Kashmir: present and future prospects
Harrogate International Centre Queens Suite 6 18.15 Saturday 3rd MarchSecond Draft European Parliament Report.
A Review, Update and Consultation with EU Rapporteur Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne MEP.
Statement from Founding Chair Cllr Nasser Butt
- The Muslim Forum is a political group campaigning for better government policies for the British Muslims and not concerned with religious or theological aspects of Islam. Therefore the executive endeavours to distinguish Religion and Politics and keep these separate for the purpose of this Forum’s activities and deliberations.
- Thus, we should be able to persuade all members of the Party regardless of Faith or any other distinction to become members of the Forum and work for the causes of the Muslim Forum without them fearing they have to become a Muslim first!
- Just as in any Liberal Democrat Organisation,
any Lib Dem party member can become a member of the Muslims Forum and
any member therefore could be elected to any position on the executive.
The Forum’s Constitution dictates this neutral and Liberal position. One
Executive member gave an extreme example to clarify the position by
saying, “If the members of the forum elected a Jew to be the chair of the Forum, than we would happily respect and work with such a chair.
The executive agreed with the principle.”
A Message from Chairman: Prof. Karrar Khan
“There has been a sea change in the Socio-Economic and Political environment for British Muslims after September 11 2001. While Bush and Blair are conducting their 'War on Terrorism', a new Islamaphobic reality has been experienced in this country by all peaceful British Muslims. The Labour Government, some politicians and elements of the media have created an environment that has made Muslims feel under attack from all directions. This pressure and alienation is now forcing British Muslims into the political arena like never before. British Muslims as a community have now started questioning decades of blind and obedient support for the Labour Party. Their loyal support mostly in key inner city constituencies plummeted from over 70% at the last general election to 36% in March 2004. British Muslims stood up to those reactionary forces within the national press and mass media by forcing the sacking of Kilroy Silk from the BBC and Harry Cummins from the British Council for their anti- Arab and Anti-Muslim denunciations.”
“The last few years have seen large numbers of Muslim voters turning to the Liberal Democrats, giving us an increase in councillors in previously unchartered territory and in traditional strong Labour held Wards. Muslim electoral support and increased membership has also given the party its first Asian MEP in the North West. Many long-standing Labour party activists are now giving the Liberal Democrats a chance. Muslim votes and party membership comes with the feeling of being betrayed by the Labour Party and with a hope that the Liberal Democrats will fare better for them. For these new supporters, the Liberal Democrats have shown consistent leadership throughout with their stance against the invasion of Iraq. This being the main cause of the exodus to the Liberal Democrat Party.”
A Message from Vice Chair: Ashraf Patha
“The Muslim community is the largest minority in the UK and set to become the biggest minority group making up both supporters and membership within the Liberal Democrat Party.”
“The focus for LD Muslims Forum is to emphasis and communicate the values of British Muslims living in the UK, help to recruit Muslim voters to the Lib Dems and to ensure that the Party remains tuned to the needs of its Muslim members and British Muslim communities in general. The LD Muslims Forum hopes to concentrate on recruitment on the one hand and developing sensitive and appropriate Lib Dem party policies on the other.”
A Message from Gen. Secretary: Anwar Khan
"We will be holding e-group discussions on relevant issues and providing a help line for the local Parties to campaign with Muslim communities in their areas. This should be particularly useful for all PPCs and Councillors to join and get involved in over the next year. I would urge you to complete the membership form and join us shoulder-to-shoulder in this great venture to recruit the Muslim Vote.”
A Message from Membership Secretary: Abirjan Khan
“A number of councillors and activists from different towns have already joined the Forum and we are now recruiting members from different local parties. Our objective is to work with local parties activating membership and working with them to conduct mass recruitment into the Party.”
“We hope that the Forum will provide an opportunities for Councillors, PPCs and MPs to contribute to policy development for the British Muslims and in return the Forum would be able to offer campaign support to get more Muslim Councillors and PPCs elected.”
“For the Forum to succeed, it needs strong membership base and financial backing from the Muslim Members of the Liberal Democrat Party. We have set up three tiers of membership to suite everyone who wish to support the Forum at different levels. I hope you would agree with the objective of the Forum and would support it with your membership.”
“If you are an active member of the Party or would like to be active working with the Forum at the local or national level then please join our team. Become a member of the Forum Committee and work with us to build your local Party. Please call us.”