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From
this page you can read about the Ramadhan Foundation in the news.
The latest coverage is at the bottom of the screen.
We have
become one of the most quoted organisations in the news speaking
about Muslims in the UK
Muslims
must root out extremism (BBC News website)
However,
Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, a Manchester-based
group that works with young people in a bid to tackle extremism
and terrorism, accused Mr Blair of failing to engage with
ordinary young Muslims
Eight
year old boy attacked by racist thugs (The Muslim News)
Mohammed
Shafiq of the Manchester based Ramadhan Foundation told The
Muslim News that despite these attacks on Muslims, “There is no
disillusionment with Islam among the youth. In fact, there has
been an increase in Muslims rediscovering their faith and white
non-Muslim women, embracing Islam.” He believes that the reason
for this is that people become interested to find out about this
so called ‘terrorist’ religion, and they discover something very
contrary to what the media and politicians would like to make
Islam out to be. “People are in fact disillusioned with
politicians and the political system. The youths do not feel that
they have a voice in the country. As a nation, we have to start
building bridges between communities and open up real dialogue
channels.”
Banning
Muslim Groups (The Independent)
Muslim
representatives responded angrily. Shaykh Muhammad Umar, the
chairman of the Ramadhan Foundation, which addresses the
educational needs of Muslims in the UK, said: "The solution
is not to ban these organisations, it is to engage with them. We
need to have dialogue with these groups, not alienate them. If
you start banning them and putting them in prison we're not going
to get anywhere."
Criticising
the ban on two radical Islamist groups, Hizb-ut-Tahrir and
al-Muhajiroun, Ramadhan Foundation spokesman Mohammed Shafiq
said: "Banning the more radical views from this country will
simply send those groups underground; it won't get rid of
them".
He was
speaking at the Muslim Unity Convention 2005, held at
Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.
Imam and
Worshippers attacked in Eccles (The Muslim News)
Mohammed
Shafiq, of the Manchester-based Islamic youth organisation,
Ramadhan Foundation, backed police calls for calm in the
community but believes that Muslims were becoming victims of
violence because of politicians’ comments. Shafiq told The Muslim
News, “This is another example of Muslims being used as punching
bags. We are being attacked and persecuted, from politicians, to
the media, to religious bodies, and the responsibility lies with
the politicians who have been on a feeding frenzy attacking
Muslims and giving ammunition to thugs’ hatred against us. People
are extremely fearful now, especially the elderly people. People
think they might be attacked on the way to the mosque or even
inside while they’re praying.
“The Government is obsessed with headlines and there is no actual
substance in their claims. Instead of looking into real issues of
unemployment and poverty, the Government is busy playing
political games and deliberately creating an atmosphere of fear
around Muslims. Britain, as a nation, has to be very careful what
we allow into out psyche, and how we allow ourselves to be
puppets of politicians without thinking.”
Muslim
Unity Convention 2005 (The Telegraph)
He is
due to address the Muslim Unity Convention in Manchester on Aug 7
unless Mr Clarke excludes him.
Mohammed
Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, which organised the event,
said: "He is a moderate and he says that what he has said
has been taken out of context and we take his word on that. He is
a respected figure in the Muslim community and that is why he has
been invited: to help promote cultural and religious
diversity."
Four assaulted in mosque attack (The
Telegraph)
Mohammed
Shafiq, from the Ramadhan Foundation, a Manchester-based Islamic
youth organisation, said: "This is another example of
Muslims being attacked and persecuted - and the responsibility
lies with the politicians who have been on a feeding frenzy
attacking Muslims and giving ammunition to thugs' hatred towards
us
"The
responsibility for this lies with the likes of Jack Straw, Phil
Woolas and others who believe it's open season on Muslims."
London
mayor defends Muslim cleric (Financial Times)
The
Ramadhan Foundation, which is organising the conference, said Mr
Qaradawi had been invited but that his visit had not been
confirmed.
Young
Muslims call for a ban on BNP (The
Times)
TONY
BLAIR should ban the BNP and
other parties of the far Right if he wants young British Muslims
to accept his proposed crackdown on preachers of hate, a young
Muslim leader said yesterday.
Mohammed
Shafiq, project manager of the Ramadhan Foundation, was speaking
at the first Muslim Unity Convention, in Manchester, called to
address key issues facing young Muslims in Britain. He reacted
angrily to the Prime Minister’s anti-terrorist proposals, which
include outlawing the non-violent political group Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Led in Britain for ten years by the notorious Omar Bakri
Mohammed, it extols the establishment of a caliphate by
non-violent means.
Mr
Shafiq, whose Rochdale-based foundation represents 3,000 young
Muslims, said widespread bans would serve only to push groups
such as Hizb ut-Tahrir underground.
The
‘hearts and minds’ battle for British Muslims that failed (The
Sunday Times)
The
government pinned its sights on reform but the taskforce it set
up says it has been let down, writes Jon Ungoed-Thomas
In an
Oldham mosque Mohammed Shafiq, a worker for an educational
foundation, recently stood before the devotees and made a
heartfelt plea. Young Muslims, he said, should confront violent
extremism in the heart of their community.
This
battle, according to Shafiq, starts with an acknowledgment. “We
have to recognise that within the Muslim community there is a
small number of people who are hellbent on committing mass
murder,” he said. “9/11 was not a Jewish conspiracy and Tony
Blair was not behind the July 7 attacks. There are people in our
community who want to kill innocent people.”
It is a
stark message and Shafiq, who works for the Ramadhan Foundation,
which aims to improve the education of young Muslims, admits that
genuine change in the Muslim community could take a long time.
Muslim
summit will combat extremism (The Asian News)
Organised
by the Rochdale-based Ramadhan Foundation they say the aim of the
conference is to stop young British Muslims adopting extremist
beliefs.
They said they invited Al-Qaradawi in January as they felt the
cleric is a one of the world's most respected and prominent
Muslim scholars who has spoken out against the London explosions
and 9/11.
Said conference director Mohammed Shafiq: "He has accepted
our invitation and it is now up to him whether he wants to come.
Professor Qaradawi is a moderate Muslim but in Muslim countries
he is seen as a sell out.
"He is a flag bearer of modernisation in the Muslim
world."
Other leading Muslim speakers from throughout the world have been
invited to speak at the conference.
These include regular speaker on the Islam Channel, Dr Zakjir
Naikh from India, Dr Bilal Phillips from Qatar, Dr Imran Waheed
from the Hizb Ut Tahir organisation in the UK and even former
Daily Express journalist Yvonne Ridley who converted to Islam
after she was kidnapped and later released by the Taliban.
Muslim boxers Danny Williams and Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan
will also attend.
Mr Shafiq said they were expecting over 1,000 people to turn up.
He said: "All the main speakers are against extremism in
Islam, they are against suicide bombing and especially the
killing of innocent civilians.
"At the conference they will all be speaking about providing
alternatives to young Muslims who are willing to leave everything
behind to fight against the 'war on terror' in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
"We want to empower these young Muslims so that they can
fight the jihad within themselves.
"Jihad doesn’t necessarily mean to go and fight in a war, it
also means fighting the 'evil' within yourself and empowering
yourself to become a better Muslim.
"As the Prophet Muhammad said, Jihad against your own
inner-self is more superior than the battlefield.
"Islam prohibits the destruction of life, of buildings and
of war unless it is in self-defence."
The conference will also look at the positive contribution of the
Muslim community and try to counter negative stereotypes about
Islam.
Added Mr Shafiq: "When the London explosions happened, I was
getting calls from journalists asking whether I condemned the
bombings. This was even before anybody knew who was behind it. As
an individual I condemn any kind of bombing and killing of innocent
lives, but I've never been asked that question as an individual,
but just as a Muslim. This kind of negative attitude does not
help in improving the image of Islam."
For more information on the conference the Ramadan Foundation can
be contacted on 0781 483 5912
Drug
campaign on radio (The Asian News)
A ROCHDALE community organisation
tackling drug problems was the subject of a radio documentary.
Ramadhan Foundation were followed by BBC Five Live for six months
documenting their 'United Against Drugs' campaign.
The Foundation, which also teamed up with Deen4All and
Wardleworth for All, have been tackling drugs abuse by talking to
drug dealers about the dangers of their activities in the
community.
They also waged a campaign against prostitution, reducing the
number of street workers in the Deeplish area of the town.
Said spokesperson Mohammed Shafiq: "The Radio Five showed
the world the other side of Muslims - the community focused
people who want to clean the area of drugs and prostitution.
"Despite receiving death threats from certain people, we
feel our campaign has had a big impact in the community.
"Prostitutes know they are not welcome and will be driven
out and therefore we see less of them as well as the drug
dealers."
Chairman of Ramadhan Foundation, Muhammad Umar added: "We
thank the BBC for giving us the opportunity to show the listeners
the work we are doing."
Blair to
combat 'poisonous propaganda' (RTE News)
A spokesperson for a leading British Muslim
group said only a very small minority of people were involved in
terrorist activity.
Mohammed Shafiq of the Manchester-based
Ramadhan Foundation said everyone in Britain had to work together
to tackle the problem.
Race
hate campaign features swastika stickers (Asian News)
Muslim
campaigners at the Ramadhan Foundation are also calling for a
zero-tolerance approach.
Spokesman
Mohammed Shafiq said: “We are absolutely appalled by this sort of
behaviour. The vast majority of people will not tolerate will not
tolerate these thugs, bigots and criminals in Rochdale.
“I urge
the public to stay calm.”
The
stickers will now be examined by forensic experts, while Rochdale
north Inspector Stuart Hey is also asking anyone with information
to come forward by calling 0161 856 8523.
He said:
“We are taking this matter very seriously
Galloway leads anti war rally (The Asian News)
ANTI-Iraq
war leader George Galloway and veteran Labour politician Tony
Benn are to join forces in Rochdale as speakers at a meeting
which will attack the Blair government foreign policy.
Other
speakers include the controversial Palestinian activist Dr Azzam
Tamimi who has described the Hamas militia as "resistance
fighters".
Also on
the platform will be journalist Yvonne Ridley who converted to
Islam after escaping capture by the Taliban in Afghanistan. She
is now an outspoken critic of Blair's war policy.
Local
opinion will be voiced by Anjum Anwar of the Lancashire Council
of Mosques and Muhammad Umar, the chairman of the Rochdale-based
Ramadhan Foundation who are organising the meeting in the Great
Hall of Rochdale Town Hall on 28 January.
Organisers
are expecting a big turnout both from the town's white and Asian
population.
Ramadan
Foundation spokesman Mohammed Shafiq said he realised Dr Tamimi
was a controversial figure.
He said:
"We are giving people the platform to say what they like. Dr
Tamimi was hard to get. He is very reluctant to appear for
organisations who ask him to curtail his views. He is
controversial but he is a very good speaker."
The
chief executive of the foundation, Shazad Anwar added: "The
Ramadhan Foundation is at the heart of the community and this
special event will demonstrate how we deal with issues facing Muslims
in the UK. We are pleased to host such internationally renown
speakers in Rochdale. This event will demonstrate the positive
way forward for Muslims in the UK."
Muslims
link Pope to 'racists and bigots' over Islam speech (The
Scotsman)
Britain's
Ramadhan Foundation, a youth organisation, reacted angrily to the
comments, comparing the Pope unfavourably to his predecessor John
Paul II.
In a
statement it said:
"The
late Pope John Paul II spent over 25 years to build bridges and
links with the Muslim community. He showed the world that its
perception of Islam was false and that we are peace-loving
people.
"The
Ramadhan Foundation is disappointed that the current Pope has not
followed the example of his predecessor."
Muhammad
Umar, chairman of the foundation, said: "This attack on
Islam and Prophet Mohammed by Pope Benedict is recognition that
he has fallen into the trap of the bigots and racists when it
comes to judging Islam on the actions of a small number of
extreme elements. He is wrong in his analysis and I encourage him
to study history through the mind of independence, not through
pre-conceived prejudices."
UK Muslims condemn Pope's
speech (Ananova News)
Britain's Ramadhan Foundation, a youth
organisation based in Rochdale, reacted angrily to the comments,
comparing the Pope unfavourably to his predecessor John Paul II.
In a statement it said: "If the
Pope wanted to attack Islam and Prophet Muhammad teachings he
could have been brave enough to say it personally without quoting
a 14th century Byzantine Christian emperor.
"The late Pope John Paul II spent
over 25 years to build bridges and links with the Muslim
community. He showed the world that its perception of Islam was
false and that we are peace-loving people.
"The Ramadhan Foundation is
disappointed that the current Pope has not followed the example
of his predecessor; it is essential in today's world that we link
together and encourage a wider understanding of our different
faiths, celebrating our religious differences is essential in a
ever expanding world."
Muhammad Umar, chairman of the
foundation, said: "This attack on Islam and Prophet Muhammad
by Pope Benedict is recognition that he has fallen into the trap
of the bigots and racists when it comes to judging Islam on the
actions of a small number of extreme elements.
"He is wrong in his analysis and I
encourage him to study history through the mind of independence,
not through pre-conceived prejudices."
Bye Mr Blair! (Asian Leader)
Mr Muhammad Umar, Chairman of the
Ramadhan Foundation, welcomed Blair's decision to quit. He said:
"Blair does not command the support of the British people as
only 36 per cent of the population voted for him. In light of his
deplorable actions in the Lebanon war, resignation should be the
only option. He must be held accountable for the lies about Iraq
and Afghanistan."
The Pope Disrupts Religious
Harmony (Frontpage magazine, USA)
A British “youth organization” named the
Ramadhan Foundation issued a statement reading, “It is essential
in today’s world that we link together and encourage a wider
understanding of our different faiths, celebrating our religious
differences is essential in a ever expanding world.”
Patrick Mercer is first of
many Racists in Conservatives (Islamic Information Centre)
Mr. Shazad Anwar, Chief Executive of the
Ramadan Foundation, said Mr
Mercer was a long line of Conservative MPs who had made racist
comments, calling it a "familiar pattern".
He added: "There can be no cover for bigots and racists in
any political party."
Pope ‘sincerely regrets’ he
offended Muslims (MSNBC)
British
Muslims sought to calm the situation.
“We
welcome his apology and we hope now we can work together and
build bridges. At the same time we would condemn all forms of
violent demonstration,” Muhammad Umar, chairman of Britain’s
Ramadhan Foundation, a youth organization, told Sky News.
Violence Undermines Islamic
Protests (NBC News)
So, what about that Crusade? Well, as
one might expect, there isn't one. Is it nonetheless true, as
Muhammad Umar, chairman of the Ramadhan Foundation in Britain has
claimed, that Benedict "has fallen into the trap of the
bigots and racists when it comes to judging Islam…?" Not
exactly. But he has fallen into the trap of association, even from
the distance of six centuries, with someone who once criticized
Islam. And that is clearly not acceptable.
Debate on veils could cause
race riots, Phillips warns (The Independent)
His comments come as four men were
beaten up inside a mosque in Salford, Manchester, on Saturday
night. The men were not seriously injured, but one local Muslim
group, the Ramadhan Foundation, blamed Mr Straw for creating an
"open season" on Muslims by the way in which he sparked
the debate. Two men have been arrested in connection with the
assault.
Muslims in Uproar Over
Pope's Remarks on Islam (The Muslim Weekly)
And in Britain the Ramadan Foundation
compared the pope unfavourably to his predecessor John Paul II.
"The late Pope John Paul II spent over 25 years to build
bridges and links with the Muslim community. He showed the world
that its perception of Islam was false and that we are
peace-loving people," it said.
UK Muslims call for Pope to
withdraw Islamophobic remarks (Islamic Republic News Agency)
The Ramadhan Foundation in Britain
accused of falling into "the trap of bigots and
racists" with the comments he made on his visit to Germany.
"If the Pope wanted to attack Islam
and Prophet Muhammad teachings he could have been brave enough to
say it personally without quoting a 14th century Byzantine
Christian emperor," said the foundation, based in Rochdale,
north-west England.
Its chairman Mohammad Umar also compared
the present Pope unfavourably to his predecessor John Paul II,
who "spent over 25 years to build bridges and links with the
Muslim community.
"It is essential in today's world
that we link together and encourage a wider understanding of our
different faiths, celebrating our religious differences is
essential in a ever expanding world," Umar said.
Pope's comments anger
Muslims (The Mail and Guardian Online, Zimbabwe)
And in Britain, the Ramadan Foundation,
based in the northern town of Rochdale, reacted angrily to the
comments, comparing the Pope unfavourably to his predecessor John
Paul II.
"The Ramadan Foundation is disappointed that the current
Pope has not followed the example of his predecessor," it
said in a statement.
"The late Pope John Paul II spent
over 25 years to build bridges and links with the Muslim
community. He showed the world that its perception of Islam was
false and that we are peace-loving people."
Pope's deep and persuasive apology is sufficient (The
Dhaka daily Newspaper, Bangladesh)
For example, the London-based Ramadan
Foundation, Which tries to explain truth about Islam and suggests
that suicide bombers don’t represent the Muslim’s religion,
unfavourably compared Pope Benedict to his predecessor the late
Pope John Paul II and said: ‘The late pope John Paul spent over
25 years to build bridges and links with the Muslim community. He
showed the world that its perception of Islam was false and that
we are peace-loving people.’
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