Forward Thinking launched their fi rst report by Muslim youth on Muslim youth in January. The challenge for Britain’s leaders in recent years has been the growing obligation to balance the twin efforts of tackling the root causes of extremism in the name of Islam and providing security,with the need to reassure and empower the British Muslim community as a whole.

As this task has become increasingly diffi cult, there has been a growing sense among the British public that Muslims constitute a ‘threat from within’ or, at the very least, that they are signifi cantly more isolated and less integrated than other UK minority communities. This perception, fuelled by a one-sided media portrayal of Muslims in the context of terrorism, has created a cycle of suspicion and distrust that, if left unchecked, can easily become a self-fulfi lling prophecy. This widespread perception has tended to ignore the important fact that the great majority of Muslims in the UK have been just as much opposed to terrorism, as well as having been victims of the 7/7 atrocities like many other member of British society.

Such perceptions jeopardise the future of multiculturalism and social cohesion in the UK. Furthermore, they exacerbate rather than reduce the threat of terrorism by further increasing the alienation of Muslim communities in Britain, a development that has arguably contributed to the radicalisation of a marginal but nonetheless increasingly assertive ‘few’ in the fi rst place. In this context, trustand capacity-building initiatives have become essential as a tool for undermining widespread prejudices and working towards greater understanding.

Muslim youth are often perceived as one of the most marginalised groups within society and the one most susceptible to radicalisation. They have also been the group most deeply and directly affected by the increasing Islamophobia, and the least likely to be given a platform to express their views and concerns freely and openly. At the same time, it is important to encourage Muslim youth to come forward, join the ongoing debates and be given the chance to speak for themselves, respond to the accusations levelled against them, as well as being able to clarify contentious issues concerning their faith, identity and religion.

The failure to do so has already further marginalised and disenfranchised a large number of young people, and would signifi cantly hinder efforts to build social cohesion.

A team of six young Muslims conducted research interviews with young British Muslims from a variety of ethnic, denominational, educational and social backgrounds. The participants were aged 16 to 30 and came from London, Bedford, Blackburn, Nottingham and Manchester. The sample was balanced along gender lines with men making up 52% of the sample and women 48%. The two young researchers informed the meeting about the perceptions of young Muslims in relation to the media and its contribution to a feeling of a very diffi cult future ahead for young Muslims in Britain

“Young people wanted and hoped for a future in Britain but were not sure if this will be the case” said Isra Jawad, London researcher.

Yusuf Tai, the Manchester and Bolton researcher said “In comparison to the fi rst generation some young Muslims stated they would fi ght for their rights to forge a future for them in the UK as British citizens.”

For more information on the fi ndings please visit www.forwardthinking.org