Community: Real Life

Being a young Muslim post 7/7


Layli

23-year-old Layli Uddin is the Helpline Development Worker for Muslim Youth Helpline (MYH). It is her job to manage the volunteers that take calls from young Muslims. She tells us how MYH is helping in the wake of the 7/7 bombings, and how we can move forward positively as a whole community.

What we do

What really appealed to me about working at Muslim Youth Helpline is that it is a youth-led organisation where everyone shares common values. We all have an aim to help bridge the gap that is left when young, vulnerable Muslims have no support in their own community, or have been let down by different mainstream services (Social Services, Education Department etc). 

The young people that volunteer here are inspirational. It's not just that they sacrifice their time, it's their resilience and determination to change something within the community and to make a positive difference. They have intensive and ongoing training, which covers a wide range of issues, so they are prepared for any type of call.

Coping with calls post 7/7

We haven't noticed an increase in calls since the terrorist attacks but we have received calls from young Muslims who are feeling quite distressed as a result of these events. The opinions that we're getting from young people are that the atrocities that occurred were the actions of the minority and by no means represent them. There's a fear that we will all be tarnished by these actions and also fear of a backlash from people that they go to work with, go to college with and share a community with.

The role of MYH is to listen to them and try to reassure them. Most of the calls we get are quite positive - young people who want to integrate into society and in civic participation. So, we try to explore the options available to help them engage in society - general things like alleviating their fears about accessing mainstream services and answering the questions and doubts they have about doing so.

My reaction to the terrorist attacks

Personally, my reaction to the terrorist attacks is absolute shock that this has happened. Also condemnation. Most young Muslims here have grown up in this country - they go to the same schools and socialise with non-Muslim friends. Whatever their reasons are for disaffection, their actions are not justifiable. It's a very scary situation at the moment.

How the young Muslim community is coping

Many discussions are taking place on Muslimyouth.net's discussion forums, giving us a fair idea of how young people are dealing with what's happening. At first there was initial shock and fear of how it might impact on our community. After the discovery that some of the suspects were born and bred in this country, there was lots of discussion about how we can prevent this from happening again.

They have talked about a number of things: ineffective services for young Muslims; discontent over foreign policy; and the difficulties of integrating when people have the dual identity of being British and a Muslim.

How everyone can help to rebuild communities

If you look at the socio-economic conditions of young Muslims, they come from some of the most disadvantaged communities, so the Government needs to invest more into regeneration in those communities and in education. Obviously the Government needs to address the impact that its foreign policies and the actions that it takes overseas might be having on the Muslim community.

Also, young people should be able to access mainstream services, and these services need to adapt their policies to ensure that they are culturally sensitive. There also needs to be some youth services that give young people something positive to do and that young Muslims are given the same opportunities as their non-Muslim peers.

What stems from ignorance or a lack of knowledge is fear and that is not a fault of any of the communities, but what we need to do is encourage a tolerant level of dialogue that goes both ways. We all need to put in the effort: not only non-Muslims to try and understand Muslims, but also for Muslims to understand some of the concerns that non-Muslims have, too. I think it's true for all concerned after the July 7 bombings there was solidarity amongst Londoners and a unity amongst all races and all religions. This unity needs to be shown more often and all the communities need to make a concerted effort to work together.


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