Arzu Merali looks at how the Michaela School judgment fits into new narratives of nation in the UK, and how it heralds the collapse of minority rights norms. [This article was first published on 22 May 2024 in The Long View journal. Read the full issue here]. Listen to the audio or
In this second piece about the Michaela School judgment in the UK in April, Arzu looks at the context it was made in. She looks at how Islamophobic narratives employed by the UK government and parts of the media have also undermined the wider education sector affecting the majority of school children,
This is the first of two pieces by Arzu, on the Michaela School judgment and its context. Almost two weeks ago a pupil lost her high court case in the UK, against the school banning her and other students from praying on site (she and others had been praying in the playground
In the wake of controversial comments from the OFSTED chief, Amanda Spielman, claiming Muslim primary school girls were sexualised by wearing the hijab and supporting a hijab ban, Arzu Merali talks about why Spielman must resign. Related: Why I think Amanda Spielman should resign her Ofsted post
Arzu Merali argues that the Ofsted Chief’s position is untenable. [5 February 2018] I was supposed to be writing about counter-narratives to Islamophobia. Amanda Spielman, the Ofsted chief inspector, decided on Friday to prove exactly why these are needed. Hot on the heels of her speech backing a hijab ban at an
I spoke at the SACC and IHRC conference in Edinburgh in 2016 about how education, the legal system and the Prevent / Counter-terrorism regime coalesce to create an environment of hate that facilitates the operation of a de facto Police State. In this state citizens are either living in fear and self-censorship,
Letters to the editor, from Sir Tim Brighouse et al. about the Trojan Horse/ hoax affair. Arzu Merali was one of the signatories. Read the letter here on The Guardian pages, or below. Several major Ofsted reports are due to be published about the so-called “Trojan Horse” schools in Birmingham which
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
‘Secular or Islamic? What Schools do British Muslims want for their Children?’ is volume 3 in the British Muslims’ Expectations of the Government Series (BMEG). It was published on 6th July 2005 (ISBN 1-903718-27-9, 82 pp) and was written by Saied R. Ameli, Aliya Azam, and Arzu Merali for the Islamic Human
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