Abstract
The chapter explores the Muslim community in Britain, focusing on the British South Asian and, in particular, the Pakistani identity. It traces the evolution of the Pakistani immigrant, from a South Asian to a politicized ‘British Muslim’ citizen, only to become a prime suspect in the aftermath of 9/11 and 7 July 2005. The Pakistani female is viewed as a victim, ‘hidden’ behind the garb of culture and honour, in need of being rescued. Given this context, the chapter engages with narratives of British Muslim women with a Pakistani heritage, exploring what it means to be British, Muslim and Pakistani in a context where their ‘Britishness’—and, in particular, their loyalty—is questioned by media and political actors.
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Notes
- 1.
A religious edict.
- 2.
- 3.
Both schools trace their origins in South Asia to the teachings of Shah Wali Ullah (Modood 1990).
- 4.
While the response to the Rushdie affair grouped all Muslims together as reactionary, without identifying the different schools of thought they belonged to, the response in the Indian subcontinent also varied amongst different Muslim groups. For instance, the Tablighi Jamaat in India called for a show of ‘compassion’ towards Salman Rushdie, and a dawat (invitation) to Islam, in following the example of ‘the Prophet’ (Talib 1997: 33–34, discussing the reaction of Mr Anwar Ahmad). While the Tablighi Jamaat is ‘apolitical’ and does not represent the mainstream view, its reaction is nonetheless crucial in illustrating how Muslim responses varied, depending on different schools of thought or movements within Islam.
- 5.
This definition has been updated to further specify terrorist activity yet, despite the amendment, it still remains ‘too wide’ (Terrorism Act 2000, as updated on http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/part/I#commentary-c1675655).
- 6.
See Carlile (2007), in particular his main conclusion, clauses (8) to (16) (2007: 47–48).
- 7.
Walaity means ‘foreigner’ in Punjabi.
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Saeed, T. (2016). Muslims, South Asians and the Pakistani Community in Britain: Intersecting Security, Identity and Belonging. In: Islamophobia and Securitization . Palgrave Politics of Identity and Citizenship Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32680-1_2
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