Monday 27 April 2015

The Case for an Inclusive Curriculum


As initiatives such as “Why is my curriculum White?”,“Free Education MCR” along with other similar campaigns  are seeming to gather a larger following as time progresses, questions underlining why an inclusive curriculum is necessary, what it would comprise of and how it would be introduced are beginning to enter mainstream educational discourse. Taking personal experience in to account, this article aims to respond to some of these questions.

To begin with, the concept of discourse itself has long been a point in question. Not only may people from sidelined backgrounds feel as if they are denied a voice in the academic sphere in terms of representation and platforms to air their findings (see Spivak: “Can the Subaltern Speak?”). So too are their voices denied when uncovering these findings. Citing  White Men” as Professor Sara Ahmed outlines is:


“another form of academic relationality. White men is reproduced as a citational relational. White men cite other white men: it is what they have always done; it is what they will do; what they teach each other to do when they teach each other. They cite; how bright he is; what a big theory he has. He’s the next such-and-such male philosopher: don’t you think; see him think. The relation is often paternal: the father brings up the son who will eventually take his place.” Owing to this tradition, Professor Ahmed continues to argue that, "Not to cite White men is not to exist; or at least not to exist within this or that field. When you exercise these logics, you might come to exist, by writing out another history, another way of explaining your existence, [eventually] citing yourself into an academic existence might require citing yourself out”.

If our understanding of history within our curricula, academia and media remains written by and addressed for solely a White, male, middle/upper class audience, what of the remainder of us? We are constantly reminded of how “equality” flourishes in the UK and beyond, yet only a select few are permitted to challenge and contribute, whilst the remainder of us may just listen. Some history is thought to be important, and other history is airbrushed. Some function on superiority complexes, and others as a result inferiority complexes. Anthony Feldman’s renowned book used for science majors entitled “Scientists & Inventors: The People who Made Technology From Earliest Times to Present Day” eptimosises this “citational relational”. In it, there is one page which highlights the different historical developments of science throughout history without a mention of any other civilisation beside those founded in Europe – namely, Greek, Renaissance and beyond. Where is the mention of native North American civilisations? Civilisations in the Caribbean? Mesoamerican civilisations? The Sassanids? The Babylonians? The Ancient Egyptians, who according to some historians, such as Theophile Obenga, highlight memoirs of famous Greek philosophers such as Socrates having visited Ancient Egypt to study under them? The Indus valley? Various dynasties in Chinese civilisations? Muslim dynasties? And I could continue.


This textbook is not a one off example, either. We have a whole system which knowingly or unknowingly ellipses other civilisations contributions on a regular basis. We refer to it as the fortification of a superiority complex in Europe and the “Global North” which leads to the fortification of an inferiority complex outside of Europe and North America in the “Global South”. As a result, peoples from underrepresented backgrounds aim to study and popularise all histories and all contributions of all peoples. When these findings are shared however, we receive criticism of endorsing “whiggish history” and “histiography”.  What could well be referred to as the “reverse racism” argument of the academic world. “History is not linear” we are told. “You can’t pick and choose what aspects of history from x civilisation you wish to portray, you have to be objective”. Objectivity pushed by those with superiority complexes we have learnt in reality is a form of subjectivity to fortify inferiority complexes in others. It might not be exclusively said or outlined, but this educational establishment, academia, and media outlets at present may well be argued to have a linear portrayal of history. They may well be accused of being “whiggish” as they often refer to how the Renaissance, enlightenment, “Industrial Revolution” etc. appear to be the sole factors which shaped the modern world. This is without a mention of how formidable architectural structures were built in West Africa, how agricultural revolutions took place in China, how Indian mathematicians contributed to the numerical system, how mechanical engineering flourished in the Muslim world and so on and so forth. These revelations are not “whiggish” or “histiographical”, they are inclusive and pay homage to civilisations that are well due it.


There is a famous maxim in English that: “history is written by the victors”, but with the unearthing of sources, the questioning of said history is leading many to rethink current curricula, wider academia and media portrayal of “other” civilisations. We have to be rid of these notions of nations at competition with each other, and who has the larger proverbial stick in terms of “civilisation”. All had and continue to have a part to play. This can be achieved by having a multi-tier system functioning simultaneously in academia and the public sphere in focus. This could include: encouraging fair representation, providing platforms for all, publicising and promoting research publications of all peoples – especially those who are “othered”, teach-ins led by underrepresented peoples – preferably led by said peoples also, lobbying local and national educational boards and actively seeking to reference people from other traditions than that of the status quo.


From past experience with delivering seminars focusing on Chinese, Indian and Muslim contributions to STEM subjects and civilisation with local youth, many have shared positive feedback. Some stating their desire to learn more about said civilisations and the importance of promoting all civilisations contributions so as to create a just society.


These findings make us hopeful and they inspire us to continue with our work because it is making an impact. It is inviting people to reperceive. It is fostering inclusion and seeking healthy examples of collaboration in the past to benefit from in the present and future. It gives all people from all backgrounds the opportunity to celebrate the diverse nature of this world and in a time of war and destruction, it encourages us to unite and build. History is not a ball game for superiority or inferiority complexes. It is lessons we can all learn and benefit from and surely, making it more inclusive in our curricula, wider academia, and in the media would be of great benefit to all.

Sunday 12 April 2015

Munir Farooqi: Five years on and the struggle for justice continues




Last Sunday 5th April, 2015 around 50 pro justice campaigners gathered outside HMP Wakefield to demand accountability concerning the apparent inadequate continuity of access to medical care for the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice, Munir Farooqi.



Similar to the cases of the environmental campaigners who suffered significant violation as a consquence of police entrapment in the UK, Munir Farooqi alongside his family, too, have been subject to grave abuse of power and violation by the British authorities. Leading up to, during and after farcical convictions along with sentences in prison, wrongly accused and now fully exonerated, Harris Farooqi, son of framed Munir Farooqi, described his, his fathers and familys ordeal as an exercise in prison grooming. My father and I were groomed by the authorities for detainment. They [two undercover operatives who posed as converts to Islam] infiltrated our lives, built relationships and staged conversations so that they may find enough evidence to arrest us, Harris revealed during his opening address to fellow campaigners rallying in support of Munir Farooqi. There came a time where I was getting tired of the constant calls [from the undercover operatives] and I wouldnt even answer my phone because I was sick of hearing them talk about going abroad to fight. I even told my Dad to keep his distance as something didnt feel right but he just responded that they were as much his sons as I was. Approximately a year later, the Counter Terrorism Unit and its operatives had built a case based on gross assumptions and decontextualised soundbites, the Farooqi family home was raided and Munir alongside Harris Farooqi were taken in to custody. Harris was acquitted of involvement in the single count which affected him dating from September 8, 2011 he was subsequently released on a tag, though believes G4S attempted to defy his tag parole on a regular basis. Munir Farooqi however was convicted of five counts and four life sentences on a concurrent basis.

Withstanding the dubious and extremely weak gathering of terrorism related evidence, if one may refer to it as that, staff at HMP Wakefield continues to criminalise Munir Farooqi by inconsistent access to much needed medical attention, medicaments and diabetic friendly diet plans. This is in defiance of Mr. Farooqis legal representation contacting HMP Wakefield on January 20th, 2015 to inform them of the impact their neglect is having on Mr. Farooqis mental and physical well-being. In the letter, Mr Pook states: I understand that HMP Wakefield have delayed my clients appointment at a Wakefield Community Hospital and the health care experts have advised my client that if he does not attend [] the dates set for treatment then the treatment will have little to no effect. Resulting in the ongoing loss of vision. Concluding that: The result of missing his appointments causes my client intense physical and mental suffering, the effect being so degrading that it may amount to inhuman treatment towards my client and [] any delay on his accessing health care may engage my clients rights as enshrined within the European Convention of Human Rights namely Article 3 Prevention of Torture.

It is owing to these ongoing injustices that the Free Munir Farooqi campaign had called for pro-justice campaigners to attend the peaceful protest outside HMP Wakefield. Supporters originating from various backgrounds and cities nationwide, such as a gentleman from Bradford, mentioned the need to support and be aware of such campaigns so as to prevent these unfortunate and unjust cases from ever occurring again.

Though police officers approached peaceful protesters on numerous occasions as what some campaigners believed to be for intimidation and provocation purposes, the protest continued with much success offering campaigners a detailed insight into Mr. Farooqi and Harris Farooqis case, along with motivational speakers from different walks of life. The speakers detailed their time spent with Mr. Farooqi and/or their motivations underlying why such actions are critical in ensuring justice for him. Several anecdotes shared by speakers particularly seemed to recall fond memories of Mr Munir Farooqi involving his time spent on an aid convoy to Gaza. Another included the fact that he was more concerned about supporters getting ill from the rain during the last demonstration than he was of them speaking out against what is widely believed to be HMP Wakefield's unjust behaviour towards him once again last year. And last, but certainly not least, the fact that his concern to engage and change negative perceptions of Islam and Muslims after 9/11 in his local community eventually led him and his family to be the targets of a most malicious campaign by the Greater Manchester Police and wider British authorities.  Further illustrating the concerning and far reaching scope that the preventing violent extremism initiative has, and will continue to have on average British citizens until it is abandoned. The British authorities must desist from monitoring and intellectually probing British Muslim citizens.  Many British Muslims may well argue that some have been misguided due to the silencing and fear of repercussion from the authorities of discussing contentious issues facing Muslims in the UK and abroad. British Muslims have a right to agency in the shape of freedom of speech and freedom of thought similar to any other cross section in British society and the current denial of these rights continue to foster a feeling of estrangement  along with disaffection due to the ongoing othering of British Muslims. 


The peaceful protest concluded with a spontaneous call, whose daughter Zulaikha requested him to share his thanks and prayers, though was not aware that his call was being put through a PA system. His daughter Zulaikha Farooqi concluded, “[this] was in his selfless nature to do so. Speakers urged campaigners to contact the governor of HMP Wakefield to stop this discriminative behaviour towards Mr. Farooqi. Further, though Parliament is in recess, to sign the online petition, send correspondence to local councillors, raise awareness in verbatim and via the website along with social media networks such as facebook and twitter. Though this demonstration aimed to highlight the deprivation of adequate health care for Mr. Farooqi, the Farooqi family and supporters are calling on all to join and engage in the wider campaign to bring justice for Munir Farooqi. In the words of CAGE representative, Cerie Kaleem Bullivant, it is important that we follow the website and campaign so that we know how to defend the [Farooqi] familys and our own rights because at the moment, the boot is coming down on us and we need to stand out against injustice and unite, otherwise, they are going to come for all of us.