Ramadhan Foundation
Contact: Mohammed Shafiq
07989 764624
Embargo: Immediate
Tuesday 22nd November 2011 19:00
ASIAN GANGS AND GROOMING - NATIONAL ACTION PLAN
Published: Tuesday 22nd November 2011 19:30
Mr. Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the
Ramadhan Foundation comments:
As the UK Government launches the National
Action Plan on grooming the Ramadhan Foundation
once again reiterates its disgust and abhorrence
of these evil crimes. The criminals bring shame
on themselves, their families and our community.
We have consistently been campaigning against
these crimes over the past five years and will
continue to work actively to eradicate from our
society.
There must be no hiding place for these
criminals, regardless of race or background in
our country and we must not shy away from
speaking out. The reality is that the majority
of child sex cases are carried out by white man
but in areas with a large concentration of
ethnic minorities there are significant number
of abusers who are Asian. We know from many
recent convictions that these men come from the
Pakistani and Indian communities, to say that
ethnicity is not a factor in these crimes is a
lie and abject failure of authorities whose
primary role is to protect these children. We
have and will continue to never hide away from
speaking on this issue and the positive feedback
received from all sections of our society shows
utter disgust at the crimes and also disgust at
the authorities for their failure in protecting
our children.
Sadly when a recent white gang were convicted in
Portsmouth of grooming there was very little
coverage in the media but when Asian gangs are
convicted there was blanket coverage, some
elements of the media are feeding division when
we should all be uniting to ensure that there is
no safe place for these criminals from any race
or background. We would urge the media to
responsibly report on these crimes and ensure
that they do not tarnish all Asian communities
where the overwhelmly majority are disgusted by
these sick evil men.
I have been calling for a National strategy that
forces the Police, local councils, care systems
and schools to work and share information on
where girls are vulnerable to the evil of
grooming. I welcome the Government’s and in
particular Tim Loughton MP, the Children’s
Minister action plan and for his leadership on
this issue. There are only a handful of local
authorities have given these crimes the
attention they require and the longer the rest
that drag their feet the more girls will be
lost. The time for ill informed racial
sensitivities on this needs has stopped and we
need immediate implementation of all elements of
this action plan. The Ramadhan Foundation is
ready to work with the Government to ensure that
this action plan actually turns into action.
The Ramadhan Foundation is pleased to announce
that we are planning to host a major conference
in 2012 on grooming and Asian gangs. This will
be a national conversation within our community
on how we root out this evil from our
community. We urge interested partners to
consider joining this initiative.
END
Notes for editors
For immediate media interview requests please
ring 07989 764624 (Media only)
-
The Ramadhan Foundation first campaigned on
grooming in 2007 where our Chief Executive
Mohammed Shafiq featured in a BBC Panorama
programme and to date has conducted many
interview with media representatives. He
has written twice this year for the Times
Newspaper on grooming and many other
publications. The Ramadhan Foundation has
led the community response on this issue.
-
Initial plans have been finalised for a
Grooming and Asian Gangs Conference to be
held in 2012, further details will be
provided at a later date.
-
The Ramadhan Foundation is a leading Muslim
organisation in the UK that is working for
peaceful co-existence and dialogue for all
communities.
-
Based in Greater Manchester and working to
also establish the platform for human unity
amongst our communities in the UK
-
Mohammad Shafiq is the Chief Executive of
the Foundation, aged 32 and actively
campaigning to provide a more positive image
of Islam.
