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The role of the mosque has become increasingly vital, particularly in contemporary societies such as Britain, where both the place and status of religion in public life are constantly discussed and debated. Indeed, in the contemporary period, the role of the mosque has several dimensions, ranging from a social space, educational and cultural exchange, and community cohesion centre to a knowledge hub. In this context, this paper suggests that a mosque should be seen as an independent religious institution, although these are influenced by and responsive to governments, elites, pressure groups, public bodies, etc. Using a thematic analysis of news items in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph over a period of two years (8 July 2005–7 July 2007), it finds that in the aftermath of 7/7, the mosque as a religious place and an institution for British Muslims is largely seen as incompatible and a threat to secular British society and that it is linked with radicalisation and terrorism. According to Quranic texts and revelations, it is indeed a fact that mosques are open to all. This is logical since God's mercy, love, and forgiveness are for all of mankind without any distinction, which is perhaps why the mosque has been the sacred house of God Himself. This study aims to reveal the development of visible hostility in some sections of the British media and political campaigns. Moreover, it intends to trace the determination and idea of the mosque as a religious place and an institution for British Muslims rather than only a place for worship. Finally, this study will argue the role of the mosque in promoting community cohesion and mutual understanding within the Muslim and other faith communities located in Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do memorials act to transmit memory through the organization of space? In this article, we contrast a ‘preservation’ model of the endurance of encoded memory with a ‘meshwork’ model which treats memory as emergent on the perdurance of the memorial site. Developing a theoretical framework from Tim Ingold’s work, we describe how memorialization receives its spatial form through a collective work of braiding together multiple threads of activities and material flows. To illustrate, we examine the spatial and temporal organization of the Hyde Park 7/7 memorial from its initial designs, through to installation and contemporary use. We draw on interview data featuring various stakeholders in the 7/7 memorial project to analyse the relationship between memorial space and material relations. We develop an approach to organizational space as an unfinished meshwork that folds together wanted and unwanted memory, making the historical a matter of ongoing live concern but with the absence of a permanent guiding narrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the London bombings on 7 July 2005, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) was provided for survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A “screen and treat” approach was used. The transcripts of 18 audiotaped CBT treatment sessions with these patients were analyzed using the qualitative method of thematic analysis. Interviews comprised participants’ direct experiences of the terrorist attack and its impact on their lives. Themes identified were shock and disorientation, horror, getting out, reorientation and reconnecting with the outside world (on the day of the bombings); and posttraumatic stress and depression, feeling different, and recovery and resilience (following the day of the bombings). Services may be part of wider political responses to terrorism but this did not preoccupy participants. In CBT, during elaboration of traumatic memories, attention might usefully be paid to clients’ experiences of collective action taken during a terrorist attack. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]