An article examined whether there was a causal link between 'race' hate, particularly Islamophobia, and media treatment of Muslim communities. 'Race' hate and routine attacks on Muslim communities appeared to be increasing, and needed to be addressed by developing strategies that were inclusive of all disadvantaged communities.
Source: Diane Frost, 'Islamophobia: examining causal links between the media and "race hate" from "below"', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 28 Issue 11/12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
A collection of essays by senior faith leaders examined Britishness, multiculturalism, and the role of religion in the public realm. Contributors explored whether religious affiliation helped or prevented cultural integration; and reflected on how their own communities had been received within, and had contributed to, British society.
Source: Zaki Cooper and Guy Lodge (eds.), Faith in the Nation: Religion, identity and the public realm in Britain today, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that faith schools in England needed to become schools for all children in order to encourage interaction between people of different faiths and ethnicities. It recommended an end to selection on the basis of faith.
Source: Rob Berkeley, Right to Divide? Faith schools and community cohesion, Runnymede Trust (020 7377 9222)
Links: Report | Runnymede Trust press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | BBC report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report examined the influence of religious beliefs on parenting, from the perspectives of both adolescents and parents. There was a striking level of agreement among both groups as to what made for a 'good parent', irrespective of religion.
Source: Jan Horwath, Janet Lees, Peter Sidebotham, John Higgins and Atif Imitiaz, Religion, Beliefs and Parenting Practice: A descriptive study, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Date: 2008-Nov
A report said that 1 in 4 young people of all faiths had been bullied, often violently, because they had a religious position or their peers thought they represented or practised a particular religion.
Source: Interfaith Report, Beatbullying (020 8771 3377)
Links: Report | NSS press release
Date: 2008-Nov
A study found that of the 100 most socially selective state schools in England, 17 were grammar schools and 54 were faith schools.
Source: Robert Coe et al., Evidence on the Effects of Selective Educational Systems, Sutton Trust (020 8788 3223)
Links: Report | Summary | BBC report
Date: 2008-Oct
A think-tank report said that the government needed to 'reconnect' with disillusioned British Muslims. A programme to promote the life-chances of Muslims through work, education, and welfare legislation would help Muslims while also promoting inclusion.
Source: Sadiq Khan MP, Fairness Not Favours: How to reconnect with British Muslims, Fabian Society (020 7227 4900)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Sep
A new book examined ways of engaging with issues of religion and spirituality when carrying out social science research.
Source: Basia Spalek and Alia Imtoual, Religion, Spirituality and the Social Sciences: Challenging marginalisation, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Sep
The High Court ruled that a Sikh teenager excluded from school for breaking a 'no jewellery' rule (by refusing to remove a bangle which she said was central to her faith) was a victim of unlawful discrimination.
Source: Watkins-Singh, R (on the application of) v Governing Body of Aberdare Girls' High School & Anor, High Court 29 July 2008
Links: Text of judgement | Liberty press release | MPACUK press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Jul
The government announced a package of measures designed to support the promotion of citizenship and shared values and to stop Islamic theology being abused by those who sought to divide communities. Measures included: supporting increased take-up of citizenship teaching in mosque schools; strengthening theological understanding; and a renewed focus on the importance of local council and community leadership.
Source: Preventing Violent Extremism: Next steps for communities, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | DCLG press release | Christian Institute press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2008-Jul
Researchers examined press coverage of British Muslims since 2000. Around two-thirds of all 'news hooks' for stories about Muslims involved terrorism, the highlighting of cultural differences, or Muslim extremism. Only 5 per cent of stories concerned the problems facing British Muslims.
Source: Kerry Moore, Paul Mason and Justin Lewis, Images of Islam in the UK: The representation of British Muslims in the national print news media 2000-2008, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies (029 208 74041)
Links: Report | MCB press release
Date: 2008-Jul
A new book examined a Christian approach to the issue of asylum.
Source: Anthony Harvey, Asylum in Britain: A question of conscience, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (020 7523 2121)
Links: Text of book
Date: 2008-Jul
A report said that communities were best served by local faith organizations and local infrastructure organizations working together, rather than competing with each other for the same pots of money.
Source: Rosie Edwards, Believing in Local Action: Successful partnership working between the faith sector and local infrastructure organisations, Church Urban Fund (020 7898 1647)
Links: Report | Summary | CUF press release | NAVCA press release
Date: 2008-Jul
A new book examined how new dimensions of diversity and difference were emerging at the neighbourhood level. Topics covered included new immigration, religion and social capital, faith schools, labour and housing market disconnexions, neighbourhood territoriality, information technology and neighbourhood construction, and gated communities.
Source: John Flint and David Robinson (eds.), Community Cohesion in Crisis? New dimensions of diversity and difference, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jul
A new book examined how Islamic principles informed and influenced the lives of Muslim populations, and illustrated how this could be translated into professional social work practice.
Source: Sara Ashencaen Crabtree, Fatima Husain and Basia Spalek, Islam and Social Work: Debating values, transforming practice, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jul
An article examined the role of faith groups in urban governance. It contrasted the different perspectives of national policy makers, local stakeholders, and faith actors themselves.
Source: Adam Dinham and Vivien Lowndes, 'Religion, resources, and representation: three narratives of faith engagement in British urban governance', Urban Affairs Review, Volume 43 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jul
The government published (following consultation) a framework setting out how faith communities, government, and wider society could work together to encourage and enable greater local activity which brought people with different religions and beliefs together.
Source: Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Framework | Summary | Consultation responses
Date: 2008-Jul
The governing body of the Church of England confirmed the Church's intention to consecrate women as bishops. A national 'code of practice' would attempt to accommodate those who opposed women's ordained ministry.
Source: General Synod: Summary of Business Conducted on Monday 7th July 2008, Church of England (020 7898 1326)
Links: Report | Ekklesia report | FT report | Times report
Date: 2008-Jul
A report said that many people of religious faith held significantly more moderate views on homosexuality than was often claimed on their behalf by religious leaders.
Source: Ruth Hunt and Gill Valentine, Love Thy Neighbour: What people of faith really think about homosexuality, Stonewall (020 7881 9440)
Links: Report | Stonewall press release | Ekklesia report
Date: 2008-Jul
A think-tank report examined the proper role of Christians and the Church in relation to public life.
Source: Nick Spencer, Neither Private nor Privileged: The role of Christianity in Britain today, Theos (020 7828 7777)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jul
A report recommended ways in which the government, churches, and the police service could work together more effectively to reduce gang-related crime linked to drugs, guns, and knives. It called for long-term strategic partnerships between churches, community groups, the police, criminal justice partners, and local authorities.
Source: Joe Aldred, Sophie Hebden and Keith Hebden, Who Is My Neighbour? A church response to social disorder linked to gangs, drugs, guns and knives, Churches Together in England (020 7529 8131)
Links: Report | Evangelical Alliance press release | Ekklesia report
Date: 2008-Jul
A new book said that the government needed to recover a principled approach to public service reform grounded in gift, covenant, advocacy, and justice. Such an approach also demanded a richer appreciation of the 'civic value' added to the life, identity, and health of the nation by Christian institutions in partnership with the whole realm of civil society.
Source: Francis Davis, Elizabeth Paulhaus and Andrew Bradstock, Moral, But No Compass: Government, Church and the future of welfare, Matthew James Publishing (01245 347710)
Links: Summary | Cambridge University press release | CofE press release | BHA press release | BBC report | Ekklesia report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
A study examined how parents from different racial, ethnic, and/or faith backgrounds gave their children a sense of belonging and identity. It looked at parents' approaches to cultural difference, and how they passed on aspects of belonging and heritage across generations; and at the opportunities, constraints, challenges, and tensions in negotiating a sense of identity and heritage between parents.
Source: Chamion Caballero, Rosalind Edwards and Shuby Puthussery, Parenting 'Mixed' Children: Negotiating difference and belonging in mixed race, ethnicity and faith families, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2008-Jun
A think-tank report accused the government of pursuing a 'witch hunt' against faith schools, and of creating a 'climate of fear' surrounding their admissions procedures.
Source: Cristina Odone, In Bad Faith: The new betrayal of faith schools, Centre for Policy Studies (020 7222 4488)
Links: Report | BHA press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report | Ekklesia report
Date: 2008-Jun
The government published guidance designed to help and support local authorities, schools, community groups, and the police to tackle violent extremism and prevent 'radicalization' in communities.
Source: Preventing Violent Extremism: A strategy for delivery, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Guidance | Home Office press release | ACPO press release | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jun
A report said that by 2050 the number of Sunday church attenders would drop from just under 1 million to around 899,000. The number of active Muslims was predicted to grow to 2,960,000 for the same year. 4,000 churches could face closure by 2020 if trends continued.
Source: Peter Brierley, Religious Trends 7, Christian Research (020 8294 1989)
Links: Summary | CofE press release | Ekklesia press release | NSS press release
Date: 2008-May
A cross-party group of Christian MPs said that the primary cause of unhappiness in Britain was not lack of material wealth, but a loss of faith in God and religion.
Source: Alistair Burt MP, Andy Reed MP, Caroline Spelman MP, Gary Streeter MP and Steve Webb MP, Faith in the Future: Working towards a brighter future, Christians in Parliament (020 7219 4272)
Links: Report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-May
A report by a joint committee of MPs and peers criticized as 'potentially disproportionate' the government's intention to coerce young people aged 16-18 into education and training through the use of criminal sanctions. It also called for children to be given the right to withdraw from religious worship in schools.
Source: Legislative Scrutiny: Education and Skills Bill, Nineteenth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 553 and HL 107, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons) Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | BHA press release | NSS press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-May
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 was given Royal assent. The Act included measures to: end automatic sentence discounts for offenders resentenced to an indeterminate sentence after an initial sentencing decision had been ruled unduly lenient; stop the 'plainly guilty' having their convictions quashed because of procedural irregularities; give powers for courts to make dangerous offenders given a discretionary life sentence serve a higher proportion of their tariff before becoming eligible for parole consideration; and create a presumption that trials in magistrates' courts would proceed in the absence of the accused. An amendment to the Bill abolished the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel.
Source: Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, Ministry of Justice, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | Explanatory notes | NSS press release | BHA press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-May
Researchers examined the socio-economic characteristics and attitudes of people in Northern Ireland who entered 'mixed' (Protestant-Catholic) relationships. People in mixed relationships tended to be more educated and have higher incomes than those in traditional relationships.
Source: Katrina Lloyd and Gillian Robinson, Intimate Mixing – Bridging the Gap? Catholic-Protestant relationships in Northern Ireland, ARK/School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work/Queen's University Belfast (028 9097 3034)
Links: Report | UU press release
Date: 2008-May
A report said that the diversity of the Muslim population should be recognized, and that more needed to be done to engage overlooked groups in order to tackle extremism, gang culture, and community tensions.
Source: Nadeem Baksh, Ted Cantle, Judith Lempriere and Daljit Kaur, Understanding and Appreciating Muslim Diversity: Towards better engagement and participation, Institute of Community Cohesion/Coventry University (024 7679 5757)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Apr
A new book examined the extent to which religious interests were protected in the workplace, with particular reference to the protection against religious discrimination provided by the Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003.
Source: Lucy Vickers, Religious Freedom, Religious Discrimination and the Workplace, Hart Publishing (01865 517530)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Apr
A report said that forced marriage should be recognized as a form of bullying and domestic abuse. The definition of forced marriage should be expanded to include 'false marriage', where a person had been tricked into giving consent through false information or the withholding of critical information about the other party. All agencies and individuals dealing with forced marriage should adopt the victim-oriented approach recommended by the government's working party on forced marriage.
Source: Nazia Khanum, Forced Marriage, Family Cohesion and Community Engagement: National learning through a case study of Luton, Equality in Diversity (nkhanum@aol.com)
Links: Report | MOJ press release | LGA press release | MPA press release | CofE press release | MPACUK press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Mar
A study found that nearly half of minority ethnic residents, including Muslims, said they had experienced race discrimination; and 30 per cent of recent Muslim migrants had experienced religious discrimination. This was cited as a key barrier to a sense of belonging in Britain.
Source: Hiranthi Jayaweera and Tufyal Choudhury, Immigration, Faith and Cohesion: Evidence from local areas with significant Muslim populations, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release | Oxford University press release | MPACUK press release
Date: 2008-Mar
A new book examined the success of attempts to accommodate racial, religious, and cultural diversity in the education system.
Source: Sally Tomlinson, Race and Education: Policy and politics in Britain, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Mar
A report said that honour killings – together with domestic violence, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation – were not isolated practices but were instead part of a 'self-sustaining social system built on ideas of honour and cultural, ethnic and religious superiority'. They had became an indigenous and self-perpetuating phenomenon, carried out by third- and fourth-generation immigrants who had been raised and educated in the United Kingdom.
Source: James Brandon and Salam Hafez, Crimes of the Community: Honour-based violence in the UK, Centre for Social Cohesion (020 7222 8909)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Mar
The Archbishop of Canterbury said that the adoption of some aspects of Islamic Sharia law in Britain seemed 'unavoidable'. He said that other religions enjoyed tolerance of their own laws, and called for 'constructive accommodation' with Muslim practice in areas such as marital disputes.
Source: Lecture by Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury), 7 February 2008
Links: Text of Lecture | CoE press release | MCB press release | MPACUK press release | NSS press release | BHA press release | Ekklesia press release | EHRC press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Feb
The report of a United Nations special rapporteur commended the United Kingdom government for its balanced approaches in responding to religious tensions and terrorist acts carried out under the cover of religion. It called for the disestablishment of the Church of England.
Source: Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Including the Right to Development: Report of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, United Nations (+4 122 917 2600)
Links: Report | Evangelical Alliance press release | Times report
Date: 2008-Feb
An article said that Muslims in Britain were disadvantaged by the operation of a 'normative grammar' of race that materially (in terms of legal instruments) and discursively (in terms of public and media comment) treated their 'racialization' with less seriousness than it did that of other minorities.
Source: Nasar Meer, 'The politics of voluntary and involuntary identities: are Muslims in Britain an ethnic, racial or religious minority?', Patterns of Prejudice, Volume 42 Issue 1
Links: Abstract | Bristol University press release
Date: 2008-Jan