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The Ramadhan Foundation in the News
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)
Many feel threatened by
Islam: poll (The Press Association)
Her speech drew a cool response from
some Muslim groups.
Youth organisation the Ramadhan Foundation criticised ministers
for failing to recognise that integration was “a two-way street”.
The YouGov poll surveyed 1,757 adults across Britain online
between August 22 and August 24.
PIG NEWS DIGEST |
JIHADIKAZES THREATEN OUR LIBERTY (The Pigzette, USA)
"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."
(Muhammad Umar, fearless leader of Britain's Ramadhan Foundation)
Young UK
Muslims work to bridge Islam, West (USA Today)
MANCHESTER,
England — When Prime Minister Tony Blair called a meeting of Muslim
leaders July 18 to figure out how to tackle extremism in the
aftermath of bombings July 7 in London, no invitation arrived for
Mohammed Shafiq
Born in Britain to Pakistani
parents and reared in a suburb of this city 185 miles from
London, Shafiq, 26, epitomizes the young Muslim who is defining
his own brand of Islam. Fiercely loyal to the local Manchester
United soccer team, Shafiq also is observant of the Quran,
Islam's holy book. Like many Britons, he takes his tea with milk.
At the same time, he adheres to a strict Muslim diet. He attended
co-ed public schools here but went to Pakistan for a wife.
Shafiq represents the
contradictions of first-generation Muslims reared in traditional
Pakistani homes and educated in Britain's secular schools and on
its gritty streets. He says he's exactly the sort of person Blair
should consult.
He is among the young,
observant Muslims working to address the disconnection between
Islamic values and Western culture. In December 2004, Shafiq and
about a half-dozen of his friends founded the Ramadhan
Foundation. Their initial goal: to lobby for state-supported
Islamic public schools in the area that teach math, history and
English, along with Islamic lessons.
Now, the group works to help
youths integrate into British society without abandoning their
beliefs by making Islamic education more accessible to
English-speaking Muslims and providing activities to keep them
away from un-Islamic Western ways such as smoking and drinking.
The organization went largely unnoticed before the London
bombings on July 7 and July 21, but recently, the group sold all
2,150 tickets to its first Muslim Unity convention on Sunday in
Manchester.
Before the bombings, the
goal was to have Islamic scholars speak on social welfare issues
and on how the Muslim community can capitalize on its
commonalities. Now, the conference also will address extremism
and the disaffection of Britain's Muslim youth. "We need to
find the common ground," says Mohammed Saddiq, 25, a recent
university graduate helping Shafiq organize the convention.
"Unity is about bringing people together. You don't want a
vacuum because then real extremists will fill it."
A chance to be heard
The foundation invited 16
Islamic scholars and clerics, including Sheik Mohammed Yahya of Atlanta
and Imam Siraj Wahaj of Brooklyn.
Yusuf al Qaradawi, an
Egyptian scholar invited to the convention, has justified suicide
bombings in some cases. Qaradawi declined the invitation. Shafiq
says Muslims of all stripes should have a chance to be heard at
the conference. He says the danger comes when people feel left
out or ignored.
The group did not invite
British government officials to attend, but British officials
have begun reaching out to Muslims. Hazel Blears, a minister in
the Home Office, met community representatives Tuesday in Oldham
in northern England. Race riots broke out there in 2001 after
white youths attacked a South Asian family's home. Blears'
meeting was the first of a series of gatherings she plans around
the country.
People who attend Sunday's
convention "will come away with an Islam based on peace,
tolerance and the value of human life," Shafiq says.
"We will explain why extremism and terrorism are not the
answer."
But who is an extremist?
"That's the $64,000 question, isn't it," says Shafiq,
who works as an outreach adviser for the government's job center
in nearby Bolton, helping his community access social and
employment services. "Anyone who glorifies violence or
justifies killing innocent people, in my eyes, those are
extremists."
Shafiq blames the turn to
extremism on a failure to understand Islam and the gulf between
clerics and young Muslims.
Parents supplement public
school education with after-school studies at mosques. But
foreign-born Islamic clerics don't relate or communicate well
with English-speaking youths who have absorbed British culture,
Shafiq says.
He still attends the local
mosque where he listened to clerics from Pakistan who didn't
speak English. "I couldn't relate," he says. "They
spend two hours in the mosque teaching the Quran and how to pray.
We learn how to read Arabic. We memorize. But we don't know what
we're saying."
A lack of knowledge of the
Quran makes confused youth vulnerable to extremist preachers who
may give them a distorted interpretation, he says. One answer is
state-sponsored Islamic public schools with religious classes
taught by English-speaking clerics. "It's about giving young
people a purpose in life," he says. "I believe the only
way to do that is through Islam."
Greater Manchester, which
includes the surrounding suburbs, has 125,219 Muslims — 5% of the
area's total population of 2.48 million, according to the 2001
census. Muslims account for almost 3% of Britain's population,
making Islam the No. 2 religion after Christianity.
The influence of Muslims
here is clear. Many restaurants in the predominantly Asian part
of the city serve halal food, dishes that conform to Muslim
dietary guidelines. Women wearing head scarves or traditional
black robes don't stand out. Shafiq and Saddiq stop for food at
Kebabish, a kebab joint on what Shaffiq and other locals call the
"Curry Mile."
Manchester is the third most
socially deprived city in Britain, according to a study in 2004
by the University of Oxford's Social Disadvantage Research
Center.
The average income for
Greater Manchester is 19,400 pounds ($34,350), compared with
21,300 pounds ($37,710) nationally. About 13% of the population
receive welfare, compared with 10% for England, according to the
City Council.
The government, Shafiq says,
should alleviate poverty and reduce unemployment — factors that
contribute to the disaffection and anger of youth.
What Muslims can do
Shafiq says Muslims also
must contribute through political activism and by instilling
Islamic values. The mosque, he says, should be open all the time,
so youths have a place to go. The Ramadhan Foundation is helping
to organize a soccer tournament as a way to capture teenagers'
interest. "Most of them don't have anything to do but stand
around the street corners and smoke cigarettes," Shafiq
says.
Beyond the community,
Muslims should unify to exert political pressure, Shafiq says. In
1998, he worked for a member of parliament from the Liberal
Democrat Party. He also worked on an inquiry into institutional
racism at Scotland Yard. He says he might run for a local public
office someday.
Shafiq and Saddiq drive to a
town house, headquarters of a community radio station. Shafiq is
promoting the upcoming convention on The Islamic Hour, a
talk show run by three Muslim women: Hibbah Shariff, Faiza
Chaudhri and her sister Navila. The show airs once every two
weeks.
The discussion moves to the
impact of the bombings on Britain's Muslim community.
"That's what the convention is about," Shafiq tells the
radio audience. "How can we come together? How do we deal as
a community with the extreme elements?"
He says the recent attacks
will make his efforts harder. "We're going through very
difficult times, Muslims in the UK," he says. He recounts a
recent trip on a train from London to Manchester. He says it was
the first time he experienced racism since schoolmates taunted
him for being a "Paki."
"People would rather
stand than sit next to me," he says
LORD GOLDSMITH STATEMENT-
ALLEGED EXTREMISTS TO FACE ASBOS (Avrup Online
The Ramadhan Foundation is
horrified at the Government’s suggestion at giving ASBOS and
tagging people they suspect are involved in terrorism but do not
have enough evidence to prosecute.
This Government has been responsible for taking away individual
freedoms from law-abiding innocent Muslims and also launching an
attack on Muslims to practice their faith.
Muslim leader rules
out any threat of race riots (Rochdale Observer)
AN ISLAMIC group has denied
claims that Rochdale was ‘at risk’ of race riots during
disturbances in nearby towns in 2001.
Riots flared in Oldham and Burnley and
were blamed on the segregation of white and Asian residents
living ‘parallel lives’.
A list written shortly afterwards by
former head of the Commission for Racial Equality, Gurbux Singh,
in which he named areas he believed at risk was made public last
week.
And Rochdale was one of the 10 towns and
cities on Mr Singh’s list.
But Mohammed Shafiq, from the Ramadhan
Foundation, said the group did not accept the claims because of
the good race relations that exist in Rochdale.
He said: "The news doesn’t mean
anything to us. We’ve got good race relations in this town and I
don’t accept the claims for one second.
"Rochdale is bringing communities
together. We’ve got the Eid lights, the mela, the Asian games and
residents have an awareness of each other’s faiths."
Mr Shafiq said people like another
former CRE chairman, Lord Herman
Ouseley, who wrote a report on race relations before violence
flared in Bradford in 2001, had not spent enough time in Rochdale
to judge the town.
Mr Shafiq said: "The future in
Rochdale is one without race riots.
"There is twinning between
different schools and communities and all these measures are to
stop that from ever happenning.
"Rochdale is a united town rather
than divided."
Mosque attack fuelled by
MP's demonisation of Muslims (BBC News)
An
attack on four men at a mosque in Greater Manchester was fuelled
by ministers' comments about Muslim veils, it has been claimed.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault
over the incident inside Eccles mosque, in Liverpool Road,
Salford, on Sunday. Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation,
said comments from Jack Straw and Phil Woolas were to blame. Mr
Woolas had said wearing veils could provoke "fear and
resentment".
Paul
Rowen MP letter from Parliament (Rochdale Online)
On
Sunday I spoke at a conference on young people and drugs at the
Town Hall chaired by Mohammed Shafiq. Drugs are a problem but it
was good to see young people themselves doing something about it.
EID
'EXPLOSION' WAS 'BAD TASTE' (Asian News)
Said
Mohammed Shafiq, the spokesman for the Ramadan Foundation, which
tackles crime, including drug dealing, in the area: "If this
was some kind of joke, it's the sickest I have ever heard.
"It was unbelievably insensitive, in today's climate, after
7/7, to have Asians, and Asian children at that, pretending to
blow things up. Eid is a time of peace and charity, to introduce
the theme of violent explosions in the midst of a Muslim
community simply beggars belief.
"It shows the organisers of this event are completely out of
touch with the feelings in the Muslim community, especially the
young."
Minister accused of failing to listen to
views of Muslim youth (The Telegraph, UK)
The Ramadhan Foundation, a
youth organisation of 3,000 members serving Oldham and Rochdale,
was "upset and angry" that it had been excluded from
the meeting despite the Home Office being aware of its existence.
Mohammed Shafiq, its
official spokesman, said: "They hand-picked the people who
attended.
"If you want to engage
with young people and tackle extremism, you have to listen to
them. If those leaders and imams had engaged with people as they
were growing up, they would not have become bombers. Muslims
abhor violence. Today was all stage-managed and typical of New
Labour."
War is declared on street
drug dealers (Manchester Evening News)
ANTI-drugs campaigners say they will
take to the streets in a bid to force out dealers.
The group behind the newly-launched
‘United Against Drugs’ has announced it is planning a ‘name and
shame’ protest in Wardleworth, Rochdale next month.
The organisers insist it will be a
non-violent stand against the offenders who have been doing
business in Wardleworth. They also plan similar action in
Milkstone and Deeplish
Group spokesman Mohammed Shafiq said:
“The police have told us not to protest, but we have got to take
direct action as a community.
Protest
“We are not vigilantes, just people who
honestly want to do something about the problem. A similar
protest was organised over prostitution in these areas last year
and that was a success.”
Mr Shafiq also hailed the campaign’s
launch as a success, attracting over 120 people, including police
officers and former drug dealers, to Castlemere Community Centre
on Sunday.
He says many members of the community
have been receptive to its ideas, including the setting up of a
crime hotline.
Other plans include a three-stage ‘name
and shame’ drive, in which members would approach dealers and ask
them to mend their ways, before warning their relatives and the
wider community, but police have warned them not to take the law
into their own hands.
“We now need to involve more community
leaders, especially those from the mosques,” he added
Mistrust lingers in divided
community (Associated Press)
Take Rochdale, a town 50 kilometres from
Leeds, where many Asians also live in parallel communities,
separate from the mainstream.
Mohammed Shafiq, 22, who runs a
voluntary organisation to help young Muslims addicted to drugs,
accused the government of freezing out the young.
"The very people they should be
engaging with, they are not," Shafiq said. Extremists would
capitalise on disillusionment and there would be more attacks, he
said.
Mosques continue to be run by
self-appointed committees of older Muslims, while
second-generation Muslims have been largely ignored, he said.
New Stop and Question Anti
Terror Laws
(Reuters, UK, World News
Australia, National Post, Canada, Gulf Daily
News, Bahrain, Manawatu Standard, New Zealand, The
Nelson Mail, New Zealand, Waikato Times, New Zealand,
The Age, Australia, The Timaru Herald, New Zealand,
Marlborough Express, New Zealand, The Dominion
Post, New Zealand, Auckland stuff.co.nz, New Zealand,
Reuters India, India, Sydney Morning Herald, Australia,
The Age, Australia, Reuters AlertNet, UK, ABC Online, Australia,
Brisbane Times, Australia, The West
Australian, Australia, Malaysia Star, Malaysia,
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia,
NEWS.com.au, Australia, The Australian, Australia,
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand, Sunday Times.au, Australia,
Courier Mail, Australia, Daily Telegraph, Australia,
Advertiser Adelaide, Australia, Javno.hr, Croatia,
Yahoo News, UK, EU Politics Today, Brussels )
Mohammed Shafiq, spokesman for the
Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim youth organisation set up to
counter extremists, voiced concern it would be mainly minority
communities that would be stopped and questioned under the
proposed new powers.
"We feel that the government's
proposals are going to alienate the Muslim community
further," he told Reuters.
Fear over new terror laws
(Manchester Evening News)
Mohammed Shafiq, spokesman for the
Manchester-based Muslim advocacy group the Ramadhan Foundation,
said: "It's going to alienate the Muslim community further.
We all want to tackle extremism, but it can't be done at the
expense of civil liberties."
Britain to
emphasise Islamic studies (Reuters, Scotsman 04/06/2007)
The Ramadan Foundation, a
non-politically affiliated Muslim youth organisation, also
cautiously welcomed the initiative and Blair's speech, but warned
that words would not be enough.
"The government's very
good at announcing things... but when it comes to substance there's
often not much there," said Mohammed Shafiq, a spokesman for
the group.
"You have to judge the
prime minister on his record, and the fact is his government has
introduced lots of legislation that discriminates against Muslims.
What he's done in Iraq and Afghanistan has contributed to
terrorism."
Mohammed Shafiq,
spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation, spoke of the group's horror
at the case.
He said: "We wish to
make clear that the illegal practice of forced marriages and honour
killings are not from Islam and Islam specifically condemns and
forbids them."
He added: "We offer
our deepest sympathies to the victim's family and welcome the
verdict.
"The Ramadhan
Foundation today calls on all Mosques, Imams and Muslim
organisations to speak up and confront these issues; only with this
essential debate can we send the message that this can never be
tolerated.
"We will shortly be
publishing expert guidance on why Islam forbids this behaviour, how
we confront those that practise these issues and we can eradicate
them."
"The Ramadhan
Foundation today calls on all Mosques, Imams and Muslim
organisations to speak up and confront these issues" -
Mohammed Shafiq
Father found guilty of daughter's 'honour killing' (Press
Association 11.06.2007)
Mohammed Shafiq, spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation,
said: "We are horrified at this case and wish to make clear
that the illegal practice of forced marriages and honour killings
are not from Islam and Islam specifically condemns and forbids
them.
"We offer our deepest sympathies to the victim's family
and welcome today's verdict.
"The Ramadhan Foundation today calls on all Mosques,
Imams and Muslim organisations to speak up and confront these
issues; only with this essential debate can we send the message
that this can never be tolerated.
"We will shortly be publishing expert guidance on why
Islam forbids this behaviour, how we confront those that practise
these issues and we can eradicate them."
Free Alan Johnston - (The Jerusalem Post,
Israel, June 28th 2007)
Sir, - The Ramadhan Foundation joins thousands of people
across the world in urging those holding BBC correspondent Alan
Johnston to release him immediately without any pre-conditions.
Johnston is a journalist who has spent his time living among
the people who are suffering at the hands of the Israelis; his
reports have been balanced, and allowed the world to witness the
apartheid being practiced by the Israelis against innocent
Palestinians.
We call on those Muslims holding Alan to consider the impact
on the Palestinian campaign by continuing holding him, as each day
passes the fewer opportunities there are for people to tell the
real story of Palestinian suffering. We hope the captors can find
it in their hearts to release Alan safely to his family.
Islam does not allow this sort of kidnapping, and we urge
the captors to release him unharmed.
Magistrate
refuses to deal with woman in veil - (Press Association, The
Asian Image 29/06/2007)
Mohammed
Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, said: "It is despicable
that the judiciary is ignoring the guidelines about the wearing of
the Hijab set out only in February by the Judicial Studies Board.
"They
require that magistrates and judges be sensitive' to a woman's
religious requirement to wear the Hijab and work around it when
possible.
"I
can't see how her veil prevented this woman's case being heard
fairly."
Britons approve of Brown's low-key approach (The Washington
Post, 03/04/2007)
Mohammed Shafiq, 28, spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation,
a national Muslim youth organization, said Blair's response to the
July 2005 bombings "demonized Muslims."
"Brown's government has not had the knee-jerk reaction
like Blair's," Shafiq said. "Brown has been trying to
bring people together."
Brown's message — in one brief televised statement and a
longer TV interview — can be summarized as "keep calm and
carry on." Speaking in the gruff Scottish brogue that is his
trademark, he said the country faced a "sustained" threat
and urged Britons to "stand together, united, resolute and
strong."
He has not used "Muslim." A Brown spokesman said
that was deliberate, just as Brown also intends to avoid the phrase
"war on terror."
Ramadhan Foundation: “This country is united”, Politics.co.uk
02/07/2007
The Ramadhan Foundation, one of the UK's leading Muslim youth
organisations focused on dialogue between communities, has
condemned the recent terrorist attempts in the strongest possible
terms.
The group also warned against any retaliatory attacks on British Muslims.
Mr Mohammed Shafiq, a spokesman for the foundation, said: "On
behalf of the Ramadhan Foundation I totally condemn the terrorist
attack at Glasgow Airport today.
"The country is united in not allowing terrorists to divide
our diverse communities."
Mr Shafiq praised the police and security services for their role
throughout the crisis.
"I pay tribute to the police, security services, and Glasgow
airport staff for all their hard work in protecting the public from
such evil acts," he continued.
"Their determination and strength in protecting the nation is
welcomed. Their ultimate sacrifice is putting their lives at risk
to protect us."
But he also urged Britain to unite in the struggle against
terrorism. The government, civil society and ethnic minority groups
are concerned extensive terrorist attacks could threaten the UK's
community relations along racial or religious lines.
Mr Shafiq said: "I would urge the British people to remain
calm and vigilant, if anyone has any information please get in touch
with the police and I also urge no one to attack innocent Muslims
as we are also suffering from terrorism.
"Only together can we defeat this evil."
WE ARE SEETHING .. MUSLIMS ARE JUST AS LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS (Daily Record,
02/07/2007)
Mohammed Shafiq, spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation, set up
in 2005 after the July 7 attacks in London to promote peaceful co
exitence between communities, said: "I totally condemn the
terrorist attack at Glasgow Airport.
"I would urge the British people to remain calm and
vigilant.
"I also urge no one to attack innocent Muslims as we are
also suffering from terrorism. Only together can we defeat this
evil."
Muslim voices on the bomb attacks (BBC News website,
02/07/2007)
MOHAMMED SHAFIQ, RAMADAN FOUNDATION
"Foreign policy is a contributing factor to Britain
being an increased risk. That's not my view, that's the view
expressed by senior politicians across the board.
"But today is about saying to people out there... don't
demonise minority communities, let's come together, let's hold
hands, let's support each other and only together can it be
defeated - because the terrorists want to divide us."
Armed police on city streets (Manchester Evening News,
02/07/2007)
The Greater Manchester-based Ramadhan Foundation, Britain's
leading Muslim youth organisation working for inter-community
peace, condemned the terrorist attacks.
Spokesman Mohammed Shafiq said: "We pay tribute to the
hard work of the police and security agencies in Scotland.
Terrorism cannot be tolerated in any shape or form and Islam
totally forbids this. I also urge no one to attack innocent Muslims
as we are also suffering from Terrorism. Only together can we
defeat this evil."
Defeating evil (The Herald, 02/07/2007)
The Ramadhan Foundation expresses its utter condemnation of
the terrorist attack at Glasgow Airport. We pay tribute to the hard
work of the police and security agencies in Scotland. Terrorism
cannot be tolerated in any shape or form and Islam totally forbids
this.
We urge the British people to remain calm and vigilant, and
if any person has any information, please contact the police
immediately.
The country is united in not allowing terrorists to divide
our diverse communities. Only together can we defeat this evil.
The Ramadhan Foundation is the UK's leading Muslim youth
organisation that is working for peaceful co-existence and dialogue
for all communities. It is based in Greater Manchester and working
also to create the platform for Muslim unity among our communities
in the UK.
Mohammed Shafiq, Ramadhan Foundation, Rochdale.
Doctors caught in terror hunt – The Washington Post, The
Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times USA, 03/07/2007
Mohammed Shafiq, 28, spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation,
a leading Muslim youth organization, said it was "absolutely
baffling" that doctors -- professionals with good jobs and
income -- would be involved in violent extremism. He said Muslim
leaders have been most concerned about the radicalization of disaffected
and unemployed youth, and they have been urging the government to
help them find jobs.
UK terror threat never greater: Security Minister (ABC, Sydney 09/07/2007)
Reporter: Jane Hutcheon
Here's Europe Correspondent Jane Hutcheon.
JANE HUTCHEON: Sir Alan West paints a worrying picture of Britain.
He said the current threat from terrorism was greater now than six
months ago when the former head of the intelligence agency MI5,
Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, warned her office was tracking 30
terror plots and 200 networks totalling more than 1,600
individuals.
As the second anniversary of the July the 7th bombings passed, Sir
Alan, who has been in the job for a fortnight, spoke of a new
reality and urged Britons to become "dobbers" or
"snitches" to help authorities safeguard the country. He
believes the task ahead is daunting.
ALAN WEST: A lot of people outside the country in the higher
echelons of some of these jihadists, I think are influencing our
young men and young women in some parts of our society, and we need
to think about how we can change that.
JANE HUTCHEON: His comments came after the Muslim Council of
Britain held a conference at London's Central Mosque to discuss a
response to the threat of terrorism. The MCB claims to represent 60
per cent of British Muslims, but a fracas erupted when conference
organisers locked the door on a group of angry young men.
(sound of people arguing)
Abu Faruk, who's 22, has a long beard and is dressed in battle
fatigues.
(to Abu Faruk) Are you being allowed in?
ABU FARUK: No, we're being refused entry. Why? Because they're
saying it's for invitees only.
JANE HUTCHEON: And which group are you from?
ABU FARUK: We're not from a group, we're just Muslims come together
because my Lord tells me to (inaudible) the good from the evil.
Because my Lord tells me that even if you help them, even you're
allied with them, the Jews and the Christians, they'll never ever
be happy with you.
JANE HUTCHEON: The young radicals are believed to be members of the
disbanded extremist group al-Muhajiroun affiliated to Lebanon-based
Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed. He is barred from entering Britain.
The young men are all British-born, devout Muslims and
well-educated. They say the Muslim Council are "lackies"
and "bootlickers" to the British Government. These men
are incensed by Muslim deaths at the hands of coalition forces, and
believe that provides the motivation for attacks such as the
attempted bombings in London and Glasgow.
VOX POP 1: Where's cause in the resentment? Where's cause in the
motivation? You don't think a person wakes up in the morning, and
just goes, "I know, I'll go kill innocent people today for a
laugh". Where does it come from?
JANE HUTCHEON: Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadan Foundation was
invited to attend the conference. He believes disaffected Muslims
need to be heard.
MOHAMMED SHAFIQ: These young people are totally
disenfranchised, and what these people are talking about is they
want their voice to be heard. And actually I agree with them. I
totally disagree with what they're preaching.
JANE HUTCHEON: What are they preaching?
MOHAMMED SHAFIQ: Well, they're preaching a lot of, you know,
things that… there isn't extremism in this country, that there
isn't a problem with terrorism. We all know there is a problem with
terrorism, where people are killing them, planting bombs on
themselves trying to blow up airports and tube trains. We have a
problem, we have to deal with it.
JANE HUTCHEON: In the aftermath of the latest attempted bombings,
the Muslim Council of Britain is keen to show solidarity with the
security establishment. But as Britain's new Security Minister has
acknowledged, tackling fringe elements will be a long, hard
struggle.
Britons approve of Brown's low-key approach (The Seattle
Times, 04/07/2007)
Mohammed Shafiq, 28, spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation,
a national Muslim youth organization, said Blair's response to the
July 2005 bombings "demonized Muslims."
"Brown's government has not had the knee-jerk reaction
like Blair's," Shafiq said. "Brown has been trying to
bring people together."
U.K. Suspect in Court Amid 7/7 Tension
(ABC News USA, 07/07/2007)
In London, Muslim leaders held a meeting today to discuss
ways to combat extremism.
"We have to try and convince these people that their
path is the wrong path," said Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadan
Foundation. "Islam totally condemns violence. It's forbidden
in Islam and that's unanimous."
UK: A changing approach to tackling terror (ISN ETH Zurich,
13/07/2007)
Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadhan Foundation is also concerned
that proposals to extend pre-charge detention may be revived.
"There has been no evidence available that the current
28 days is insufficient, so I would have some difficulty supporting
90-day detention on the basis that people have a right to due
process, legal representation, and to know if they're being
charged," he told ISN Security Watch.
Shafiq notes with disappointment that the last government
failed to implement most of the recommendations of a taskforce set
up to tackle extremism in the aftermath of the 7 July London bombings.
The Brown government has an opportunity to set a new course
in tackling terrorism, he said, adding that he would wait for the
bill to be formally announced before passing judgment.
"It's early days for this government and the new prime
minister. We'll have to wait to assess whether he's been good or
not," he said. "We've got to see a better response from
the government."
New guidelines to revolutionise mosques (The Asian News,
08/08/2007)
The guide has also been welcomed by leading campaigning group,
Ramadhan Foundation. Its spokesman, Mohammed Shafiq said it was
excellent news.
"This is what we have been calling for," he said.
"Mosques need to be much more transparent and
approachable by all sections of the community.
"It needs to open its doors to young people and mosques
need to change the way they are run by having proper policies and
procedures in place.
"Many people are scared of change but change is a good
thing and I urge mosques to read the guidelines and take it on
board."
Magistrate walks out over Muslim woman's
veil (Telegraph 02/07/2007)
A spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation
said: "It is despicable that the judiciary is ignoring the
guidelines about the wearing of the Hijab set out only in February
by the Judicial Studies Board.
"They require that magistrates and
judges be 'sensitive' to a woman's religious requirement to wear
the Hijab and work around it when possible."
Channel 4 reporting of mosques (letter to editors, Guardian
10/08/2007)
The Ramadhan
Foundation welcomes the complaint made by West Midlands Police to
Ofcom that Channel 4 may have distorted the views of the people
interviewed in the Dispatches programme Undercover Mosque
(Channel 4 under fire over film on mosque preachers, August 9).
We
totally condemn Channel 4 for its arrogance in defending this
programme, when it was clear to us that the makers had taken
contributions out of context and edited speeches.
We
urge Channel 4 to suspend all the Dispatches programmes
immediately so that corrective action can be taken to ensure
that this sort of journalism is eliminated.
The
Ramadhan Foundation has always been very clear that the mosques
have an important role in promoting tolerance and peaceful
coexistence, but to use these sensitive issues to demonise
Muslims shown in the programme is shocking and deeply
disturbing. There can be no justification for this kind of
journalism. The complaint is total vindication for the Muslim
organisations which complained that the Undercover Mosque
programme had taken the views of contributors out of context.
Channel
4 should apologise immediately for the hurt they have caused
those people.
Channel
4 has given journalism a bad name and this adds to their
failings over the past few months. We will also be urging Ofcom
to investigate Channel 4's behaviour.
Shazad Anwar, the chief
executive of Muslim youth organization the Ramadhan Foundation,
described the documentary as a shame.
"Channel 4 should
hang their head in shame and apologize immediately for the hurt
they have caused those people," he told Reuters.
Police go to Ofcom over
mosque doc (Yahoo News, 08/08/2007)
However Shazad Anwar, chief executive
of Muslim youth organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, said the
police's decision was a "total vindication" for
groups that had complained the programme had been a distortion.
"Channel 4 should hang their head
in shame and apologise immediately for the hurt they have
caused those people," he said.
The news is the latest controversy to
embroil the publicly-owned broadcaster.
Muslim campaign group is
back in the spotlight (Asian News, Rochdale Observer
13/08/2007)
A MUSLIM campaign group was once again
thrust into the national spotlight this week by a Rochdale
member.
Mohammed Shafiq, a spokesman for the
Ramadhan Foundation, appeared on Sky News to discuss the
challenges facing mosques at the turn of the 21st century.
It is another feather in the cap for
the group, which was previously featured on a Channel Four
documentary about national identity, ‘Looking For England,’ and
has hosted events with support from the likes of Tony Benn and
George Galloway.
Mr
Shafiq, who was also invited to write a story for the news
channel’s website, said: “We have gone from being a small
unknown group to an organisation recognised throughout Britain
which is a huge achievement.”
Another local face to appear alongside
Mr Shafiq on the programme was Qari Ishaq, the second imam at
the Bilal Central Mosque in Wardleworth.
Both spoke out about the need for
mosques to involve young people or they will face increasing
apathy. Mr Shafiq described how, for example, he approached
youngsters at a Rochdale mosque only to realise their imam
could not speak much English and they had difficulty in
understanding Urdu.
“We paid tribute to the hard work of
our elders in establishing mosques in this country. Without
their sacrifices and hard work we would not be where we are,”
he added.
“Having said this we need to recognise
that our mosques need to reform and change to ensure that young
Muslims are heard and services are provided to them in English.
“We welcome the work that many Muslim organisations
are doing in this area but we now need to see action from the
mosque committees and executives.
“They need to be more open and
transparent.”
MI5 statement on terrorism
and extremism, BBC News 5/11/2007
Mohammed Shafiq, a spokesman for the
Muslim youth organisation, said the language was inflammatory
and called for responsible dialogue.
He said the group was prepared to talk
to the police and security services, but in order to defeat
terrorism it was important to acknowledge the threat existed
mainly due to foreign policy.
Jonathan Evans statement
on terrorism, UK Metro 5/11/2007
Mohammed Shafiq from the
Ramadhan Foundation said Mr Evans should have made clear the
2,000 people spoken of were just a fraction of the 1.6million
British Muslims.
He added: 'We urge those
involved to speak responsibly. Having said this, there is a
real and present threat from terrorism.'
Terror links rise to 2000,
The Sun 6/11/2007
Muslim youth organisation,
the Ramadhan Foundation, said it was “concerned” that Mr Evans
did not stress that the 2,000 people suspected of involvement
in extremist activity made up only a small proportion of the
1.6 million Muslim population.
Responding to Mr Evans’s
speech, spokesman Mohammed Shafiq said: “This sort of language
is inflammatory and we urge all those involved to speak
responsibly.
“Having said this, there
is a real and present threat to the nation from terrorism. Only
together can we defeat it. Terrorism is evil and anyone who is
involved must be engaged and convinced of why their path is
wrong and bring them back to the mainstream.
“We are ready to talk to
the police and security services about how we should move
forward, but we have to be honest about why this threat has appeared
- mainly foreign policy. Only then will we be able to defeat
terrorism.”
Teenagers groomed for
terrorism, The Scotsman, The Scotsman on Sunday 6/11/2007
Mohammed Shafiq, a spokesman for The
Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim youth organisation, said it was
concerned Mr Evans had not stressed the 2,000 suspects made up
only a small proportion of the 1.6 million Muslim population.
He said the language was inflammatory
and called for responsible dialogue.
"We are
concerned", Manchester Evening Mews 5/11/2007
The fall-out to the speech has already
begun.
Mohammed Shafiq, press spokesman for
the Ramadan Foundation, said this afternoon: “We are concerned
that Jonathan Evans in his speech has failed to accept that
2,000 people out of 1.6million [Muslims] is a very small
problem.
"This sort of language is inflammatory
and we urge all those involved to speak responsibly.
"Having said this there is a real
and present threat to the nation from terrorism, only together
can we defeat it. Terrorism is evil and anyone who is involved
must be engaged and convinced of why there path is wrong and
bring them back to the mainstream.
"The Ramadhan Foundation is clear
of the challenges on the Muslim community in relation to
terrorism, we have seen a sea change in the past few years but
we still have a long way to go.
"We are ready to talk to the
police and security services about how we should move forward,
but we have to be honest about why this threat has appeared,
mainly foreign policy. Only then will we be able to defeat
terrorism."
Letters to Editor, The
Independent 30/11/2007
Sir: The Ramadhan Foundation expresses
its concern at Jonathan Evans' statement about the current
threat from terrorism. What he has failed to say is that the
number of potential terrorists of 2000 is from 1.6 million
Muslims. It is a very small minority and this sort of
inflammatory language is not helping the campaign to rid our
country of terrorism. Having said this there is a real and
present threat to the nation from terrorism; only together can
we defeat it.
Terrorism is evil and anyone who
is involved must be engaged and convinced of why there path is
wrong. We have seen a sea change in the past few years but we
still have a long way to go.
We are ready to talk to the police and
security services about how we should move forward, but we have
to be honest about why this threat has appeared: mainly foreign
policy. Only then will we be able to defeat terrorism.
Mohammed Shafiq
Ramadhan Foundation, Manchester
Terrorism in Britain,
Spiegel Online Germany 31/11/2007
Everything just political, but will
have no effect?No, say those who are most affected are
the Muslims."The language is very important
because if the government or the media speak of Muslim
extremists, so they judge all the community," says
Mohammed Shafiq SPIEGEL ONLINE. Shafiq,
the UK's leading Muslim youth organisation, the Ramadan
Foundation, and is male and 28-his faith, gender and age
correspond to the criteria under which the British Security
Agencies say terror suspects identified.
The island has a population 1.6 million
people, according to the Muslim faith-Shafiq justified by the
terrorist sharp rhetoric stereotype and pushed into isolation."It
is not a Muslim, but a British problem," he says,
"the extremists try to abuse Islam."
Terrorism can only be fought together,
he continues, Muslim organizations could be valuable community
work and information to the security authorities.
Al Qaeda recruit young
children, Spanish Colpisa Newspaper 5/11/2007
The spokesman for an organization of
young Muslims, Mohammed Shafiq, told the BBC that to defeat
terrorism was important to recognize that the threat exists
mainly due to international politics.
Gillian Gibbon's arrest,
Manchester Evening News, 29/11/2007
The Rochdale-based Ramadhan Foundation
said the incident was an `honest mistake' and risked
undermining the image of Islam in the world.
Spokesman Mohammed Shafiq said: "At no stage has she set
out to deliberately offend or demonise Islam or our symbols.
She accepts that she has made an honest mistake and therefore
should be released
Teddy Bear row in Sudan,
29/11/2007
Reuters, Associated Press,
French Associated Press, Guardian, Independent, The times,
Mirror, Daily Mail, Islam Channel News, BBC News 24, Sky News,
CNN, Fox News, PR-inside.com, Realtime News, E Wos News,
Redorbit News, Forbes News, Times and Democrats and many more
British Islamic groups defended
Gibbons and warned Sudanese authorities that harsh treatment of
the teacher could lead to reprisal attacks against Muslims in
the U.K.
"At no stage has she set out to deliberately offend or
demonize Islam or our symbols,» said Mohammed Shafiq, of the
Ramadhan Foundation, an Islamic youth organization based in
northern England. «Her continued detention will not help repair
the misconceptions about Islam.
Teddy Bear Conviction, USA
Today 30/11/2007
The
Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim youth organization, said Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir should pardon the teacher.
"The
Ramadhan Foundation is disappointed and horrified by the
conviction of Gillian Gibbons in Sudan," said spokesman
Mohammed Shafiq.
Benazir
Bhutto is assassinated (The Times, Guardian, Telegraph, The
Sun, AFP, AP, Press Association and many more around the globe)
Mohammed
Shafiq, of the Rochdale-based Ramadan foundation, called for
the elections to be postponed `as a mark of respect' and added:
"This is a tragic day for Pakistan." But he said
there was no suggestion the violent demonstrations in Pakistan
would be replicated in Greater Manchester.
FURY
AT 'NO-GO' AREAS RULED BY THE FANATICS (Express) 06/01/2008
But
the Ramadan Foundation, a Muslim youth organisation, reacted
angrily to the bishop’s remarks.
Spokesman Mohammed Shafiq feared that they could cause
“unnecessary division and hatred towards Muslims”.
Mr Shafiq added: “We therefore call on him to resign. The
reality is that the United Kingdom is a majority Christian
country but is also a country of multi-faith.
“I believe the UK celebrates this diversity and all religious
communities should work together to build respect and an
environment of tolerance. Mr Nazir-Ali is promoting hatred
towards Muslims and therefore should resign.”
Mohammed
Shafiq, a spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim youth
group, called on the bishop to resign. "His article is
once again an attempt to whip up hatred against Muslims and
cause division," he said.
Muslims
call for 'no-go' CoE bishop to resign (The Belmont Club)
06/01/2008
But
Mohammed Shafiq, from the Ramadhan Foundation, said: "Mr
Nazir-Ali is promoting hatred towards Muslims and should
resign."
Nazir
Ali road to Nazism (Thisislondon.co.uk) 06/01/2008
Mohammed Shafiq, of the
Muslim youth group the Ramadhan Foundation, accused Dr
Nazir-Ali of attempting to "whip up hatred" against
Muslims. The article would "remind people of the road to
Nazism", he said.
Muslims
call for 'no-go' CoE bishop to resign (Sunday Telegraph)
06/01/2008
But
Mohammed Shafiq, from the Ramadhan Foundation, said: "Mr
Nazir-Ali is promoting hatred towards Muslims and should
resign."
Britain
refuses visa to controversial Muslim cleric (Xinhuanet
Newswire, China) 07/02/2008
Mohammed
Shafiq, of Muslim youth organization the Ramadhan Foundation,
also criticized the decision, saying "We've had figures
like Nick Griffin and the BNP (British National Party)
operating freely and promoting violence toward ethnic
minorities, and nothing is done. This smacks of double
standards, and will isolate Muslim communities further."
To
ban or not to ban? Qaradawi finally refused a visa (The
Independent) 07/02/2008
Muslims
groups such as the Muslim Council of Britain and the Ramadhan
Foundation have predictably condemned the decision on free
speech grounds but it's difficult to know whether British
Muslims really will feel angered by this ban or not.
MUSLIM
CLERIC REFUSED ENTRY INTO THE UK (Express) 07/02/2008
Mohammed
Shafiq from the Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim youth
organisation, said the ruling pandered to xenophobia.
“We’ve had figures like Nick Griffin and the BNP operating
freely and promoting violence towards ethnic minorities, and
nothing is done.
“This smacks of double standards, and will isolate Muslim
communities further.”
The
Ramadhan Foundation expressed its total condemnation at
the banning of Yusuf Al Qardawi from visiting the UK today.
The Foundation said: "Al Qardawi is a voice of moderation
and is widely respected across the international community.
"We are concerned that this will fuel the anger Muslims
have towards Government and Politicians like David Cameron who
jumps on bandwagons to demonise Islam and Muslims.
Director of the Foundation, Mr. Mohammed Shafiq added:
“The Ramadhan Foundation totally condemns the decision by the
Government to ban Shaykh Yusuf Al Qardawi to visit the UK for
medical treatment. This decision will further isolate the
Muslim community and strain relations with the Government and
politicians.
"There are many members of the BNP with convictions for
violence towards minorities yet the Government have done
nothing to deal with them, Shaykh Al Qardawi is a man of
moderation and widely respected through the world.
"We urge the government to rethink this decision and allow
him to come to the UK for medical treatment."
Muslim cleric not allowed
into UK (BBC News) 07/02/2008
Double standards'
Mohammed Shafiq, from
Muslim youth organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, criticised
the decision.
He said: "We've had figures like
Nick Griffin and the BNP operating freely and promoting
violence towards ethnic minorities, and nothing is done.
"This smacks of double standards,
and will isolate Muslim communities further."
Brown bans Muslim preacher
who praised suicide bombers as 'martyrs' from Britain (Daily
Mail) 07/02/2008
Mohammed Shafiq from the
Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim youth organisation, said the
ruling pandered to xenophobia.
"We've had figures
like Nick Griffin and the BNP operating freely and promoting
violence towards ethnic minorities, and nothing is done.
"This smacks of
double standards, and will isolate Muslim communities
further."
Hate preacher refused UK
entry visa(Pink news, UK) 07/02/2008
Mohammed Shafiq, from Muslim youth
organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, told the BBC:
"We've had figures like Nick Griffin and the BNP operating
freely and promoting violence towards ethnic minorities, and
nothing is done.
"This smacks of double standards, and will isolate Muslim
communities further."
Sharia law in UK call by
Church Leader (Mirror News) 07/02/2008
Muslim
groups welcomed Williams' intervention, calling it a bold move
to understand Islam and the wishes of the community.
"Sharia
law for civil matters is something which has been introduced in
some western countries with much success," said Mohammed
Shafiq, the head of the Ramadhan Foundation.
"I
believe that Muslims would take huge comfort from the
government allowing civil matters to be resolved
Brown: We will not adopt
Sharia law (Metro News) 07/02/2008
Mohammed Shafiq, director
of the Ramadhan Foundation, welcomed the comments.
He said: "These
comments further underline the attempts by both our great
faiths to build respect and tolerance."
Adoption
of Islamic Sharia law in Britain is 'unavoidable', (Evening
Standard) 07/02/2008
Mohammed Shafiq, director
of the Ramadhan Foundation, welcomed the comments.
"These comments
further underline the attempts by both our great faiths to
build respect and tolerance.
"Sharia law for civil
matters is something which has been introduced in some Western
countries with much success; I believe that Muslims would take
huge comfort from the Government allowing civil matters being
resolved according to their faith.
"We are however
disappointed that the Archbishop of Canterbury was silent when
Mr Nazir-Ali was promoting intolerance and lying about no-go
areas for Christians in the UK by Muslim extremists.
"Unless he speaks out
against this intolerance, Muslims will take his silence as
authorisation and support for such comments.
"The Ramadhan
Foundation will continue to work with the Church of England to
build understanding and respect for our two communities."
Britain's Muslims should be
allowed Shariah in some cases (International Herald Tribune, AP
News, PR News Austria, ) 07/02/2008
Mohammed Shafiq, director of the
Ramadhan Foundation, said the use of Shariah would help lower
tensions in British society.
"It would make Muslims more proud
of being British," he said. "It would give Muslims
the sense that the British respect our faith."
Shafiq said it was important that
non-Muslims in Britain understand that Williams is not
suggesting Shariah be adopted for resolving criminal charges,
but only civil disputes.
This sort of conflict resolution is
common in Muslim countries and is also used in some parts of
Canada, he said.
Both Shafiq and Williams noted that
Britain already allows Orthodox Jews to resolve disputes under
traditional Jewish law.
Archbishop:
Adoption of Sharia Law in U.K. Is 'Unavoidable' (Fox News)
07/02/2008
Mohammed Shafiq, director
of the Ramadhan Foundation an Islamic charity, welcomed the
Archbishop’s suggestion.
“These
comments further underline the attempts by both our great
faiths to build respect and tolerance,” he said.
“Sharia law for civil
matters is something which has been introduced in some western
countries with much success. I believe that Muslims would take
huge comfort from the Government allowing civil matters being
resolved according to their faith.”
Danish Cartoons (AP
Newswire, The Guardian, The Times, Fox News and many more
13/02/2008
"I just don't want go through
this again," said Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadhan
Foundation, a Muslim educational group in London. Shafiq said
he has written a protest letter to the Danish ambassador in
London.
Britain cracks down on
forced marriages (AP newswire, Yahoo News, The Asian News, Fox
News, BBC News) 11/03/2008
The Ramadhan Foundation, a
Muslim think tank, urged the community to condemn forced
marriage.
"The ethnic minority community
must speak up and condemn these sham marriages and not allow
the silence to blind the whole community," said Mohammed
Shafiq, the foundation's director.
Chief
Constable of Greater Manchester Police found dead (Rochdale
Online) 12.03.2008
Mohammed Shafiq, Director
of Rochdale based Ramadhan Foundation said: "I am deeply
saddened by the death of Greater Manchester Police Chief
Constable Michael Todd. He had a distinguished record of
policing throughout his career and he will be missed by colleagues,
friends and those that met him on various occasions.
"Our thoughts are
with Michael’s family and friends during this difficult time,
having met him on various occasions I was struck by his
commitment to tackling crime and helping improve communities.
"Since his arrival in
Greater Manchester, the force has been engaged in building
links with the Muslim community and his personal support on
these issues was valued by me personally and the wider Muslim
community.
"Once again I offer my support
and condolences to Michael’s family and friends."
More tributes to Michael
Todd (Manchester Evening News) 12.03.2008
Mohammed Shafiq, director of the
Manchester-based Ramadhan Foundation, said he was `deeply
saddened'. He added: "Michael had a distinguished record
of policing throughout his career and he will be missed by
colleagues, friends and those that met him on various
occasions.
"Since his arrival in Greater Manchester, the force has
been engaged in building links with the Muslim community and
his personal support on these issues was valued by me
personally and the wider Muslim community."
British crack down on
forced marriages (AP Newswire, Yahoo News, International Herald
Tribune, USA Today, BBC News, Sky News, Auburn
Citizen, NY, Sault Star, Canada, Federal News Radio
USA, Canoe News Canada, Taipei Times, Boston Globe USA, Haaretz
News Israel, International Herald Tribune, San Francisco
Chronicle, McLean News Canada, The Denver Post USA, AOL news,
The Buffalo News USA, All News Radio Canada, Pak Times, )
12.03.2008
The Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim
think tank, urged the community to condemn forced marriage.
"The ethnic minority
community must speak up and condemn these sham marriages and
not allow the silence to blind the whole community," said
Mohammed Shafiq, the foundation's director.
How to feel more British:
oath of allegiance and a special day (Guardian) 12.03.2008
A leading Muslim youth
organisation, the Ramadhan Foundation, welcomed a national day
to encourage communities to celebrate being British but criticised
the idea that all children should swear allegiance to the Queen
as something that would alienate young people.
Muslim bashing must stop
(The Voice) 31.02.2008
THE
Ramadhan Foundation is deeply concerned that the response from
some politicians and the media to the comments by Archbishop of
Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams (who has come under public fire
for implying there can be benefits from allowing UK-based
Muslims to practice some elements of Sharia law) is clearly
anti Islamic and an attempt to demonise Islam.
The
coverage in the media paints a picture which is one of division
and one that encourages attacks on Muslims.
The
Ramadhan Foundation is deeply concerned at the tone of the
debate in relation to Archbishop’s comments on Sharia law,
there are attempts to demonise Islam and paint a gross
distortion of what the bishop actually said.
Muslim
bashing has become fashionable and it is now clear that the BNP
agenda has gone mainstream in the UK. Bigots are using this
debate to establish division and hatred towards innocent
Muslims.
Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim
educational group in London, also expressed its total
condemnation of the move in a letter to the Danish ambassador
in London.
"There can be no justification or acceptance of this evil
action two years after the last occasion. We believe in freedom
of speech but this must include respect for religions and their
symbols."
"The Ramadhan Foundation urges the Muslim community around
the world to remain calm and not fall into the trap that is
being set against Islam," the letter concluded.
Danish Papers Reprint
Muhammad Cartoon (Associated Press) 13.02.2008
"I just don't want go through
this again," said Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadhan
Foundation, a Muslim educational group in London. Shafiq said
he has written a protest letter to the Danish ambassador in
London.
