The implications of the securitisation of mosques for transformative masculine attitudes towards harmful cultural practices in the UK

This chapter critically explores the implications that the securitisation of UK Mosques has had on and for the emergence of transformative male attitudes towards harmful practices endured by women. Specifically, this chapter focuses on female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage (FM). It brings together interviews with a number of Imams based in Pakistani- and Somali-dominated mosques in Birmingham. It also presents the views of a sample of Muslim men who worship at the mosques. All those interviewed argue, although in different ways, that the securitisation agenda has limited their freedom to use the mosque as a space to have challenging conversations with each other about a range of issues, including whether practices such as FGM and FM should continue. Global research in relation to both these practices makes it clear that unless men are engaged in conversations and pushed to acknowledge they must take a role in ending them, we are unlikely to see any significant or sustainable shift in prevalence.