Expressions of Cosmopolitanism in the Virtual Sphere

Abstract

In the last decade, there has been much activity, discussions and debates within online virtual communities about a wide range of topics pertaining to everyday Islamic practices, Islam and citizenship, Islam and identity and the current state of Islamaphobia. There are over 100 Islamic groups online, which serve as sites for both men and women to articulate their positions on many of these ongoing debates. Many of these online communities are geographically based, while others cross national boundaries. This chapter examines the discursive interactions within two British-based virtual sites called The Revival: Voice of the Muslim Youth and Spirit 21. In doing so, the chapter demonstrates how British Muslim women exhibit cosmopolitan and feminist attitudes and views within the virtual sphere while they debate and discuss differing ideas online.