Adam Yosef
Encyclopedia
Adam Yosef is a British multimedia
journalist
and community
activist.
as a Press & Public Relations representative. He regularly appeared as spokesperson for the trust alongside its chairman, Dr Mohammad Naseem.
He is co-founder of the interfaith Saltley Gate Peace Group
, Community & Interfaith Liaison Officer for the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition and was Press Officer for Salma Yaqoob
, a Respect - The Unity Coalition candidate in the 2005 general election
. He was also Press & New Media Officer for Yaqoob, now leader of the party, during the 2010 general election.
He has been actively involved in community work related to the Lozells riots
, the Alum Rock terror raids and campaigning against radical groups in the Midlands
.
In his early twenties, Yosef slept rough on the streets of London
before being assisted by The Salvation Army
.
and Desi Xpress
, owned by Urban Media.
In 2007, Yosef was appointed sub editor of entertainment magazine Ikonz
. In 2008, he became a columnist for Fusian magazine.
In 2009, Yosef and fellow multimedia journalist Kyle Kowalski launched the I Am Birmingham video project, of which he is Creative Director.
In 2011, he was attacked by rioters while covering the 2011 England riots
.
Yosef regularly writes for BBC Online and works closely with BBC Birmingham
, with work highlighting issues of socio-politics, diversity, culture, racism
and religion. He has also written for the Birmingham Mail
.
newspaper Desi Xpress
(Issue 42), he made allegedly homophobic remarks about the UK's new civil partnership law for same-sex couples, including remarks such as "Hmm... gay weddings... Gay people and commitment? I don't think so... They'll be shagging the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm afraid. Great way of evading tax though...." He later apologised in the same newspaper, claiming his opinions were misinterpreted.
, leader of OutRage!
, Nick Griffin
, the leader of the British National Party
, and Omar Bakri Mohammed, leader of Al-Muhajiroun
, as the three top "hate filled bigots" in the United Kingdom. He also said that Tatchell "needs a good slap in the face" and that he and his "queer campaign army" should "pack their bent bags and head back to Australia." After complaints that he was homophobic and inciting violence, Yosef apologised, saying that the reference to Australia was intended as a reference to the Cronulla riots
in Sydney.
Tribune
magazine, allied to the left of the Labour Party, criticised Yosef and suggested his NUJ card should be withdrawn. He was further described as "bigoted" by Progress magazine, which is allied to the modernising section of the Labour Party and criticised by the Green Party
, of which Tatchell is a member. Respect defended Yosef, citing his BBC articles supporting Gay Pride
. The party stated it opposed "homophobia and anti-gay violence".
In October 2009, Yosef pledged his formal support to Tatchell's General Election parliamentary candidacy, calling for the left to "embrace a mutual personal and political commitment towards equality and human rights".
photo shoot, in which he was transformed into a The Crow
. He was featured alongside actors from television soap Hollyoaks
and presenters from the BBC Asian Network
.
In March 2008, he was included in the top 50 most eligible bachelors list for Asian Woman magazine.
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
activist.
Activism
Between 2003 and 2004, Yosef was employed by the Birmingham Mosque TrustBirmingham Central Mosque
Birmingham Central Mosque, is a mosque in the Highgate area of Birmingham, England, run by the Birmingham Mosque Trust. It is one of the largest Muslim centres in Europe....
as a Press & Public Relations representative. He regularly appeared as spokesperson for the trust alongside its chairman, Dr Mohammad Naseem.
He is co-founder of the interfaith Saltley Gate Peace Group
Saltley Gate Peace Group
The Saltley Gate Peace Group, is an inner city interfaith organisation based in Birmingham, England.-Background:The Saltley Gate Peace Group was initially formed as a joint Christian/Muslim peace initiative in response to the threat of war in Iraq as a part of the growing peace movement in Britain...
, Community & Interfaith Liaison Officer for the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition and was Press Officer for Salma Yaqoob
Salma Yaqoob
Salma Yaqoob is the leader, and former vice-chair, of the Respect Party and a former Birmingham City Councillor. She is also the head of the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition and a spokesperson for Birmingham Central Mosque....
, a Respect - The Unity Coalition candidate in the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. He was also Press & New Media Officer for Yaqoob, now leader of the party, during the 2010 general election.
He has been actively involved in community work related to the Lozells riots
2005 Birmingham riots
The Birmingham riots of 2005 occurred on two consecutive nights on Saturday 22 October and Sunday 23 October 2005 in the Lozells area of Birmingham, England. The riots were derived from racial tensions between the Black British and British Asian communities, with the spark for the riot being an...
, the Alum Rock terror raids and campaigning against radical groups in the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
.
In his early twenties, Yosef slept rough on the streets of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
before being assisted by The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
.
Journalism
Between 2005 and 2006, Yosef was senior journalist with The Asian TodayThe Asian Today
The Asian Today is a free fortnightly community newspaper published and distributed in the Midlands, England.It is a community newspaper providing the region's south-Asian community access to important news stories, current events and encouraging community interaction and dialogie as well as...
and Desi Xpress
Desi Xpress
Desi Xpress was a weekly national entertainment newspaper, published in the United Kingdom by Urban Media Limited.-Background:Desi Xpress was first launched in the Midlands region in England in September 2004 before becoming national in September 2005.The entertainment weekly catered predominantly...
, owned by Urban Media.
In 2007, Yosef was appointed sub editor of entertainment magazine Ikonz
Ikonz
-Background:The publication was launched as a regional monthly glossy in December 2006 by AEM Worldwide. Its official national UK launch took place in February 2007....
. In 2008, he became a columnist for Fusian magazine.
In 2009, Yosef and fellow multimedia journalist Kyle Kowalski launched the I Am Birmingham video project, of which he is Creative Director.
In 2011, he was attacked by rioters while covering the 2011 England riots
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
.
Yosef regularly writes for BBC Online and works closely with BBC Birmingham
BBC Birmingham
BBC Birmingham is one of the oldest regional arms of the BBC, located in Birmingham, West Midlands. It was the first region outside of London to start broadcasting both the corporation's radio and television transmissions, the latter from the Sutton Coldfield television transmitter...
, with work highlighting issues of socio-politics, diversity, culture, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and religion. He has also written for the Birmingham Mail
Birmingham Mail
The Birmingham Mail is a tabloid newspaper based in Birmingham, UK but distributed around Birmingham, The Black Country, Solihull, Warwickshire and parts of Worcestershire and Staffordshire. The newspaper, which was re-branded from the Birmingham Evening Mail in October 2005, is one of the biggest...
.
Civil partnerships
In the December 2005 issue of the British AsianBritish Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
newspaper Desi Xpress
Desi Xpress
Desi Xpress was a weekly national entertainment newspaper, published in the United Kingdom by Urban Media Limited.-Background:Desi Xpress was first launched in the Midlands region in England in September 2004 before becoming national in September 2005.The entertainment weekly catered predominantly...
(Issue 42), he made allegedly homophobic remarks about the UK's new civil partnership law for same-sex couples, including remarks such as "Hmm... gay weddings... Gay people and commitment? I don't think so... They'll be shagging the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm afraid. Great way of evading tax though...." He later apologised in the same newspaper, claiming his opinions were misinterpreted.
Peter Tatchell
In January 2006, he subsequently wrote another article for the same newspaper on bigotry, in which he named Peter TatchellPeter Tatchell
Peter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
, leader of OutRage!
OutRage!
OutRage! is a British LGBT rights group that was formed to fight for equal rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in comparison to heterosexual people. It is a group which has at times been criticised for outing individuals who wanted to keep their homosexuality secret and for being...
, Nick Griffin
Nick Griffin
Nicholas John "Nick" Griffin is a British politician, chairman of the British National Party and Member of the European Parliament for North West England....
, the leader of the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
, and Omar Bakri Mohammed, leader of Al-Muhajiroun
Al-Muhajiroun
Al-Muhajiroun is a banned Islamist organisation that was based in Britain and which has been linked to international terrorism, homophobia and anti-semitism...
, as the three top "hate filled bigots" in the United Kingdom. He also said that Tatchell "needs a good slap in the face" and that he and his "queer campaign army" should "pack their bent bags and head back to Australia." After complaints that he was homophobic and inciting violence, Yosef apologised, saying that the reference to Australia was intended as a reference to the Cronulla riots
2005 Cronulla riots
The 2005 Cronulla riots were a series of sectarian clashes and mob violence originating in Cronulla, New South Wales and spreading, over the next few nights, to additional Sydney suburbs....
in Sydney.
Tribune
Tribune (magazine)
Tribune is a democratic socialist weekly, founded in 1937 published in London. It is independent but supports the Labour Party from the left...
magazine, allied to the left of the Labour Party, criticised Yosef and suggested his NUJ card should be withdrawn. He was further described as "bigoted" by Progress magazine, which is allied to the modernising section of the Labour Party and criticised by the Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
, of which Tatchell is a member. Respect defended Yosef, citing his BBC articles supporting Gay Pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
. The party stated it opposed "homophobia and anti-gay violence".
In October 2009, Yosef pledged his formal support to Tatchell's General Election parliamentary candidacy, calling for the left to "embrace a mutual personal and political commitment towards equality and human rights".
Trivial
In October 2007, Yosef was included in Ikonz magazine's special HalloweenHalloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
photo shoot, in which he was transformed into a The Crow
The Crow
The Crow is a comic book series created by James O'Barr. The series was originally written by O'Barr as a means of dealing with the death of his girlfriend at the hands of a drunk driver. It was later published by Caliber Comics in 1989, becoming an underground success, and later adapted into a...
. He was featured alongside actors from television soap Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
and presenters from the BBC Asian Network
BBC Asian Network
BBC Asian Network is a British radio station serving those originating from and around the Indian subcontinent. The music and news comes out of the main urban areas where there are significant communities with these backgrounds. The station has production centres in Birmingham, Leicester and London...
.
In March 2008, he was included in the top 50 most eligible bachelors list for Asian Woman magazine.
External links
- Man, 20, 'critical' after shooting in shop - Birmingham PostBirmingham PostThe Birmingham Post newspaper was originally published under the name Daily Post in Birmingham, England, in 1857 by John Frederick Feeney. It was the largest selling broadsheet in the West Midlands, though it faced little if any competition in this category. It changed to tabloid size in 2008...
, February 2008 - Man gunned down in shop - Birmingham MailBirmingham MailThe Birmingham Mail is a tabloid newspaper based in Birmingham, UK but distributed around Birmingham, The Black Country, Solihull, Warwickshire and parts of Worcestershire and Staffordshire. The newspaper, which was re-branded from the Birmingham Evening Mail in October 2005, is one of the biggest...
, February 2008 - Presents donated to children's hospital - Asian Image, December 2007
- Multi-faith Santas bear gifts for Children's Hospital - Ethnic Now, December 2007
- Kreepy. Kooky. Spooky. Ooky. - Dholaholic.com, November 2007
- Birmingham rocked by terror raids - The Asian TodayThe Asian TodayThe Asian Today is a free fortnightly community newspaper published and distributed in the Midlands, England.It is a community newspaper providing the region's south-Asian community access to important news stories, current events and encouraging community interaction and dialogie as well as...
, February 2007 - Terror arrests anger community - BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, February 2007 - Terror arrests: A call for calm - Birmingham PostBirmingham PostThe Birmingham Post newspaper was originally published under the name Daily Post in Birmingham, England, in 1857 by John Frederick Feeney. It was the largest selling broadsheet in the West Midlands, though it faced little if any competition in this category. It changed to tabloid size in 2008...
, February 2007 - Community leaders fear raids could be 'damaging' - Birmingham MailBirmingham MailThe Birmingham Mail is a tabloid newspaper based in Birmingham, UK but distributed around Birmingham, The Black Country, Solihull, Warwickshire and parts of Worcestershire and Staffordshire. The newspaper, which was re-branded from the Birmingham Evening Mail in October 2005, is one of the biggest...
, February 2007 - The witch-hunt against Adam Yosef - Islamophobia WatchIslamophobia WatchIslamophobia Watch is a website initiated in January 2005 as a non-profit project to document material in the public domain which, according to Islamophobia Watch, advocates fear and hatred of Muslims around the world and Islam as a religion....
, January 2006 - In-depth media links and reference on Peter Tatchell controversy - January 2006
- ‘People feel sky-high at Respect’s campaign’ - Socialist WorkerSocialist WorkerSocialist Worker is the name of several socialist/communist newspapers associated with the International Socialist Tendency...
, July 2004 - Adam Yosef on the BBC