The Egyptian Muslim Community in England

Understanding Muslim Ethnic Communities

Moussa Ramadan April 2012

Karmi, 1997

“The Egyptian community is not homogenous and displays a spectrum of different social classes, based on occupation, wealth and ‘good’ family… the ‘elite’ class consists of a large number of doctors, academics, businessmen and financiers”

Background information on Egypt• Egypt fell heavily into debt despite completion

of the Suez Canal in 1986• In order to protect its investments, Egypt

allowed Britain to take over of the Egyptian Government in 1882

• The British rule ended in 1922, Egypt became an independent state

• In 1952, Egypt acquired full sovereignty when they overthrew the British-backed monarchy

Migration to England

• Started in the 1930’s and 1940’s, small numbers of Egyptians come over to study

• First significant migration after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 – mainly upper-middle class, mostly Muslims

• In the 1970’s, big numbers of Christians (Copts) migrated because of religious intolerance in Egypt

Reasons for Migration

• The Egyptian Revolution of 1952 • Beginning of 1960’s, increasingly for economic

reasons, and made easier as British Government facilitated the process to obtain work permits and visas

• Professional people, wanting to further their career and obtain degrees

• Religious insecurity

Egyptians in The UK

• In 2001, approx. 23,000 people living in England were born in Egypt

• Of which approx. 7,500 of them were Muslims • Approx 53% of the Egyptian-born Muslim

population resides in London, 10% in the South East

Ghada Karmi, 1997

Egypt-Britain relations• Strong relations, ties between both countries

include trade, defence, education and environment

• In 2006, both countries had a total bilateral trade of goods of over 2,220million£

• In 2007, Egypt announced that the UK was largest investor in the country

• Egypt is the UK’s 40th largest market for goods

1. UK Trade and Investment (Pink Book), 2006

1

Socio economic situation In London• Education - 50.1% of the Egypt-born

population holds higher level qualifications compared to 31% of total population

• Housing - 61% of the Egypt-born population are owners compared to 58.4% of total population

• Employment - 25.4% of Egypt-born population are managers and senior officials compared to 17.6%% of total population

London Country of Birth Profiles: The Arab League, GLA (2005)

Women in the community

• Many well educated, in high paid jobs but majority face severe unemployment

• Professional women not always treated as equally as men within Egyptian organisations and have difficulties accessing senior management positions

• Small amount, if any facilities or venues available for them to socialise outside family circle which can lead to severe isolation

“We have a very patriarchal society and women are too caught up in raising their children to worry about their own problems too much”

Egyptian community interviewee, Male, 40s

Revolution of 25th January 2011

• How will it impact the relations between Britain and Egypt?

• The most significant migration of Egyptians happened after the 1952 revolution because of economic, social instability and insecurity, will we see the same after the 2011 revolution?

• Will Egyptians migrate back to Egypt if the country stabilises economically?