Politicians’ assurances
“Bringing up children in an environment where the messages in the media are anti-Islamic, it just puts added pressure on them as they grow up,” Mrs al-Sibassi says.
It’s a pressure she feels herself too. “You feel you are having to constantly prove that you’re not what other people think you are. You always have to be on your guard.”
She believes that despite British politicians’ assurances to the contrary, there is a witch-hunt going on against Muslims at the moment.
“I know many Muslims who have been arrested and put in cells overnight without being charged. They’re not terrorists - they just happen to have a beard and visit the mosque on a Friday. It makes us all feel uneasy, and you want to be away from it, hence the move.”
Lord Ahmed, a Muslim peer in the House of Lords, says he has noticed this growing nervousness.
“The Archbishop of York has compared Britain with Uganda under Idi Amin and he said that the difficulties faced by the Asians at that time are very similar to the difficulties faces by the Muslim community today.
“Obviously people have already been feeling the intimidation, the provocation, and more importantly, the demonisation of their religion. These people who are born here, who’ve lived here all their life and they feel that they now don’t belong here - because they’re being made to feel like that.”
Dubai headhunters
Britain’s loss is the Gulf’s gain. It’s the booming economies in the region, particularly those of the United Arab Emirates, which are actively seeking these skilled British Muslim professionals.
Six months ago, Meiraj Hussein, from Lancashire, who works in corporate recruitment, was headhunted by a large multinational located in Dubai.
“Things are different in England since 9/11, it’s generally more difficult to get ahead in the corporate world. You reach a glass ceiling. Coming here, it’s a step up for me job-wise, and one of the reasons for moving,” he says.
Emerging companies in the Emirates see a Western education as a good thing. And being Muslim with an Asian background is seen as a good recipe for fitting in, Mr Hussein says.
His wife Shazia, who is a teacher, initially remained in the UK, but now is ready to join him.
“I feel very relaxed here. It’s not a question of fitting in, it’s more a question of not sticking out. Since the 7 July bombings in London if you wear hijab or have a beard then you’re treated as if you don’t believe in secular society.
“Here, I look more Arab so I am viewed in a positive way, the tables are turned if you like. And it does affect you psychologically. I feel more comfortable here, which is sad really because Britain is my home. I was born there, my family are there and part of me does feel sad to leave. It’s not an easy thing.”
But it’s couples like Meiraj and Shazia that are the role models for the younger generation of Muslims, looking to further integrate itself into British society.
The Muslim community in Britain has a very small middle class - only 16% are professionals. And they are the ones who are leaving. In some quarters, there are concerns about the impact of this creeping migration.
“There’s a potential problem there. If the very few of us who are making it to the higher positions in terms of education and labour market leave, what is left?” asks Dr Tahir Abbas, who is the Director of Birmingham University’s Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Culture.
“The fact that we’ve got three times as high unemployment in the inner city, we’ve got huge problems of health, housing, inequality, who’s going to lead on these fronts, not just as Muslims, but as citizens?’ It’s a tremendous brain drain.”
For Mrs al-Sibassi it’s a difficult choice.
“That has come to my mind - discussing with like-minded friends of mine who are female and wear the hijab. Again and again, the same issue comes up, that you need to stay and fight.”
But she knows her children must come first, and for her, that means a plane to the Emirates.
Shazad mirza comments his views
I also being British born feel the same with some of the issues seen in this report despite not even having children, thinking of the future and insha-allah if Allah grants me with a family of my own. Will i want to raise my children in a place where a majority of the population are islamaphobic.
I think that I ve personally been rather planting my self within the middle east via my imagination and dreaming of a wonderful place where there are much larger communities of Muslims than anywhere in the world such as Dubai or Saudi. Where whenever there is athaan (call to prayer) every person leaves their place and whatever they are doing, straight to the nearest place of prayer (mosque). All this without having to feel like an out cast at where you work or being talked about by peoples that do not have the understanding.
The more i let my mind ponder this dream of mine, the more i come to like it. I feel that it would benefit me more if i were surrounded by fellow Muslims in my day to day life to motivate me towards doing good things and keep me away from bad things. That i would feel more part of a community and that means more support for me.
But aside from me dreaming for the ideal world it always comes down to the individual and whether or not they are dedicated to doing what so ever they need to do or achieve. Success just as paradise are not served on a plate ready for you to eat they have to be earned throughout a persons life by following the Quran and prophets (pbah) teachings. And although migrating to the next nearest shariah law country is still recommended in Islam would it still be an augmentable to do so.
If jihad is the struggle of ones soul throughout ones life and these islamaphobic people are only islamaphobic due to the lack of information they know about Islam. How could i possibly migrate it would also be part of my role as a Muslim to inform as many of these misinformed people as i can and help them by educating them in turn helping the parts of the Ummah within the western world. And if every Muslim made an effort to educate if even a little it would make a lot of difference.
May Allah (SHWT) bless us with all that is needed to progress through our lives as best we can. To educate our selves in Islam and to inform others of Islam insha-allah.
Entries (RSS)