One in every 10 babies in England is Muslim: Census

London: Almost one in every 10 babies and toddlers in England and Wales is Muslim, according to new analysis of census figures published, illustrating the growth of the minority community.

Some 317,952 children aged under five, or 9.1 percent, were registered as being Muslim in the 2011 census, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show.

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As a measure of how the religious demographics of England and Wales are changing, the figure is nearly double the 4.8 percent of the whole population who are Muslim, while fewer than one in 200 people aged over 85 are Muslim.

It is also an 80 percent increase on the 176,264 Muslim under-fives recorded in the 2001 census.

“It certainly is a startling figure,” David Coleman, professor of demography at Oxford University, told The Times newspaper on Friday.

“Continuing immigration from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India has been added to by new immigration from African countries and from the Middle East.

“Birth rates of Muslims of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin remain quite high, although falling. There seem to be very low levels of falling away from religion among Muslims.”

Muslims have the youngest age profile of the main religious groups. Nearly half of Muslims (48 percent) were aged under 25 (1.3 million).

The figures showed that Christianity remains by far the most common religion registered for babies in England and Wales, at more than 1.5 million, or 43.7 percent.

Nearly as many parents listed their children under five as having no religion — the answer given for nearly 1.2 million (34.1 percent).

The next most common religions registered for British toddlers after Christianity and Islam were Hinduism at 55,869 (1.6 percent), Sikhism at 28,380 (0.8 percent), Judaism at 18,221 (0.5 percent) and Buddhism at 9,026 (0.3 percent).

Ibrahim Mogra, assistant secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain umbrella group, said the number of Muslim babies reflected the confidence of the community.

“It’s not about Britain becoming a Muslim country but about Britain enabling the practice of Islam, which gives confidence to the vast majority of Muslims,” he told The Times.

Thirteen children aged under five were being raised in witchcraft, while 121 had heavy metal as their stated religion. Some 4,700 were listed as “Jedi knight”, the statistics showed.

ONS figures showed that Mohammed was the most popular name for newborn baby boys in England and Wales in 2009, though 12 different spellings of that name meant that Oliver officially topped the chart. 

UK plans to silence Muslim speakers with new “anti-terror” ASBOs

The British government has revealed its new plans to silence what they regard as Muslim “hate clerics” with “anti-terror” ASBOs.

Anti-social behaviour orders known as “TEBOs” may be imposed on around 25 Muslim speakers that are thought to be causing unrest in the UK without breaking any specific laws.

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The new initiative which could be implemented by April 2014 would restrict the activities of speakers and scholars. They will be prohibited from speaking at university ISOC events, Islamic study centres, mosques and other public areas.

The draconian proposals follow the government’s Extremism Task Force report to parliament which also called for Muslim charities suspected of being “fronts for extremist groups” to be shut down and internet filters to block out “extremist” websites.

David Cameron’s Extremism Task Force

Prime Minister David Cameron speaking as he revealed the plans said: “This summer we saw events that shocked the nation with the horrific killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich and murder of Mohammed Saleem in Birmingham. These tragedies were a wake-up call for government and wider society to take action to confront extremism in all its forms, whether in our communities, schools, jails, Islamic centres or universities.

“I have been absolutely clear that this is not something we should be afraid to address for fear of cultural sensitivities. We have already put in place some of the toughest terrorism prevention controls in the democraticworld, but we must work harder to defeat the radical views which lead some people to embrace violence.

“The task force I set up has proposed a broad range of measures to counter the extremist narrative. When you look at this report, you can see a very clear analysis, a very clear definition of the extremism we’re talking about … now everyone can see what it is that we need to tackle.”

He added: “There are just too many people who have been radicalised at Islamic centres, who have been incontact with extremist preachers, who have come across material on the internet who haven’t been sufficiently challenged. Some institutions have wanted to get rid of radicalisers but haven’t had the means to do so.”

The task force includes Home Secretary Theresa May, Deputy PM Nick Clegg, Minister for Faith Baroness Warsi, and advisors from the police and intelligence services.

Anjem Choudary and Haitham al Haddad

Following the murder of British soldier, Lee Rigby in Woolwich in May, it was revealed that his killers had been influenced by Anjem Choudary.

Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were found guilty of killing the fusilier at the Old Bailey and after the verdict was announced, Choudary was reported as saying he was “very proud” of Adebolajo, refusing to condemn the murders when invited to do so on Radio 4′s Today programme.

Ironically, Choudary is not thought to be included in the list because as a former solicitor he takes care not to break the law, but the 25 possible victims are thought to include Palestinian scholar, Sheikh Haitham al-Haddad.

Haddad is one of the most prominent Muslim scholars in the UK and has been invited to speak at many British universities. Last year he was banned from speaking at the London School of Economics after Jewish students requested his event be cancelled for allegedly preaching hatred against Jews – a charge Haddad denies.

First woman to lead Friday prayers in UK

A Canadian author will become the first Muslim-born woman to lead a mixed-gender British congregation through Friday prayers tomorrow in a highly controversial move that will attempt to spark a debate about the role of female leadership within Islam.

Raheel Raza, a rights activist and Toronto-based author, has been asked to lead prayers and deliver the khutbah at a small prayer session in Oxford.

SEE ALSO: British model Carley Watts starts preaching Islamic Teachings

She has been invited by Dr Taj Hargey, a self-described imam who preaches an ultra-liberal interpretation of Islam which includes, among other things, that men and women should be allowed to pray together and that female imams should lead mixed congregations in prayer.

Three of the four mainstream schools of Sunni Islam allow women to lead exclusively female congregations for prayer, but the overwhelming majority of Muslim jurists are opposed to the notion of their presiding over mixed congregations outside the home.

Raza, 60, is part of a small but growing group of Muslim feminists who have tried to challenge the mindset that has traditionally excluded women from leadership roles within the mosque. They argue that nowhere in the Koran are female imams expressly forbidden. Instead scholars rely on the hadiths (the words and sayings of the Prophet Mohamed) to exclude women – although Muslim feminists and some progressive scholars argue that even these are not clear enough to say with confidence that women are altogether banned.

Ms Raza received death threats after leading a mixed-gender prayer congregation in Toronto five years ago.

"It was a very profound experience," Ms Raza said yesterday in a telephone conversation from her home in Toronto. "It's not about taking the job of an imam. It's about reminding the Muslim community that 50 per cent of its adherents are women who are equal to men. Women are equally observant, practising Muslims who deserve to be heard." Ream More ...

Cameron expresses support for Muslim veil ban in UK schools

Al Arabiya: British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday he supports a ban on Muslim veils in the country’s schools.

His comments came amid controversy over Islamic schools in Britain imposing religious dress as the uniform for young girls, according to recent media reports.

In an interview with the BBC, Cameron said he would consider issuing new guidelines to judges, teachers and immigration officers specifying when they can ask women to remove their veils.

“We are a free country and people should be free to wear whatever clothes they like in public or in private,” Cameron said, clarifying that he does not object to women wearing the veil in public places.

SEE ALSO: British model Carley Watts starts preaching Islamic Teachings

On wearing the veil in schools, however, Cameron had a different viewpoint.

“In a school, it’s very difficult to teach unless you can look at your pupils in the eye.” Cameron added.
Cameron’s latest comments on the debate over the veil ban, follow a political row earlier this month over a decision by Birmingham Metropolitan College to ban veils.

The college was accused of discriminating against Muslims after ordering all students, staff and visitors to remove any face covering.

The institution backed down on its decision, however, after an oppositional petition attracted thousands of signatures. Read More ...

British model Carley Watts starts preaching Islamic Teachings

London: Carley Watts, one of the top models of the Britain, 6 months ago converted to Islam. The newly wed model said that earlier she used to do modeling for fame but the Islamic teachings have guided her and she looks for forgiveness from Almighty ALLAH for her previous sins. Carley Watts, after converting to Islam is now known as Fatima Saleh. She got married in an Islamic way and entered into folds of Islam by fulfilling the Islamic rituals, offering 5 times prayers and performing the religious obligations. It is reported that she fasted the last Ramadan.

Fatima says that she felt inner satisfaction after reading the preaching of Islam. ‘It is the Islamic religion only that can help people to reap benefits in the Hereafter’. Stating about veil Fatima said that by wearing black cloak to cover her whole body and observing Hijab, her inner conscience feels satisfied and peaceful. The model turned Muslim woman also appealed to other non-followers to give up their religion and accept Islam, which is a complete religion.

SEE ALSO:  American murder suspect converts to Islam in prison

The 24-year- old former model and single mom ditched her career and converted to Islam after falling in love with her boyfriend Salah, a Muslim Tunisian native. The two met when Carley, (Fatima) was vacating there. Carley felt that Salah truly loved her and his willingness to accept her despite knowing about her bare modeling for various publications and most importantly being a single mother made her to fall for him.

Presenting reasons from being a lingerie woman to a covered woman from head to toe she said that his boyfriend turned husband had told her that after our marriage your body should be only for my eyes. Hence, being fallen in love she fulfills her commands. Fatima’s in-laws are stills unaware about her previous career life. The former model says that it is Islam that gives due status and respect to women and enjoin people with better lifestyle in every way.

"Carley in interviews before her marriage said that every other guy flirted with her and did not respect her but Salah came out to him as a loving, true boyfriend who cared for her."

It is worthwhile here to mention that the decision of the former British model met many criticisms. Some stated this would not last longer while some said it is going crazy to give up career to devote you as a Muslim wife. On the other hand, Muslim people appreciated and welcomed her to enter Islam, saying that ALLAH showed her the right path.