Chronicles of UK Salafism: An insider perspective

In light of George Floyd’s death and the seismic and global calls to change structural and institutionalized racism, examination of Malcolm X’s legacy - on the 55th anniversary year of his death - is more poignant than ever, especially within a UK societal context.

This final episode provides an overview of Salafism’s contribution to the UK Muslim landscape, introducing - for the first time ever - an insider’s categorisation of existing constituencies that subscribe to its tenets and practices.

Trump’s bigotry and racist statements continue; Maajid Nawaz angers Muslims, Christians & Jews alike with a statement tantamount to disbelief; Kanye West’s claim that slaves chose to remain subjugated; Abu Ibrahim’s clarion call for fellow Asians to ‘stop acting black’

Trump becomes 45th president of US, Westminster Bridge terrorist attack, Manchester Arena terrorist attack, Borough Market & London Bridge terrorist attacks during Ramadan, Grenfell Tower fire, Finsbury Park Mosque attack, the demise of ISIS, Jerusalem illegitimately ‘recognised’ as Israeli capital, UK Salafism’s influence & connectivity with US counterparts.

Brussels terrorist attacks, MP Jo Cox murder, Brexit, US Police killings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana, Philando Castile in Minnesota, Keith Lamont Scott in North Carolina, lone gunman kills 5 policemen, Colin Kaepernick takes a knee, Donald Trump becomes 45th US President

Charlie Hebdo attack, “Je Suis Charlie” Obama & Castro historic meeting in Panama, David Cameron government wins with a majority, the Magna Carta, Bataclan targeted terror attacks, Hajj stampede kills hundreds

Sentencing of Jihad Jamie, Abu Hamza reveals his extensive collaboration with MI5 & the police, Al-Baghdadi announces IS caliphate, Andrew Garner killed by NYPD after complaining of not being able to breathe.

Two major terrorist incidents - the Boston Marathon Bomb attacks & murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby - continue to shape counter terrorist strategies while perceptions of racial and religious bias, appear to affect securitised responses.

Lodging an official complaint against scholars involved in fueling conflict among Salafis in the west; A critique of Quilliam Foundation.

Salafi influence on socio-religious and political landscape caused positive changes among other religious groups like Sufis; seismic changes across Muslim societies with spread of the Arab Spring; Google Summit saw a meeting between Abdul Haqq, Maajid Nawaz & Ed Husain; First book publication

This season kicks off with a comparison of the status of the Salafi movement in 2000 and 2010 as different trajectories continue to create a vacuum for unsuspecting extremist elements to exploit

Abdul Haqq called in following discussions regarding a recent attack and described his community’s experiences and effectiveness in combating extremism.

Young Muslims talk about reasons for converting to Islam, identity and some of the challenges they face.

BBC Reporter Zubeida Malik visits STREET to find out more about its success in engaging with hard to reach youth.

Discussion regarding Abdaly and whether preventative action could have averted his attack

Bird Flu Pandemic, 1st Black President in US history, proud to be black, convert & Salafi, PhD submission, death of a father, lessons learned.

Salafi responses to academic and media focus on Salafism; internecine disputes distract Salafi communities from bigger picture; STREET expands its scope of work, attracting wider support and acknowledgement.

Anti-Muslim sentiment; suspicion & fear of converts as potential home grown extremists; meeting gang members; Socio-cultural disconnects with marriages, polygyny & divorce among Salafi communities

Absence of leadership among Salafis; Wilton Park Conference, Character witness for Zacarius Moussaoui & his sentencing; Newsnight interview with Maajid Nawaz & Abdul Haqq Baker; Saddam Hussein sentenced to death

London Terror attacks; 7/7, 21/7 & the aftermath, Shooting of Charles de Menezes, Muslim Converts under the spotlight, Conflating Salafism with extremism & the Salafi response

Shoe Bomber sentence, Countering threatening narratives from Islamic Awakening Forum, Azzam Publications, SP cult vs wider Salafi communities, Madrid Bombings, Beslan Massacre,

Continuing scrutiny and criticism from fringe groups, letter to Shaykh Rabee, Statutory and government attention, UK & US invasion of Iraq, global condemnation and protests

Media frenzy, visiting scholars in Saudi Arabia, Return to Knowledge 8th Conference, Accusation against Shaykh Rabee al-Madkhali, returning to UK to face arrest...

Ibn Taymeeyah Seminar, 9/11, Zacarius Moussaoui - the 20th bomber; Richard Reid - the Shoe Bomber. Brixton Mosque responds to world media & commences defence and rebuttal of slanderous accusations.

Shaykh Al Albani’s will & testament introduces this new season, followed by religious instruction during that year and the sermons delivered. Particular attention is paid to a sermon that resonates 20 years on with the current coronavirus pandemic that has a third of the world on lockdown.

Independent evaluation of STREET prior to receiving government funding; Service Level Agreements (SLAs); Changing government, marginalisation of Salafi organisations; non-violent extremism; new untenable terms; cessation of funding

Strategy To Reach Empower & Educate Teenagers (STREET) is an award winning youth initiative that engaged with and was funded by the Home Office via the initial PREVENT Strategy funding. This first episode describes the rationale behind the organisation’s decision to engage and work with PREVENT.

This 2nd sermon was delivered 2 weeks after Richard Reid’s - aka the Shoebomber - arrest and continued with the previous sermon’s theme of providing clarification of the Mosque’s position and my comments while rebutting criticism by an emerging trend that was - and continues to be - vocal against those that fight against extremism, while they themselves fail to condemn it or its protagonists.

Following the 9/11 attacks, the US launched military strikes against Afghanistan. Further retaliatory terrorist actions were anticipated but none like the attempted shoe bomb attack on a transatlantic flight on 22nd December. The culprit was a former, expelled attendee of Brixton Mosque - Richard Reid - bringing the world’s attention to this local Salafist community that was compelled to respond emphatically. This first of two podcasts provides recordings of that response which still resonates today.

Podcast version of article published on 23rd June: https://abdulhaqqbaker.com/jack-the-lads-or-is-there-something-ominous-we-are-choosing-to-ignore/

Academic, religious and intellectual stagnation of Salafi communities, deaths of Shaykhs bin Baz and Al-Albani, Columbine Massacre, Abul Hasan arbitration and agreement, distinction between ideological extremism of violent extremists and behavioural extremism of SP Cult.

1st Salafist owned and Salafist run Mosque in the UK, increased activism across the UK, Good Friday Agreement, Omagh Bombing, completing MBA studies and Zacharias Moussaoui.

Beginning new classes with a former student of Shaykh Rabee ibn Hadi al Madkhali, receiving funds to buy Brixton Mosque, death of Diana, Princess of Wales, traveling to Jeddah for a new employment.

Episode 7 of Chronicles of UK Salafism looks at the emergence of a cult, Usama bin Laden’s 1st declaration of war against the US & the splintering of JIMAS

This episode discusses the death of a role model and founder of Iqra School, Abu Usamah At-Thahabi joining and teaching in Brixton Mosque, the continued splintering of JIMAS and emergence of Abu Khadijah Abdul Wahid Alam.

Assuming leadership in challenging circumstances, uniting a community, increasing religious activism while consolidating foundational tenets of faith.

This episode covers activism around the Balkans conflict, the JIMAS conference & ‘Black Sunday’ when Salafi leadership was elected into a London mosque for the first time in Britain.

Joining a growing Salafi movement, hosting study circles, performing mini pilgrimage and meeting scholars for the first time.

This episode examines the effects of global events like the 1991 Gulf War on new converts’ religious instruction.

An introduction to UK Salafism from an insider perspective, providing personal documentary evidence & academic analysis of the socio-religious and socio-political development of the movement to contrast existing discourse that it is a precursor to radicalisation and extremism.