On Wednesday 11th September 2024, AMI’s Muslims, Societies, and Cultures research area was privileged to host University of Birmingham’s Dr. Sophia Butt, to lead a research seminar entitled “Securitising Muslim School Children”.
The presentation, which centred on UK-based research, asked critical questions about the UK government’s ‘deradicalisation’ initiatives and how they were administered to schoolchildren. The presentation critically evaluated the theoretical basis, adequacy and application of questionnaires that were targeted at schoolchildren, as well as the lack of transparency involved with the initiative and the islamophobic underpinnings its consequences had.
Some of the research questions relied on theories of cognitive development from western scholars, like Jean Piaget, implying that government questionnaire, trialled without parental consent, was inappropriate considering the children’s underdeveloped psyche, and did not yield accurate or ethically defensible results.
The seminar presentation was followed by a vibrant question and answer discussion, during which attendees, both in-house and online, probed Dr. Butt about the methodologies and findings of her research. Research on this theme has a growing significance considering geopolitical tensions around the Middle East, and political scrutiny of Muslim responses in the UK.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Sophia Butt began her career in higher education at the University of Birmingham in 1997 after completing her MA in Special Applications of Linguistics. Over the years, she has held various roles in both UK and international universities, including at King’s College London, Imperial College London, and the University of Cambridge, and has been affiliated with a prestigious university in Finland since 2006. Since 2014, as an International Higher Education Consultant, she has worked across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. In 2019, she introduced the Bologna Process at a Eurasian institution, and in 2022, she developed and taught a course on Islam at a leading Japanese university. Dr. Butt holds an interdisciplinary doctoral degree in Linguistics, Social Policy, and Law, with her thesis examining the UK’s Prevent strategies and highlighting the marginalisation of Muslims. Her work has been recognised for its critical analysis of counter-terrorism measures and their impact on political dissent.
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