The mosques of Britain: How do British muslims express their identity?

This graduate thesis by Mamdouh Sakr is concerned with the expression of Muslim identity in the mosque architecture of Britain. Thus the situation of British Muslims will be discussed - as an active minority - to understand their background and structure. A number of mosques in different cities of Britain will be analysed, as examples of how British Muslims use the mosque as a way of expressing their identity and presence. The extent to which British mosques have succeeded in fulfilling their functions and in expressing the character of Islamic architecture remains little studied, as does their integration within the urban fabric, and their role in what can be called 'Contemporary Mosque Architecture'. The situation of the Muslim community in Britain could be used as an indicator of other similar situations in the West. Mamdouh is the programme manager of the Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Cairo.