Neither Muslim nor Other: British Secular Muslims

ABSTRACT

Secular Muslims constitute a significant group within the Muslim population of the UK, though under the prevalent multicultural policies their voice is often ignored. This article introduces some of the more outspoken secular, ex-Muslim, and atheist British Muslims and analyses their positions toward major issues that preoccupy the Muslim community and society at large. The secularists are highly critical of multiculturalism for creating mutually hostile communities controlled by conservative religious leaders. In the heated public debate on Islamism, they oppose both its militant and its more pragmatic versions. They are strongly opposed to religious terrorism, and also to the imposition of Sharia law, the wearing of hijab, and separate Islamic schools, though they may differ as to the right ways to combat them. Caught between Islamism, which is often supported by the radical left, and the far right, Muslim secularists are among the staunchest supporters of universal human values and of integration.

KEYWORDS:

• Secular Muslims
• Great Britain
• multiculturalism
• Islamism
• Islamophobia
• Muslim women
• Islamic schools

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Ziv Orenstein http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0230-0819

Notes

1. Two exceptions are the Council of ex-Muslims of Britain and One Law for All, both founded by Maryam Namazie, which are dedicated to promoting secular values and are a home for Muslims who see themselves as atheists or secular.

2. Martin (2010) laments that secular Muslims are regularly ignored in academic research and regards them as an integral part of Muslim society.

3. Rushdie is included in this article for his major role in bringing the secular Muslim perspective into the public space. While no longer living in Britain, he is still regarded as world's most famous secular British Muslim.

4. The affair left a lasting impression. In 1997, former chairman of the Conservative Party, Lord Tebbit, relied on Honeyford's report when claiming that multiculturalism was a ‘divisive force’ and that Britain was being ‘cut into morsels’ and ‘dismembered’ (Harris 2001, 19–20).

5. As Home Secretary in 1966, Roy Jenkins advocated against the ‘melting pot’ approach toward new immigrants. In a famous speech, Jenkins asserted that British society should become culturally diverse, ‘in an atmosphere of mutual tolerance’ (Phillips 2009, 4).

6. Although according to 2010 and 2011 polls (Grice 2010; Thompson 2011) most Britons would like to see the veil banned.

7. Rushdie also pointed out that none of his family or friends would accept wearing the veil (Evening Standard 2006).

8. Similar views are expressed by British Neo-atheists such as Richard Dawkins, who claims that forcing religious views on children equals child abuse, and is worse than sexual abuse perpetrated by priests (quoted in Young 2010).