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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Muslim women 'radicalised' in UK | Muslim women 'radicalised' in UK |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| By Rahila Bano class="inlineText" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/news/">BBC Asian Network | |
| On Monday a female suicide bomber killed 54 people in north-east Baghdad. | On Monday a female suicide bomber killed 54 people in north-east Baghdad. |
| We don't advocate that British Muslims go over and fight Dr Nazreen Nawaz, Hizb ut-Tahrir | We don't advocate that British Muslims go over and fight Dr Nazreen Nawaz, Hizb ut-Tahrir |
| The attack may have happened on another continent, but there are increasing concerns that violent extremism among women may now also be increasing in the UK. | The attack may have happened on another continent, but there are increasing concerns that violent extremism among women may now also be increasing in the UK. |
| It is believed that the process of radicalisation often takes place at universities. | It is believed that the process of radicalisation often takes place at universities. |
| One Islamist group linked with this practice is Hizb ut-Tahrir. | One Islamist group linked with this practice is Hizb ut-Tahrir. |
| While not itself connected to any terrorist acts, Hizb ut-Tahrir has courted controversy and politicians have seized on some of its more inflammatory views. | While not itself connected to any terrorist acts, Hizb ut-Tahrir has courted controversy and politicians have seized on some of its more inflammatory views. |
| The Conservative Party has said it would ban the organisation altogether. | The Conservative Party has said it would ban the organisation altogether. |
| Nazreen Nawaz is a spokeswoman for the group. She became a member while studying medicine at King's College London. | Nazreen Nawaz is a spokeswoman for the group. She became a member while studying medicine at King's College London. |
| Today, sitting at her dining table in south London, she teaches her four-year-old daughter how to spell and explains her decision to join. | Today, sitting at her dining table in south London, she teaches her four-year-old daughter how to spell and explains her decision to join. |
| "The philosophy of Hizb ut-Tahrir offered me a view of Islam that could solve many of the problems in the Muslim world," Dr Nawaz says. | "The philosophy of Hizb ut-Tahrir offered me a view of Islam that could solve many of the problems in the Muslim world," Dr Nawaz says. |
| "We don't advocate that British Muslims go over and fight in Palestine and occupied countries. | "We don't advocate that British Muslims go over and fight in Palestine and occupied countries. |
| "What we say is that people in lands such as Afghanistan, Iraq and occupied countries have the right to defend themselves." | "What we say is that people in lands such as Afghanistan, Iraq and occupied countries have the right to defend themselves." |
| 'Naive' | 'Naive' |
| There are concerns that hundreds of British Muslim women have been radicalised, many while being students. | There are concerns that hundreds of British Muslim women have been radicalised, many while being students. |
| Former Hizb-ut Tahrir member Hadiya Masieh on why she joined and later left | Former Hizb-ut Tahrir member Hadiya Masieh on why she joined and later left |
| Recent intelligence reports about terror plots involving women, and the growing trend of al-Qaeda's use of female suicide bombers, have ignited concerns that some may turn to violent extremism in Britain. | Recent intelligence reports about terror plots involving women, and the growing trend of al-Qaeda's use of female suicide bombers, have ignited concerns that some may turn to violent extremism in Britain. |
| "I think it would be naive to think that Britain could not see its first female suicide bomber," says Sabira Lakha, an adviser to the Muslim Women's Advisory Group. | "I think it would be naive to think that Britain could not see its first female suicide bomber," says Sabira Lakha, an adviser to the Muslim Women's Advisory Group. |
| The group was set up in 2008 by Hazel Blears, the then communities and local government minister, partly to tackle extremism. | The group was set up in 2008 by Hazel Blears, the then communities and local government minister, partly to tackle extremism. |
| Her view is shared by the Centre for Social Cohesion, an independent think tank. | Her view is shared by the Centre for Social Cohesion, an independent think tank. |
| "You do see women being radicalised in the UK," says researcher Houriya Ahmed. | "You do see women being radicalised in the UK," says researcher Houriya Ahmed. |
| "You also have terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda which state that it is an obligation for women to take part in jihad. | "You also have terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda which state that it is an obligation for women to take part in jihad. |
| "For example, the wife of al-Qaeda's second-in-command issued a letter to Muslim women worldwide. | "For example, the wife of al-Qaeda's second-in-command issued a letter to Muslim women worldwide. |
| "You have also seen suicide bomb attacks by women in Iraq supported by the al-Qaeda narrative, so there is a strong possibility that this could occur in Britain and this needs to be taken seriously." | "You have also seen suicide bomb attacks by women in Iraq supported by the al-Qaeda narrative, so there is a strong possibility that this could occur in Britain and this needs to be taken seriously." |
| In 2009, a British Muslim woman - 28-year-old Shella Roma from Oldham - became the first person in the country to be convicted of distributing a terrorist publication. | In 2009, a British Muslim woman - 28-year-old Shella Roma from Oldham - became the first person in the country to be convicted of distributing a terrorist publication. |
| Study circles | Study circles |
| At the east London-based Minhaj-ul-Quran, a broad-based organisation with Sufi traditions, extremism is something that they are working to eradicate. | |
| Educate a woman and educate an entire generation Philosophy of Minhaj-ul-Quran, Muslim group working to eradicate extremism in east London | Educate a woman and educate an entire generation Philosophy of Minhaj-ul-Quran, Muslim group working to eradicate extremism in east London |
| To do this, they target universities with large British Asian intakes. | To do this, they target universities with large British Asian intakes. |
| At a mosque in a converted cinema in Forest Gate, east London, they hold regular Sunday female-only study circles. | At a mosque in a converted cinema in Forest Gate, east London, they hold regular Sunday female-only study circles. |
| This week, about a dozen teenage girls kneel on the floor in a draughty room in front of wooden benches on which rest their copies of the Koran. | This week, about a dozen teenage girls kneel on the floor in a draughty room in front of wooden benches on which rest their copies of the Koran. |
| The teacher addresses the class on the subject of peace and equality in Islam, answering questions from her students about forced marriages. | The teacher addresses the class on the subject of peace and equality in Islam, answering questions from her students about forced marriages. |
| Tayba is a student who regularly attends these Islamic classes for girls aged 11 and over. | Tayba is a student who regularly attends these Islamic classes for girls aged 11 and over. |
| Their philosophy is simple - educate a woman and educate an entire generation. | Their philosophy is simple - educate a woman and educate an entire generation. |
| "I think extremism you get in every kind of society, every kind of culture, every kind of religion," Tayba says. | "I think extremism you get in every kind of society, every kind of culture, every kind of religion," Tayba says. |
| "I think it's those people who turn away from the true belief." | "I think it's those people who turn away from the true belief." |
| "To be honest I think it's a lack of education," says Tanzila, who studies at Queen Mary college in east London. | "To be honest I think it's a lack of education," says Tanzila, who studies at Queen Mary college in east London. |
| "Some organisations do not portray Islam as it truly is. | "Some organisations do not portray Islam as it truly is. |
| "Thank God I come to an organisation where it is portrayed correctly." | "Thank God I come to an organisation where it is portrayed correctly." |
| Nasra Raza, a teaching co-ordinator at Minhaj-ul-Quran, says she struggles to believe that women are becoming suicide bombers. | Nasra Raza, a teaching co-ordinator at Minhaj-ul-Quran, says she struggles to believe that women are becoming suicide bombers. |
| "There's a saying in Islam that paradise lies at the feet of the mother," she adds. | "There's a saying in Islam that paradise lies at the feet of the mother," she adds. |