Papers by Abdul Haqq Baker
Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks, 2011
Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks, 2011
Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks, 2011
VU comprises 28 research disciplines ranked at or above world standard in the latest Excellence i... more VU comprises 28 research disciplines ranked at or above world standard in the latest Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) assessments. VU's researchers work across multidisciplinary research focus areas to develop new technologies and solve real world problems. VU's research is supported by its partnerships with industry and by its research institutes and centres, providing beneficial outcomes to organisations, governments and communities.
The recent landmark election results in 2010 witnessed the end of an era for Labour under Gordon ... more The recent landmark election results in 2010 witnessed the end of an era for Labour under Gordon Brown and the herald of a new political landscape with the Coalition government of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The challenges for the new coalition are no less daunting than they were under the former government. The need to examine aspects of British identity from political and cultural perspectives has never been more poignant, especially in the face of continuing threats from domestic and international extremism – both far right and religious. The defeat of the BNP in Dagenham last year, resulting in all of its twelve councilors failing to be reelected can be considered a positive outcome for British politics so far as right wing extremism is concerned. The increase in Muslim MPs is also considered by many as another positive for British politics. While these apparent achievements may reflect the more appealing façade of the political climate, a redefining of who and what...
There is a need to further develop academic discourse around what actually constitutes extremism ... more There is a need to further develop academic discourse around what actually constitutes extremism in Islam in view of the government’s continuing conflation of non-extremist entities with either violent or non-violent extremism. The government appears to have relied upon evidence and advice which apparently lacks sufficient academic rigour upon which to develop a tailored but comprehensive policy that effectively addresses the phenomenon of religious extremism. That is not all. They have failed to identify alternative entities to address the vacuum that has been created by withdrawing funding from groups established to have been successful in countering violent radicalisation in the UK.
abdulhaqqbaker.com, 2022
Trick or Treat? Tokenism vs. Meritocracy Glossary of terms Second fiddle: one that plays a suppor... more Trick or Treat? Tokenism vs. Meritocracy Glossary of terms Second fiddle: one that plays a supporting or subservient role. 1 House Negro: a black person who rejects their cultural identity to please the white man. 2 U-turn (noun): the turning of a vehicle in a U-shaped course so as to face in the opposite direction. Also: a change of plan, especially a reversal of political policy.
Introduction Brixton Mosque's Early Encounters with Extremism British Muslims and Identity Br... more Introduction Brixton Mosque's Early Encounters with Extremism British Muslims and Identity British Muslims and Religious Conversion Methodology Case Studies: Zacarius Moussaoui Richard Reid Trevor William Forrest (el-Faisal) Sean O'Reilly Case Study Conclusions Research Analysis of Interviews Countering Terrorism in the UK: A Convert Community Perspective Glossary Bibliography
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 09627250802276928, Apr 7, 2011
Slave branding is the process in which a mark, usually a symbol or ornamental pattern, was burned... more Slave branding is the process in which a mark, usually a symbol or ornamental pattern, was burned into the skin of a living slave… The brutal and harsh act was performed both for identification purposes and as a form of punishment." 1 Although this barbaric physical act of disfiguring another human may be a thing of the distant past, successive forms of corporate branding have progressed into more pervasive and concealed forms of subjugation that occasionally result in psychological harm. Perhaps the most recent example to emphasise this assertion was the withdrawal of tennis star, Naomi Osaka, from the French Open, with her citing mental health issues as the reason for doing so. The reaction was swift and mixed: "Veteran Sports Illustrated tennis journalist Jon Wertheim wrote that there was "disappointment and even anger" at the outcome, saying that it could be "a watershed moment" for the sport's attitude to mental health." 2 Underscoring the affront felt by major tennis corporations and their associations, one only has to look at their reaction: "'The four majors got together-something they famously don't do often-and released a harsh, even menacing and humiliating statement, essentially threatening to ban her." 3
"The fact that a man who died 299 years ago is today on the front pages of most of Britain's news... more "The fact that a man who died 299 years ago is today on the front pages of most of Britain's newspapers suggests that Bristol has not been brilliant at coming to terms with its history." 1 Neither has Britain. The above Guardian article excerpt is referring to Edward Colston, deputy governor of the Royal African Company, responsible for the transportation of an estimated 84,000 Africans and 19,000 deaths on slave ships destined for America and the West Indies during the infamous Middle Passage. 2 National heroes are often other societies' villains or tyrants, and this is undoubtedly the case when considering a number of personalities who have since been memorialized in the annals of Britain's imperial past. The chain of events (chain being the operative word) that followed the toppling of Colston's statue and unceremonious discarding into the sea has exacerbated existing schisms among an already polarised society following Brexit and the recent murder of George Floyd in the US. Impassioned arguments from both sides of the spectrum are gathering momentum and concerns about the prospect of violent confrontations during upcoming protests have increased. 3 In order to provide an immediate context to this article, the following extract will perhaps illustrate the depth of feeling from at least one perspective. Historian, David Olusoga observes: "The historical symmetry of this moment is poetic. A bronze effigy of an infamous prolific slave trader dragged through the streets of a city built on the wealth of that trade, and then dumped, like the victims of the Middle Passage, into the water. Colston lies at the bottom of a harbor in which the ships of the triangular slave trade once moored, by the dockside on to which their cargoes were unloaded." 4
As we observe the aftermath of George Floyd's very public murder, the anticipated analyses regard... more As we observe the aftermath of George Floyd's very public murder, the anticipated analyses regarding the efficacy of the riots and looting that ensued have, once again, become the focus of discussion. 1 Although an important discussion, it serves to obfuscate -albeit inadvertently -other developments that should be under intense media and public scrutiny. In my most recent article, I referred to probable diversionary strategies that would attempt to attribute Floyd's cause of death to underlying health issues, as opposed to asphyxiation by ex-police officer, Derek Chauvin. 2 Hennepin County Attorney's Office criminal complaint against Chauvin has since revealed the autopsy conclusions, which appear to confirm this:
"People gathered on the docks were met with a horrifying surprise: Most sailors aboard were dead,... more "People gathered on the docks were met with a horrifying surprise: Most sailors aboard were dead, and those still alive were gravely ill… Sicilian authorities hastily ordered the fleet of 'death ships' out of the harbour, but it was too late…" 2 Another report recounts the devastation wrought by this particular pandemic at the time: "The Black death, also known as the Pestilence and the Plague, was the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, resulting in the deaths of up to 75-200 million people…" 3
Washing our hands of it but aren't we all to blame? Following the outbreak of the coronavirus-COV... more Washing our hands of it but aren't we all to blame? Following the outbreak of the coronavirus-COVID-19-reports of xenophobic attacks against Chinese and other Asian minorities in the West increased. As professor Miri Song observed: "Whenever there's some kind of major incident with global or regional implications, and as soon as you can identify it in relation to some racial 'other,' particularly in predominantly white, multi-ethnic societies like England or the U.S., I think it's very easy for people to use a very small excuse to start scapegoating on the basis of their appearance…" 1 Ample evidence exists to confirm professor Song's contention; however, if we were to reflect historically on whether similar treatment was ever meted out to the same predominant ethnicities-within a similar context of contagion-an altogether different picture emerges: "…in the centuries after Columbus landed in the New World on 12 October 1492, more native North Americans died each year from infectious diseases brought by European settlers than were born. They fell victim to epidemic waves of smallpox, measles, influenza, bubonic plague, diphtheria, typhus, cholera, scarlet fever, chicken pox, yellow fever, and whooping cough. Just how many died may never be known. For North America alone, estimates of native populations in Columbus's day range from 2 to 18 million. By the end of the 19th century the population had shrunk to about 530,000. 2 While Wuhan, China, was the epicentre of the initial outbreak of COVID-19, Europe has rapidly replaced it. 3 Panic buying of toiletries appears to have distracted many from attributing blame or violence towards predominantly white travellers responsible for spreading the virus upon their return: "Several European countries have announced their first coronavirus cases, all apparently linked to the growing outbreak in Italy. Austria, Croatia, Greece and Switzerland said the cases involved people who had been to Italy." 4
There is nothing quite like ample free time to fuel conspiracy theories during a global crisis. W... more There is nothing quite like ample free time to fuel conspiracy theories during a global crisis. While this understandable, due to the climate of anxiety and fear surrounding the current pandemic, we must consider whether insatiable appetites for such stories are as destructive as the crisis itself: "A vacuum of knowledge about the origins of the new coronavirus ravaging the world has provided fertile ground for all manner of theories-from the fantastic, to the dubious to the believable. It was a bioweapon manufactured by the Chinese. The US Army brought the virus to Wuhan. It leaked-like a genie out of a bottle-from a lab in an accident. It took root at a wildlife market in Wuhan." 1 Particular theories continue to gather momentum and are, in some instances, responsible for inciting acts of criminality, such as the recent vandalism of newly erected 5G phone masts. 2 Of particular concern must be the psychological effects on individuals and communities already challenged by mental health issues and/or deaths resulting from Covid19. Unsurprisingly, communal stress levels are higher than usual, so additional contributing factors-many of which are baseless-amount to nothing short of an unwelcome distraction: "The world seems to have gone mad. This is particularly stressful for people for whom it sometimes seems less than inviting anyway. There are currently 450 million people who suffer from mental health conditions worldwide… Psychiatrists, psychotherapists and crisis services are now faced with the task of coping with the increased vulnerability of mentally ill people in what is virtually a parallel mental pandemic." 3
Statistics suggest that across Europe, Muslims are disproportionately represented in prisons. The... more Statistics suggest that across Europe, Muslims are disproportionately represented in prisons. The reasons for this are numerous – the young age profile of Muslims, social and economic deprivation, counter-terrorism legislation that criminalises acts that previously would not have been criminalised, and so forth. Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, the number of Muslims found guilty of terrorist and terrorist-related offences in prisons has generated significant concern for prison authorities. Officials are concerned that Muslim prisoners convicted of terrorism may pose a risk in relation to radicalising other prisoners, and so a range of measures have been discussed and implemented, including the creation of isolated units for prisoners convicted of terrorism and terrorist-related crimes so that they are unable to influence other prisoners. Crucially, the teaching and practice of Islam within prisons has generated substantial policy interest and focus, with prison officials keen to scrutinise the schools of Islamic thought and teaching that are taking place within prisons. Critics argue that this comprises of a further example of the ways in which Islam is being securitised, whereby an entire faith is being viewed through a security lens, and Muslim populations are seen as a risk to nation state security. Importantly, the intrusion of security service personnel into the lives and faith practices of Muslims can lead to eroding any relationship that Muslims have as citizens with their governments. There have also been reports of inappropriate, offensive and Islamophobic behaviour of prison guards towards Muslim prisoners, some of this stemming from a lack of knowledge of how Islam is practised. It is somewhat naïve to think that the ways in which Islam is being taught and applied inside prisons may have an impact upon radicalisation.
Most prisoners have a very rudimentary knowledge of any faith they may follow or convert to whilst in prison, partly because many prisoners have identity issues in that often they are confused about who they are and how it is that they find themselves to be incarcerated. Having counselled many prisoners as a prison psychotherapist, I have experienced individuals who are searching for a sense of self, looking for ways in which they can become more resilient to some of the factors that have led them to a life of crime and violence, and for some of these individuals religion, including Islam, may be part of a solution. Radicalisation is complex. As a psychotherapist I draw upon the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) developed by Prochaska & Norcross (2010), to shed light on some of the complexities to radicalisation. This is a psychosocial model that conceptualises and analyses psychological and behavioural change, and so when exploring the journeys that prisoners have made in relation to their ideologies, actions, personal and other identifications, it seems that this model might offer some useful insights, or at least raise questions for future research.
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Papers by Abdul Haqq Baker
Most prisoners have a very rudimentary knowledge of any faith they may follow or convert to whilst in prison, partly because many prisoners have identity issues in that often they are confused about who they are and how it is that they find themselves to be incarcerated. Having counselled many prisoners as a prison psychotherapist, I have experienced individuals who are searching for a sense of self, looking for ways in which they can become more resilient to some of the factors that have led them to a life of crime and violence, and for some of these individuals religion, including Islam, may be part of a solution. Radicalisation is complex. As a psychotherapist I draw upon the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) developed by Prochaska & Norcross (2010), to shed light on some of the complexities to radicalisation. This is a psychosocial model that conceptualises and analyses psychological and behavioural change, and so when exploring the journeys that prisoners have made in relation to their ideologies, actions, personal and other identifications, it seems that this model might offer some useful insights, or at least raise questions for future research.
Most prisoners have a very rudimentary knowledge of any faith they may follow or convert to whilst in prison, partly because many prisoners have identity issues in that often they are confused about who they are and how it is that they find themselves to be incarcerated. Having counselled many prisoners as a prison psychotherapist, I have experienced individuals who are searching for a sense of self, looking for ways in which they can become more resilient to some of the factors that have led them to a life of crime and violence, and for some of these individuals religion, including Islam, may be part of a solution. Radicalisation is complex. As a psychotherapist I draw upon the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) developed by Prochaska & Norcross (2010), to shed light on some of the complexities to radicalisation. This is a psychosocial model that conceptualises and analyses psychological and behavioural change, and so when exploring the journeys that prisoners have made in relation to their ideologies, actions, personal and other identifications, it seems that this model might offer some useful insights, or at least raise questions for future research.