Papers by Mohammed Rahman
Academia Letters, 2021
In 2020, we conducted an exploratory study on the vulnerabilities of rough sleepers in Birmingham... more In 2020, we conducted an exploratory study on the vulnerabilities of rough sleepers in Birmingham, England, UK. The quote in the title of this paper is the response of a research participant when asked about his views on the public perception of rough sleepers. The implicit and explicit discrimination endured by this marginalized cohort saturates their everyday existence. In some instances, discrimination serves as a catalyst for harassment and victimization. In most cases, to discriminate against a person is to also stigmatize them, as both are inextricably linked. From the findings of the aforementioned research, this short paper offers examples of the social stigma endured by a female rough sleeper by members of the public. It critically explores how these experiences shape social isolation, as well as her own perception of those that stigmatize. Stigma is a social construct that is subject to change based on contemporary and unacceptably deemed beliefs held by society (Becker and Arnold, 1986). However, there are several marginalized groups within society, such as homeless individuals, that are subjected to permanent stigmatization. Goffman's (1963:3) seminal work describes stigma as a trait that is socially perceived as "deeply discrediting", pushing the public to stereotype and discriminate against those who withhold such traits. The stigmatization of the destitute dates to the Middle Ages as it was a prevalent issue inflicted by Anglo-Americans (Phelan, Link, Moore et al, 1997). Stigma associated with homeless people is everlasting. This is extremely problematic as it has been put forward by Johnstone, Jetten, Dingle et al (2015), that with stigmatization, comes excessive rates of health problems and social disadvantages. These inequalities contribute to the anguish of this marginalized cohort, which in turn configures their disposition and relational values within a given social milieu.
Trends in Organized Crime, 2020
Enforcement, ranging from threats to intimidation to assault to homicide, has long been an establ... more Enforcement, ranging from threats to intimidation to assault to homicide, has long been an established practice within criminal networks. However, comparatively little academic research exists about the nature and role of enforcers within and beyond the context of contract killings. Drawing on qualitative interviews with criminal enforcers from two contrasting sites within the UK-the West Scotland and the West Midlands-the current study examines the articulated, identifiable pathways into criminal enforcement. Also it examines the nuanced nature of enforcement and the roles those men commonly adopt within the context of organised crime, as well as the relationship between these men's activity, the wider context of organised crime, and presence of social and cultural capital within it. This article provides insights into how one becomes an enforcer; how contact is made between all parties involved; the degree of planning involved; and costing arrangements , with important implications for research and practice.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature and extent of violent practice in the motorcyc... more The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature and extent of violent practice in the motorcycle underworld. It does this by considering the murder of Gerry Tobin, and then uses the biography of the founding member of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club (HAMC) for a critical analysis. The authors are interested in understanding the role of masculine honour and collective identity, and its influences in relation to violence – namely, fatal violence in the motorcycle underworld. The authors argue that motorcycle gangs are extreme examples of what Hall (2012) considers “criminal undertakers” – individuals who take “special liberties” often as a last resort.
This paper discusses the relationship between fatal violence and organised crime. It does this by... more This paper discusses the relationship between fatal violence and organised crime. It does this by first providing a brief overview of two Birmingham street based organised crime groups, and then considers the 2003 fatal shootings of Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis. Methodologically this research is qualitative, and the ethnographic strand of the research offers a " criminological autopsy " of the case. By triangulating primary data, secondary sources and criminological theory, it is hoped that this paper will provide an exploratory understanding of the overlooked and under researched correlation between organised crime and fatal violence.
In 2013, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale murdered a British soldier, named Lee Rigby in ... more In 2013, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale murdered a British soldier, named Lee Rigby in Woolwich, south-east London. In the aftermath of the incident, evidence showed Muslims had become targets for a rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes.1 Most notably, mosques had been reported to have been burnt down and graffiti with messages of hate scrawled against the walls. In such times, the role of the media is crucial in projecting a balanced approach. This study analysed newspaper coverage three weeks from the Woolwich attacks and examined the language and headlines used to describe Muslims. Over 1022 articles from UK newspapers were reviewed using the Nexis database utilising both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the media narrative regarding Muslims and also make a comparative analysis of how the media reported on the case of Mohammed Saleem who was mur- dered by the far right extremist, Pavlo Lapshyn. The newspaper articles were ana- lysed by using the computer software NVivo to search for and identify patterns across the articles in order to give an idea of the most frequent ways that Muslims were being portrayed. This paper found that news coverage had generalised about Muslims which was made in an overtly prejudicial way.
This article discusses what might motivate someone to become a hitman. It does this by considerin... more This article discusses what might motivate someone to become a hitman. It does this by considering those hitmen identified as ‘Novices’ and ‘Dilettantes’ in the research by MacIntyre et al. (2014) and then uses a critical analysis of a biography of one British hitman not considered in that article to pursue these ideas further. Throughout, we are keen to see how potential hitmen develop a psychological ‘reframing’ of their victim (Levi 1981), so as to be able to achieve their objectives, and how this reframing might thereafter be maintained. Hitmen, it is argued, emerge as an extreme example of Hall’s (2012) ‘criminal undertakers’.
This paper reports on the outcome of an investigation into whether or not members of the public w... more This paper reports on the outcome of an investigation into whether or not members of the public would recognise high-profile victims and perpetrators and, if so, whom. The study was based on the premise that prominent media coverage would cause a greater number of perpetrators to be recognised than victims and that those victims who were recognised would be white children. Field research was conducted in a university and in non-university settings, such as fast food outlets, bus stops and shopping centres. All 20 images used were black and white headshots. Most photographs showed one person, but two photographs had two images. A total of 103 people were surveyed. The majority of our sample (78%) were unable to name any victims or perpetrators. These results provide strong evidence to suggest that despite 24-hour rolling news and the prominence of high-profile victims and perpetrators on the front pages of national newspapers, the public fails to remember who these victims and perpetrators are. We discuss why this may be so.
Books by Mohammed Rahman
The Handbook of Collective Violence: Current Developments and Understanding, 2020
This chapter explores spontaneous collective violence, which is generally overlooked in collectiv... more This chapter explores spontaneous collective violence, which is generally overlooked in collective violence scholarship. In doing so, through case examples, it illustrates how spontaneous acts of collective violence are welcomed by outlaw clubs, as they contribute towards the clubs’ maintenance of symbolic boundaries and “brotherhood”, a keystone concept that will be critically explored.
Homicide and Organised Crime Ethnographic Narratives of Serious Violence in the Criminal Underworld, 2019
This book offers rich ethnographic and narrative accounts of men who have been engaged in serious... more This book offers rich ethnographic and narrative accounts of men who have been engaged in serious violence and organised crime in the West Midlands, England, drawing on several theoretical paradigms. Through case study examples, it considers contract killers and the nefarious position that ‘hitmen’ occupy in the criminal underworld. By charting insider perspectives from retired police officers, informants, ex-military personnel and ex-offenders, this book speaks to those who have a vested interest in violence, organised crime and ethnography.
Cyber hate can take many different forms from online material which can lead to actual offline ab... more Cyber hate can take many different forms from online material which can lead to actual offline abuse and violence, cyber violence; cyber stalking, and online harassment with the use of visual images, videos, chat rooms, text and social media which are intended to cause harm.
This book examines the case for current guidelines dealing with online anti-Muslim abuse and concludes that we require a new understanding of this online behaviour and the impact it can have on vulnerable communities. It is unique as it focuses on new technology in the form of social media and the Internet and explores the challenges the police and other agencies face when confronting anti-Muslim abuse in cyberspace. It also provides a critique of how people are targeted by online offenders and helps us understand online anti-Muslim behaviour in a much more detailed and comprehensive way by bringing together a range of experts who will examine this phenomenon and critically discuss why they think it has become so much more prevalent than it was before.
Book Reviews by Mohammed Rahman
Book Review: Gangs and Spirituality: Global Perspectives. pp.136-138., 2019
Uploads
Papers by Mohammed Rahman
Books by Mohammed Rahman
This book examines the case for current guidelines dealing with online anti-Muslim abuse and concludes that we require a new understanding of this online behaviour and the impact it can have on vulnerable communities. It is unique as it focuses on new technology in the form of social media and the Internet and explores the challenges the police and other agencies face when confronting anti-Muslim abuse in cyberspace. It also provides a critique of how people are targeted by online offenders and helps us understand online anti-Muslim behaviour in a much more detailed and comprehensive way by bringing together a range of experts who will examine this phenomenon and critically discuss why they think it has become so much more prevalent than it was before.
Book Reviews by Mohammed Rahman