobia entails today. Whether it is advocacy against imperialist, colonial wars, or activism against anti-terror laws, or studying hate crime and discrimination, the naming and
My thoughts, 5 days after the Duggan inquest conclusion, revisited The following was written five days after the jury in the Mark Duggan inquest returned a conclusion that Duggan was lawfully killed by the Metropolitan Police despite being unarmed. It reviews the response in the media – there is more to say
The misappropriation of the Great War is something we should all resist, argues Arzu Merali, particularly the trend to equate remembrance day with Islamic history. Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps, And builded parapets and trenches there. And stretched forth the knife to slay his son. When lo! an
Arzu Merali reviews the series fronted by Rageh Omaar. The Ottomans: Muslim Emperors of Europe on BBC2 finished last Sunday. As one tweet put it: Three hours isn’t much to cover half a millennium of politics but still much more than has been hitherto given to the subject on mainstream British TV.
Arzu Merali reflects on the Gezi Park protests, the Arab Spring and the contradictions of the role of Turkey in Muslim geopolitics.* The moon is full and rising over Fatih, as we sit atop Saray restaurant, waiting for kebab, tea and ice cream. A chill is in the March air and the
Arzu Merali of the Islamic Human Rights Commission says that anti-Muslim violence is often ignored.* I woke up this morning to news that at least two mosques had been attacked. This is the UK post-Woolwich, but it could be the UK post-anything in my experience. It hasn’t only been the 9/11 or
Arzu Merali argues that structural racism is the elephant in the room [23 May 2013] I woke up this morning to news that at least two mosques had been attacked. This is the UK post-Woolwich, but it could be the UK post-anything in my experience. It hasn’t only been the 9-11 or
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