British Muslim Youth:

An Introduction to the Topic and the Field

Sadek Hamid

Content

British Muslim Demographics

Education Housing Employment Poverty Crime State of the Literature Issues Concerns

Demographics

Current population of between 1.6 -1.8 million people, (total population of approximately 60 million people)

Around 50% are under the age of 25 and approx 33 % under the age of 16

Around 68% are of South Asian origin

(Source: National Statistics 2001 Census)

Demographics continued…

46% of Muslims had been born in the UK

34% of Muslim households contained more than 5 people

38% of Muslims live in London

(Source: National Statistics 2001 Census)

Education

In 2004, 67 % of Indian, 48% of Bangladeshi and 45% of Pakistani pupils gained five or more grades A* to C at GCSE (or equivalent), compared with 52% of White British pupils

(Source: Social Trends No. 36, 2006) 31% of young British Muslims leave school

with no qualifications compared to 15% of the total population

(Source: 2001 Census)

Housing

In 2001 52% of Muslim households did not own their own home 

Muslim households were the most likely to experience overcrowding. One third of Muslim households (32%) lived in overcrowded accommodation

Muslim households were the most likely to lack central heating (12%)

(Source: National Statistics 2001 Census report on faith)

Employment

In 2004, 28% of 16-24-year-old Muslims were unemployed.  This compares with only 11% of Christians of the same age (Source: National Statistics 2001 Census report on faith)

In 2004, a fifth of Muslims were self-employed In 2004 almost seven in ten (69%) Muslim

women of working age were economically inactive. 

(Source: Social Trends No. 36, 2006)

Poverty

35 % of Muslim households have no adults in employment, (more than double the national average)

(Source: 'Muslim Housing Experience‘ Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies)

Just under three-quarters of Bangladeshi and Pakistani children (73%) are living in households below the poverty line (60% of median income)

(Source: DWP: Households Below Average Income 1994/5 - 2000/01)

Crime

47% of Muslim students have experienced Islamophobia  (Source: FOSIS survey, 2005)

Almost 10% of the prison populations are Muslim, two-thirds of whom are young men aged 18-30

(Source: Prison Service statistics, 2004)

Between 2001 and 2003 there was a 302% increase in 'stop and search' incidents among Asian people, compared with 118% among white people.  (Source: HO, Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System, 2004)

Books

Young Muslims in Britain: Attitudes, Educational Needs and Policy Implications

Islam in Transition:Religion and Identity Among British Pakistani Youth

Muslim Britain: Communities Under Pressure Infidel Within: Muslims in Britain Since 1800 Americanisation, Globalisation and British Muslim

Identity Diaspora Youth and Ancestral Homeland: British

Pakistani / Kashmiri Youth Visiting Kin in Pakistan and Kashmir

Muslim European Youth: Reproducing Ethnicity, Religion, Culture

Young, British & Muslim

Reports

Muslims in Britain Muslim Youth Speak Bengali Transition into Adulthood Made in Bradford) MCB’s Muslim Youth Voices Youth & Policy : Muslim Youth Work Muslim Youth Helpline

Magazines

Emel

Q-News

Revival

Trends

Memoirs

‘Only Half of Me’

‘From My Sisters Lips’

‘Enemy Combatant’

‘The Islamist’

‘Hizbut Tahrir: A Thinking Mans Al Qaeda’

External Challenges

Over crowded housing Educational under achievement Unemployment Racism Islamophobia Demonisation of young Muslim males Lack of political representation

Internal Challenges

Generation Gap Cultural dislocation Positive role model deficit Substance addiction Rise in crime and anti-social

behaviour and related gang violence Apathy Fear of radicalisation and extremism

Concerns

According the Muslim Youth Helpline 2007 report, the top five main concerns affecting British Muslim Youth are:

Relationships Mental Health Religion Offending & Rehabilitation Sexuality & Sexual Health

Also identified:

ineffective services for young Muslims

discontent over foreign policy

the difficulties of integrating when people have the dual identity of being British and a Muslim

Concerns continued…

Many young Muslims feel they have an inadequate grasp of their own heritage and history, against which to balance the other influences in their lives.

Young Muslims are concerned about the

way they are understood by the public (non-Muslim and Muslim) and portrayed in the media

(Source: Young Muslims Speak, Peace Direct, 2006)

Main Religious/Ideological Trends

Hizbut Tahrir Salafi (apolitical & activists) Jihadists ‘Traditional Islam’ (activist Sufi) Young Muslims Organisation (moderate Islamists) Young Muslim UK (moderate Islamists) Barelwi ( Devotional Sufi) Deobandi/Tablighi Jamat (apolitical reformists)

Is this the Face of British Muslim Youth?

…or this ?