February 2008 Archives

Read the comment that Peter left in the previous entry. This is my repsonse:

Goodness. But I understand what you mean....

I used to feel the same in Sutton and Mere Green at home time coming back from school. The NF boys were often out and about hurling insults at me trying to provoke a reaction. Unitl one day, that wasnt enough for them. So a chap by the name of Peter Goodman decided to surprise me and attack me from behind. Gotta give it to him though. It was a good clean shot that knocked me right out. I came to about 30 seconds later but not a soul came to my defence. The parade was full of people, white people, just standing there, waiting for their bus, old and young, and no one came to help me up or ask me if I was OK. Actually, thinking back, no one would even look at me.

I hated white people for a while. How could they ignore someone who needed help. Was it really just because of my colour or my faith?

I dont know why nobody saw fit to help me and I dont too much care now either. What I do know is this:

I have met many beautiful Muslims, Christians, athiests, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus and Rastarfaris in my time, but equally, I have also met some of the most horrid Muslims, Christians, athiests, jews, Sikhs, Hindus and Rastas as well.

Peter. I have always been at the forefront of criticising the Muslim Community. Perhaps too much sometimes. But dont let your anger towards a small but horid group of people who want to do terrible things, prevent you from being just. remember - Indiscriminate killing starts with indiscriminate hate.

I used to be a street trader on Northfields high st when I was 16...I got used to the abuse but I didnt let myself hate...If you want to meet up sometime to talk...the offer is there...

Totally understand where you are coming from Hoque and many people feel the same as your man Rachel. Let me try and explain where my thoughts come from...

Islam has almost 1500 years of profound theological, legal and social scholarship. Never in that time has there ever been a 'branch' of thought that promoted the indiscrimate taking of life. 'Extremism' as we now term it, is probably best described as a post post modernist 20th century ideology. It has no roots in ANY faith - no matter what it claims.

This is important to understand because, as I said on Midlands Today last night and again this morning on Radio WM, the Muslim community is as bewildered as you are and has no more to do with violent extremism than anyone else. And yet, the focus and expectation to 'solve' it is laid squarely, if not wholly, at their feet.

The problem of violent extermism is a shared one. If we took the time to listen we would find a Mulsim community that desperately wants to be a part of the solution and not just a mere adjunct to it as the Councils top down approach and your comments, Mr Hoque, seek to promote.

My thanks however to Rachel for caring enough to offer a positive contribution to this debate and providing my inspiration for this entry. The only way to move forward is to get people meeting and talking...its not easy though. Many communities lack confidence in their ability to connect with people of other faiths and backgrounds. There is a lot of fear, mistrust and myth to break down but it can be done....it must be done!

There are lots of groups that have sprung up over the last few years to do just this. Birmingham Citizens for example, is arguably one of the most successful of these. Led by Sajida Madni, they have managed to not only bring together but keep together an amazingly diverse group of people that are actively working to better their communities.

Rachel is reaching out her hand to someone from another community to get in touch. Anyone willing to take it and prove that Im not just making all this up? Leave a comment and we'll take it from there....

Had a call yesterday from 'Giles' at the BBC. He wanted a few reflective comments on the impact that the terrorism case being decided in Leicester's Crown Court might have on communities here in Brum. We met on the steps of the 'Floozy in the Jacuzzi' and though I mumbled something vaguely coherent, this is what I would have liked to have said, had I not been running late for a mtg and thinking about 101 other things at the time:

Communities like Washwood Heath where the alleged assailants lived cannot be tarred with any brush. I have had the honour of sitting on 2 governing bodies of 2 secondary schools there and I have witnessed fantastic strides forward, not only in educational attainment, but in the aspirations and attitudes of their kids and families.

Great stuff....But there are other forces at work too, which nobody denies.

Militant extremist thinking exists. It's not prevalent by any means, but on dark street corners it finds a home, particularly amongst the excluded and marginalised. And it has fed not only on our failed foreign policies as government research claims, but also on our well intentioned domestic attempts in 'preventing extremism'.

Some folks may remember that immediately after 7/7, the Government set up a series of themed task forces that saw the best of the best coming together to devise proposals of how we can 'prevent extremism together' or PET as its endearingly now called. 70+ recommendations were formulated, and some pretty damn good ones at that, but only 2 ever saw the light of day. What made them so pregnant with the potential to really have an impact was that they were premised on 'empowering' people to do things for themselves.

What has actually happened is that huge amounts of 'PET' money has passed into the hands of Local Authorities who are getting busy with what they do best - empowering themselves and telling people how to do things. They are busy creating top down structures that say 'you can't do it for yourselves, so shut up, listen and we'll do it for you'. Many of us are sitting on the sidelines, unable to influence its course and watching yet more money being wasted, so more boxes can be ticked.

With 1 in 50 of every 'extreme' police raids resulting in no charges or apology to the traumatised families, relations between young people and state authority is at an all time low. This of course serves only to push more of them out of mainstream civil society and into the numerous underworlds of crime and lunacy.

I am not blaming anyone for anything. I am just saying that when x happens, y is the reaction. My responsibility as a citizen and indeed as a Muslim, is to help whoever I can move beyond the world of mere reactions and towards a higher state of awareness that breaks the cycle of distrust and blame. It's not an easy task. No one said it would be.

But it is made even more difficult by clumsy Council leadership that gives no value to the voices that have the power to make a difference. Be it the Learning Curve in Balsall Heath, women's groups like Ulfa Arts, or the work of inspirational youth leaders like Amir Karim - creating new structures like the 'Women's Alliance' or the 'Pakistani Forum' are meaningless because they are state run transplants into the body of a community that will reject foreign organs of state.

The body of this community is not dead and does not need transplants or boxes ticked. It is brimming with life and hope. This needs to be affirmed, not ignored.

So that's what I would have liked to have said to Giles from the BBC...I'll have to wait and see how it comes out tonight on Midlands Today...all 3 seconds of it probably!

F out.

I've been blogging for a week now....A huge thank you to everyone that has taken the time to visit and indulge me in my musings and even contribute with their own comments. Keep 'em coming please....

Ive got some great news....45 days and counting till the event of the year takes place....and you can be there...
Jermaine Jackson is flying in for it. James Caan the Dragon is staying over for it....A list of Lords and Ladies, noblemen and women have already claimed their seats for it....what is it????

On Saturday March 29th, the ICC in Birmingham will host the Muslim Writers of the Year Awards 2008. They have received thousands of entries from across the length and breadth of Britain and by all accounts, the quality of work has been tremendous. The event will be black tie with live music, performance poetry and a 3 course Morroccan inspired meal. It will be broadcast live and covered by a range of international networks and to top it all off...yours truly will be hosting it...unless Mishal Hussain - The BBC anchor woman says yes of course.

More info on this come...stay tuned!

To find pout more about the Muslim Writers Awards 2008 and to book your seat, please visit: www.muslimwritersawards.com

So where should I go then?

Pakistan? No offence to family and the other 164million people living there - but not if you paid me. Saudi Arabia? See previous answer.

How about France then? The wife would be considered a proselytising extremist what with that piece of cotton wrapped around her head. The USA? Maybe after a decade of Obama.

Timbuktu? thats spounding pretty attractive right now...but maybe Im just tired and need to go to bed. Talk in a few hours when I've had some shut eye...Im sure I'll feel more positive once the sun is shining.

Call me a secret imperialist, but why cant more countries in the woirld be like us?

Forgive the silence. I have been stunned into a type of verbal paralysis over the weekend by the venemous and brutal reaction to the Archbishops lecture on Islam and English Law. I guess thats journalism for you?

As bad as this sounds, Im used to the newspapers, tv and radio only ever making reference to Islam and Muslims as an evil and monstrous pariah in society. Thats normal. But for some reason I am still shocked and hurt when there is a sudden and acute burst of hatred. Some of my friends ask why I am so taken back and knocked for six each time...do I think things have really changed?

I love my country and my people and I live with a belief that teaches me to think the best of everyone. So sue me for being hurt by the words I have read from my countrymen and women up and down the country.

From the time I was 18 years old I have dedicated my life to bridge building, dialogue and cohseion. Now at 30, shall I just pack my bags and leave?

Ive only got 5mins now so here are my thoughts...I'll be back on later for a full discussion...

The problem with this debate is that the word Shariah and the term Islamic law are loaded with negative imagery. It prevents us getting to some of the real issues.

Words over time take on new meanings, they become institutionalised and sometimes hijacked. Our road safety laws are Islamic, our laws of offences against the person are Islamic, our complex laws to ensure politicians use public money in the right way are Islamic. The appellage hides a universal truth. Good law protects us and keeps us safe.

Shariah is not static. Like any body of complex law it must move and change with the times. The principles that Shariah is based on do not change, but how they are interepreted in any given age does, should and traditionally, always has.

This debate is an interesting one, but not new at all. When there was a Muslim empire to speak of, they had this very same debate. And do you not what those barbarians who had gardens, libraries, universities, hospitals, government, welfare and an NHS did, while we in Europe were still smothered in the dark of the dark ages?

They said yes of course. Christians, Jews, Sabians et al should, for a limited set of laws be allowed to administer their own justice. And that dear readers was an age characterised by freedom, safety, science, art and liberty.

But could that work here in Britain? I echo what both 'sides' have been saying. On one hand, It is hugely complex and merits scholarly not popular debate. But on the other, the big question for me would be, who on earth would administer it?

There are so few learned scholars in Britain that have come even remotely close to mastering the traditional religious sciences in Islam with the corresponding mastery of the society that we live in. And the two have always gone hand in hand. You cannot apply Shariah as it was 14 centuries ago, or even 100 years ago for that matter...

One way to go may be to poll Muslim women...with almost zero Muslim women scholars of law in Britain, it doesnt sound like too attractive an option for half the population...

Ive got to go...big meetings all day. Back at 4pm to read your comments...

Faraz out.

Did you know that a 1/3 of all Scouts in the world are Muslim?

Thats over 9 million boys and girls who beieve that the world is a better place when you are "trustworthy, self-controlled and self-confident, have self-respect and respect for others, work together to serve other people and to improve society and have an active faith".

I had no idea.

Whatever will they take over next!

My good buddy Atallah Fitzgibbon has been in the troubled land of Chad since last Tuesday. He's there with Islamic Relief, the Birmingham based international charity, supporting their much needed relief work across Africa. Been trying to get in touch with him to make sure he was ok.

Thankfully this morning I got a text from him saying that they had escaped to Cameroon unscathed, had crossed Nigeria into Niger and are now heading for Niamey, its Capital.

He's back later this week and has even promised to make band practice on Friday night. Bless him. What a guy!

Check out Islamic Reliefs 'Take Action for Africa' video on youtube - we all need a reminder of what war and poverty really means...

Should Muslim supplementary schools aka 'madrassahs' be supported by the Local Education Authority?

I had a meeting today with some folks at Birmingham LEA to discuss community engagement strategies to raise the appalling achievement of Muslims children here. Lots of motherhood and apple pie, but they meant well. What surprised me though was the discovery that they are providing advisory support to madrassahs.

In my usual irreverent style, I balked at such a notion and mumbled something about how the madrassah system of education has failed an entire generation of Muslims in Britain. It didn't go down very well.

Allegedly, things have moved on and they are really quite progressive now, offering a range of sporting and extra curricular activities to stimulate young minds.

I'm sure 'some' are. But the numbers speak for themselves. How does an immigrant population in less than 50 years, manage to fill 11% of prisons and enjoy the highest levels of economic inactivity aka 'wont work, cant work' in the country?