UK: Surge in tax-funded ‘virginity repair’ operations

Via Daily Mail:

An increasing number of women are having controversial ‘virginity repair’ operations on the NHS before they get married.

In the last five years, 116 hymen repair operations have been undertaken at the tax payer’s expense.

Thousands more women are believed to be paying up to £4,000 to have the surgery done privately each year.

NHS surgeons carried out 30 of the procedures in 2009 – up 20 per cent from 2005.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

In the private sector one Harley Street doctor claimed to carry out up to three of the operations a day.

The specialist who offers a hymenoplasty for £1,850, said demand had tripled in recent years.

The operation, which is available on the NHS ‘for physical and psychological’ reasons, takes just half an hour.

Private practitioners have claimed a surge in demand in the operation has been driven largely by Muslim women desperate to preserve the illusion that they have not had sex before their wedding night.

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Consultant surgeon Ash Mosahebi, who performs the procedure at various London clinics, said he had noticed a recent rise in demand of around 40 per cent.

He said: ‘There is a clash of cultures where Muslim women are leading westernised lifestyles but then wanting to conform to the traditional lifestyle of remaining a virgin.

‘As it becomes more widely known that operations are available, they are getting to hear about them from friends and increasingly considering it.’

Critics, including moderate Muslim groups, have condemned the trend as a sign of the spread of Islamic fundamentalism in the West.

Imam Dr Taj Hargey, chairman of the Muslim Educational Centre in Oxford, called on the Muslim community to try to reverse the trend.

He said: ‘The rise in the number of these operations in Britain is a very disturbing trend.

‘The situation is very common in the Middle East where there is a huge scandal that can lead to divorce or even honour killings if there are not bloodstained bed sheets after the wedding night.

‘It is very disappointing that Muslim women in this country feel they need to lead a double life, resorting to subterfuge surgery.

‘That is not conducive to either their psychological or spiritual health and it is hypocrisy and double standards because Muslim men are doing as they please with women.

‘The Muslim community should be confronting the issue rather than pretending it is not happening. I shall be speaking out about it in my next sermon.’

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UK: Healthy heart training for imams

Via Manchester Evening News:

The British Heart Foundation and QUIT are working together to encourage the Muslim community to stop smoking and lead a healthier lifestyle this Ramadan.

Statistics suggest that South Asians in the UK are 50 per cent more likely to die from heart disease than those in the general population .

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

As part of the Ramadan campaign, the BHF will be training 300 imams in major cities across the UK.

Trainees will receive information they need to help their congregation make positive lifestyle changes including stopping smoking, improving their diet and exercising more. The initiative will take place in Manchester, London, Blackburn and Bradford.

Qaim Zaidi, Ethnic Strategy Manager for the BHF said: “During Ramadan Muslims do not eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. For many it’s the ideal time to kick the smoking habit and lead a healthier lifestyle. Stopping smoking is one of the most important things you can do to benefit your health.

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The Guardian’s interest in Muslim fashion continues in an article published yesterday.

I was recently contacted by a girl who was preparing a portfolio about British Muslim fashion. This was part of a project whereby girls from different Islamic schools in London took part in fashion workshops, and then had to create a portfolio in order to enter a competition and win a place at a 3-day course at the London School of Fashion! You can read more about it below. If you were one of the girls on the course, tell us more about it!

Muslim schoolgirls show that faith and fashion are not incompatible

Sarfraz Manzoor
Wednesday 21 July 2010

In a first floor classroom in the Hackney campus of the London School of Fashion a small group of young schoolgirls are wrapping clothes on to tailor’s dummies.

They are using conventional clothes in unconventional ways – turning ties into belts and baggy T-shirts into neckwear. The idea is to challenge traditional notions of normality in fashion.

The approach is a common one for aspiring designers but it feels especially appropriate for the 20 assembled schoolgirls, all of whom are British and Muslim and all of whom are in traditional Islamic dress.

Read the rest here.

If you’ve been following Hijab Style on Twitter, you’ll have been the first to know about a new UK hijab company called Haya which has launched on Facebook! Today, Hijab Style brings you an exclusive interview with the CEO, Shirin Kachchi.

Jana: Do you make any of the hijabs yourself?

Shirin: A few scarves are my own designs which I get tailored; the majority are carefully selected products. My current designs consist of pure fabrics such as 100% silk-chiffons and jersey with contrasting or complementing lace. It’s the colours, material and beautiful lace which give them the edge! Alhumdulillah, the collection has almost sold out and I hope to continue to dabble with design in the future!

Jana: Can you tell us more about your charity initiatives?

Shirin: I wanted to blend my passion for scarves with raising awareness for humanitarian causes so I am beginning my journey by supporting a local charity. As a launch campaign, all the profits from the current collection will be donated to Restless Beings for their Uighur Women’s Rights Campaign in Krygyzstan. My goal is to constantly support charities and campaigns in some way or form, InshAllah Haya can make a small contribution to the lives that need it!

Jana: What else can we expect from Haya?

Shirin: I have big aspirations for Haya, I’m focusing on a few areas I’d like to develop in the future. After the current campaign, I will inshAllah be revealing my new product range, watch this space!

What do you think of Haya? Don’t forget to join their Facebook page to view the full collection and details of how to order. And what’s more, Haya will be sponsoring the Bonus July Giveaway in a few days time too!

Leeds: ‘There are still feelings there that triggered the bombings’

Via This is London:

A leader of the Muslim community in Leeds today said that the anger that fuelled the four bombers is still felt among some young men in the area.

Akhlaq Mir also called on the Government to “face up” to its responsibilities and help them fight terrorism.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Mr Mir said: “There are still feelings there that triggered the bombings. As far as the Muslim youth are concerned, our soldiers are out in Afghanistan killing people every day and they are angry and they are frustrated.”

Mr Mir, chairman of an education centre in the Chapeltown area of the city, added: “We try to educate them, we tell them what Islam says.

“But the fear is always there that some of them will follow a path that they shouldn’t.

“The Government needs to do more, to provide projects like ours with funding and also give some of these young people a voice, so they can vent their anger and feel like they are being listened to without resorting to violence.”

(…)

Fahad Khan, 23, who works with Muslim teenagers in Beeston, said: “The bombers hijacked the Islamic faith in a negative way. We don’t want July 7 to be a legacy of Beeston or Leeds and so we are working hard to change that. Everyone wants to move on.”

A friend of the families of Tanweer, Hussain and Khan, said today was the day for the 52 innocent people killed but said the families “can’t understand how their sons could have done this and they will never get the answers to their questions”.

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Source: This is London

London: Gay nightclub owner slammed for Muslim boycott

Community leaders have slammed XXL club owner Mark Ames today after he vowed to boycott British Muslims.

The London nightclub entrepreneur promised to snub Muslim-owned businesses in response to racial unrest in East London. He also tried to justify his decision by reference to the death toll of British troops in Afghanistan, which has risen above 300.

He wrote on Facebook: “From today I will be boycotting any shops, petrol stations restaurants or businesses I know are owned by Muslims this also includes holidays to muslim [sic] countries today see [sic] our death toll up to 300, so why the hell are we not just flying this scum back out to there beloved states and pull out and let them fight out there [sic] own issues!”

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

PinkPaper.com has repeatedly invited Ames to speak to us but he has refused saying he has already been “tried and convicted” and adding, in an email to us, “i [sic] dont [sic] want to see anyone race or creed [sic] being kicked out of the country.”

There is no suggestion that others involved in XXL club share his views but one representative did say they would be supporting his right to freedom of speech.

Now, leading members of London’s gay community have criticised his original comments.

Ali Hili of IraqiLGBT said: “I don’t think it’s acceptable from anyone, especially someone with a high profile. This is especially when the people he’s talking about could be deported to a country which, in turn, may cause them harm. I am in this country because I have fear for my life and I still face discrimination – even here.”

Royston Ford, secretary of gay group Imaan, agrees: “If he [Mark Ames] holds the views attributed to him, he has shown himself to be a rather unpleasant, but unrepresentative example of the LGBT community in London and further afield.

“Whilst racist and Islamophobic views like this do exist amongst a minority of LGBT people, he is not representative of the majority of fair-minded and decent people. If Mr Ames chooses – whilst most of are preparing to celebrate the diversity of our communities in Pride 2010 – to descend into his own gay shame, then that is his loss.

“He is as representative of LGBT people as the drug-peddling, murdering gangsters of Afghanistan are representative of ordinary Muslims – whether gay, straight, in this country or elsewhere. Imaan, and LGBT Muslims are preparing to celebrate Pride 2010 with our brothers and sisters of all communities, both in the parade and with events in London and in Bradford. We suggest Mr Ames is best ignored.”

(…)

And Joseph was worried that the comments would make gay Muslims feel unwelcome at XXL.

“Gay Muslims are a minority amongst a minority and we should be supporting them,” he said. I hope gay Muslims stand up against what he says because their voice isn’t heard enough in this country. I would say boycott XXL if you support gay Muslims.”

However, some PinkPaper.com readers have backed Ames. In response to our exclusive yesterday, one forum user wrote: “whats the big deal? [sic] and why does a phoney pc liberal, pink paper [sic] reader find it disturbing? the reader should be more disturbed by the evil persecution and hate murder on a par to genocide of lgbt people in islamic states.” [sic]

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Source: PinkPaper

Oslo: Mosque promotes anti-terrorism fatwa

The Minhaj-ul-Quran mosque in Oslo is promoting a fatwa condemning extremism in the name of Islam.

“Terrorism, radicalism and extremism in the name of Islam is an abuse of our religion. We want to show the image of moderate Islam,” says Hassan Qadri.

The Islamic scholar from Pakistan is on a tour of Europe to explain a new and controversial Islamic ruling. A so-called ‘fatwa’ against extremism and extreme groups.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Extreme Islamic groups have abused the religion and committed attacks in the name of Islam which they wrongly called holy war, declares Qadri, who was brought here by the Minhaj-ul-Quran Oslo mosque.

Qadri’s father, Dr. Taheer Qadri, a leader for millions of Muslims in more than 80 countries in the international Minhaj-ul-Quran movement, is the one who authored the fatwa.

The Oslo mosque is the first to translate the over 600 pages long ruling into Norwegian. The summary says that it’s a ‘prohibition against terrorism against non-Muslims even i war’ and a ‘prohibition against imposing one’s faith’.

“It was unclear if a terror attack as part of an Islamic struggle can be accepted or if it’s forbidden according to Islam. This fatwa is clear that suicide attacks aren’t allowed even in war,” says Qadri.

“After terror attacks like 9/11 in the US, the metro attack in London and the bombs in Mumbai, some claimed that those who are responsible for it are martyrs who will be greeted by 70 virgins in paradise.”

“This fatwa clearly says: Suicide bombers won’t be greeted by 70 virgins. Suicide is not acceptable in Islam, and causes you to go to hell,” says Qadri.

The ruling led to to fierce debate in Muslim communities all over the world. It’s been called the most discussed fatwa since ayatollah Khomeini’s death sentence against the author Salman Rushdie in 1989.

“The contents of this ruling means that we are quite exposed, despite the fact that no scholar in Islam challenged this fatwa’s legitimacy,” the vice-president of Minhaj-ul-Quran in Oslo, Mehtab Afsar, told VG.

“The ruling is actually the first of its kind which is directed against radical groups who abuse Islam,” adds Afsar.

The seemingly not so controversial statements to ban violence in the name of religion led to death threats against the authors from both al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan.

Q: What with the Palestinian suicide bombers in Israel. Do you condemn that?

“Suicide attacks in themselves are a forbidden act. But Muslims also have a right to defend themselves.”

Source: VG (Norwegian)

Norway: Sharia courts a possibility

In the UK, local Sharia councils have been operating for many years, but in 2007 the Muslim Arbitration Tribunals (MAT) were established. Recognized by the UK’s justice ministry and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Sharia councils were officially allowed to judge in civil – not criminal – cases, based on the British Arbitration Act of 1996. They judge cases relating to economy, divorce, domestic violence, inheritance and forced marriage – with the framework of British law.

“It’s probable that this will exist in Norway. It wouldn’t surprise me if it already exists. Imams counsel Muslims today, and it’s natural that they use Sharia because it’s the legal tradition they’re accustomed to,” says director Tor Langbach of the Courts Administration.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

In the spring he visited the Muslim Arbitration Tribunals in London. There more and more Muslims solve conflicts using Islamic law instead of going to British courts. The headquarters are in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and Nuneaton. MAT say they’re working on setting up a new branch in Scotland. Currently they have not received inquiries from Norway, but were visited by Muslims from both Belgium and the Netherlands.

On their website, MAT assures that they offer ‘a real and true opportunity to settle disputes in accordance with Islamic Sacred Law with the knowledge that the outcome as determined by MAT will be binding and enforceable’. This requires that both parties want it.

The critics fear parallel legal systems. They think that women are at risk of being pressured by their family or others in their community to solve conflicts via the Sharia council instead of British law, because women end up more badly than men in Islamic legislation. Women, for example, inherit half of what men do. Divorce isn’t as easy for women to obtain.

Norwegian imams use also much of their time giving counsel, says Senaid Kobilica, head of the Islamic Council of Norway (IRN), and chief imam of the Bosnian community. The imams that Aftenposten spoke to can see Sharia councils like those in the UK – within the framework of Norwegian law.

Ten years ago Islam expert Kari Vogt wrote in the book “Islam in Norwegian” (Islam på norsk) that the question isn’t whether Islamic law is applied, but how, by whom and in which cases. According to Vogt, the IRN took the initiative to set up Sharia councils in Norway, but the time wasn’t ripe.

Senaid Kobilica says that the IRN didn’t consider the matter in principle nor taken a position on an eventual mandate or guidelines for such a body. He stresses that it would eventuality have to harmonize with Norwegian law.

He thinks that the British system is in reality not different than the counseling and mediation bodies which can also function as arbitration bodies if both parties want it to.

Kobilica says that such mediation bodies could systemize and ensure the quality of the work which is already being done by the mosques.

The Moroccan Faith-Society and the World Islamic Mission (WIM) say that Sharia councils per the British models are the way to go, but they stress that Norwegian law must have the last word. The imam in Minhaj-Ul-Quran, Sadagat Ali, can also see Sharia councils. Imam Najeeb Naz of WIM points out that Sharia enjoins Muslims to respect the laws of the country in which they live.

“For me as a Muslim in Norway, it’s Norwegian law which applies, but we should take Sharia into account,” says Jamal Moussaoui, head of the Moroccan Faith-Society.

Norwegian judges and courts also increasingly note that Sharia is an important part of the life of Muslims. PhD student Katja Jansen Fredriksen of Bergen reviewed cases which went through the Norwegian legal system.

“Sharia is resorted to in Norwegian law today too. In Norwegian court decisions, especially in family cases, I see that Muslims argue in the same way in Norwegian courts as they would in Sharia courts in Muslim countries.”

For example, the judge, in order to invalidate a forced marriage, has to know if the marriage was entered into legally in the country where the marriage ceremony was performed. Fredriksen wanted to create a guide to Sharia for Norwegian judges.

Source: Aftenposten (Norwegian)

I’ve been seeing maxi dresses everywhere on the streets of London recently. I love this particular one because the print is subtle and the colour isn’t too loud. For a casual day look, I’d pair with a cropped denim jacket (or denim shirt when it gets hotter), a light khaki or cream hijab and a woven clutch bag. Add a cute handmade ring and these gorgeous H&M sandals (which are always sold out in my size!) to finish off:

UK: Directory of ‘women-friendly’ mosques

A directory of the 100 most “women-friendly” mosques in England is launched today, claiming to be “the start of the process to broaden and deepen the engagement of Muslim women in British mosques”.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Fifty mosques were found to meet all five of the requirements set out by inter-faith organisation Faith Matters, while a further 50 are listed as meeting four of the criteria, which include providing a separate prayer space for women.

The Developing Diversity directory has not been constructed as a ranking tool, but mosques praised for meeting all of the study’s criteria include the East London mosque, in Tower Hamlets, London, which serves the UK’s largest Muslim community; the Jamiyat Tablighul Islam mosque in Bradford, where a separate prayer room caters for over 800 women; and the Karimia Institute in Nottingham which runs two nurseries for young children alongside an activity club for girls aged 8-15.

Also included for meeting four of the five criteria is the Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre, in Birmingham, and the Farnworth Mosque in Bolton, which lie within the constituencies of Shabana Mahmood and Yasmin Qureshi, the first-ever female Muslim MPs elected at the general election.Researchers for the directory, compiled by the inter-faith organisation Faith Matters, assessed 486 mosques across England through visits and telephone contact in order to draw up the directory, which was supported by the Department of Communities and Local Government.

The other criteria, which was determined through consultancy sessions with 100 female Muslims, include services and activities specifically for women, an imam or female scholar accessible to women, the inclusion of women in decision-making processes and the representation of women on mosque committees.

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Source: Guardian