Muslims in Leicester
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OSI.MIE.LEIC.PF3:Layout 1 3/3/10 9:19 PM Page 1 AT HOME IN EUROPE # M U S L I M S I N L E I C Muslims in E S T E R Leicester Whether citizens or migrants, native born or newly-arrived, Muslims are a growing and varied population that presents Europe with challenges and opportunities. The crucial tests facing Europe’s commitment to open society will be how it treats minorities such as Muslims and ensures equal rights for all in a climate of rapidly expanding diversity. The Open Society Institute’s At Home in Europe project is working to address these issues through monitoring and advocacy activities that examine the position of Muslims and other minorities in Europe. One of the project’s key efforts is this series of reports on Muslim communities in the 11 EU cities of Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Leicester, London, Marseille, Paris, Rotterdam, and Stockholm. The reports aim to increase understanding of the needs and aspirations of diverse Muslim communities by examining how public policies in selected cities have helped or hindered the political, social, and economic participation of Muslims. By fostering new dialogue and policy initiatives between Muslim communities, local officials, and international policymakers, the At Home in Europe project seeks to improve the participation and inclusion of Muslims in the wider society while enabling them to preserve the cultural, linguistic, and religious practices that are important to their identities. OSI muslim-leicester-incover-publish-100401:publish.qxd 4/1/2010 9:27 PM Page 1 Muslims in Leicester At Home in Europe Project Open Society Institute New York – London – Budapest muslim-leicester-incover-publish-100401:publish.qxd 4/1/2010 9:27 PM Page 2 Publishing page OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE Október 6. Street 12. 400 West 59th Street H-1051 Budapest New York, NY 10019 Hungary USA OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION 100 Cambridge Grove W6 0LE London UK TM a Copyright © 2010 Open Society Institute All rights reserved AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT ISBN Number: 978-1-936133-13-0 Website www.soros.org/initiatives/home Cover Photograph by Ben Ravilious Cover design by Ahlgrim Design Group Layout by Q.E.D. Publishing Printed in Hungary Printed on CyclusOffset paper that was produced from 100% recycled fibres. TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................. 5 Preface ..................................................................................... 7 Muslims in Leicester ................................................................ 9 Definitions and Terminology ................................................ 13 List of Abbreviations ............................................................... 15 Executive Summary ................................................................ 17 1. Introduction ............................................................... 21 2. Population and Demographics .................................... 28 3. City Policy .................................................................. 36 4. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Identity, Belonging and Interaction ........................................... 40 5. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Education ........ 53 6. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Employment .... 69 7. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Housing .......... 77 8. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Health ............. 84 9. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Policing and Security .................................................. 93 10. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Participation and Citizenship ......................................................... 104 11. Experiences of Muslim Communities: The Role of the Media ................................................................. 114 12. Conclusion ............................................................... 123 13. Recommendations .................................................... 128 Annex 1. Bibliography and Websites .................................... 134 Annex 2. List of Experts Interviewed .................................... 141 Annex 3. Organisations/Institutions consulted during research process ...................................................... 143 Annex 4. Mosques in Leicester ............................................. 149 AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT 3 OSI Mission The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Open societies are characterized by the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; market economies in which business and government are separate; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check. To achieve our mission, we seek to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. We implement initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. We build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. Working in every part of the world, the Open Society Institute places a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements This city report was prepared as part of a series of monitoring reports titled ‘Muslims in EU cities”. The series focuses on eleven cities in the European Union with significant Muslim populations. Within the reports, select neighbourhoods in the cities were chosen for more in-depth study which are: Slotervaart, Amsterdam; Borgerhout, Antwerp; Kreuzberg, Berlin; Nørrebro, Copenhagen; Hamburg-Mitte, Hamburg; Evington, Spinney Hills, Stoneygate, Leicester; 3rd Arrondissement, Marseille; 18th Arrondissement, Paris; Feijenoord, Rotterdam; Järvafältet, Stockholm; the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The reports have been prepared by the At Home in Europe Project of the Open Society Institute (OSI) in cooperation with national experts. The At Home in Europe Project would like to acknowledge the primary role of the following individuals in researching and drafting this report. Research Team (Policy Research Centre) Dilwar Hussain Research Coordinator Sughra Ahmed Samina Ali Rabiha Hannan Naved Siddiqi Under the supervision of the Research Coordinator, the interviews were conducted by a team based in Leicester comprising of: Batool Al-Toma Khadija Gerardo Sabiah Ashraf Umar Gerardo Julie Aylward Shelima Hussain Tony Aylward Khadija Ravat Asma Dassu Riaz Ravat Tove Delanius Salma Ravat We would like to thank Tariq Modood, Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy and Director of the Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship at the University of Bristol who reviewed a draft version of this report. AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT 5 MUSLIMS IN LEICESTER A number of the stakeholders listed in the appendices reviewed the draft sections of this report relevant to them, for which we are appreciative. We would also like to thank everyone that contributed to the report by being available for interviews, providing information or research, or reviewing and critiquing drafts of the report. In April 2009, OSI held a closed roundtable in Leicester in order to invite expert critique and commentary on the draft report. We are grateful to the many participants who generously offered their time and expertise. These included representatives of minority groups, civil society organizations, faith communities, policy makers, statutory agencies and relevant experts. We would also like to thank the team at the Fatima Women’s Network for organising and hosting the roundtable meeting. A number of individuals also agreed to be interviewed by the OSI Communications team to whom we offer thanks. The At Home in Europe Project has final responsibility for the content of the report including any errors or misrepresentations. OSI Team Nazia Hussain (At Home in Europe Project) Director Tufyal Choudhury (At Home in Europe Project) Senior Policy Advisor Klaus Nielsen (At Home in Europe Project) Advocacy Officer Hélène Irving (At Home in Europe Project) Programme Coordinator Andrea Gurubi Watterson (At Home in Europe Project) Programme Officer Csilla Tóth (At Home in Europe Project) Programme Assistant Katy Negrin Consultant Editor 6 OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE 2010 PREFACE Preface A central belief of the Open Society Institute (OSI) is that all people in an open society count equally and should enjoy equal opportunities. OSI works to mitigate discrimination, in particular harm done to minorities through discriminatory treatment, and to ensure that access to equal opportunities for all is an integral part of social inclusion policies of governments. The At Home in Europe project of the Open Society Institute focuses on monitoring and advocacy activities that examine the position of minorities in a changing Europe. Through its research and engagement with policymakers and communities, the project explores issues involving the political, social, and economic participation of Muslims and other marginalized groups at the local, national, and European levels. Whether citizens or migrants, native born or newly arrived, Muslims are a growing and varied population that presents Europe with one of its greatest challenges: how to ensure equal rights in an environment of rapidly expanding diversity. Europe is no longer – if it ever was – a mono-cultural and mono-faith continent; its emerging minority groups and their