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The Ramadhan
Foundation partly welcomes Ruth Kelly’s speech today on tackling
extremism. It is important that the Government begin to reach
out to Muslim groups across the United Kingdom, sadly the
Government’s record on this has been poor and there is nothing
in the speech that suggests this may change.
The announcement of the creation of a Faith & Social Cohesion
Unit within the Charity Commission is welcomed and as long as
the Unit is used to guide and support Muslim charities in
ensuring that they meet their legal requirements.
Those people that advocate violence and the killing of innocent
people do not represent Islam and the Government should do more
to differentiate between them and the majority who are
peace-loving people. By using terms such as Muslim extremist or
Islamic Terrorism is tarnishing the whole Islam faith system
based on the actions of a small extreme minority. This
Government needs to be more open and transparent on this.
This Government has carried paper consultation exercises with
the usual groups and people, the next generation of
consultations should be with the people themselves in the heart
of the communities that are affected.
The Ramadhan Foundation has been and will remain to be at the
heart of the campaign against extremism and terrorism, sadly
this Government has failed to engage with our community
effectively and transparently.
We are ready to talk with the Government but are they serious
about engagement away from pre-conceived prejudices against
Muslims in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Shazad Anwar, Chief Executive of the Foundation comments:
“We partly welcomes some aspects of the speech by Ruth Kelly, it
is sensible to set up a new unit in the Charity Commission and
this something we have been advocating for years now.
But the Government need to get out of their comfort zone where
they only engage with Muslim organisations that seem to fit
their agenda. The Ramadhan Foundation is the UK’s leading
Muslim youth organisation that tackles extremism and we never
seem to receive an invite to these meetings.
We have already have held our first “Tackling Extremism” event
in Rochdale and our second event tilted “The role of the Mosque”
will be happening in Blackburn. WE are getting on with the real
work will the Minister come and listen to our concerns.
I hope she does, but I am not hopeful”
END
Notes for editors
The Ramadhan
Foundation is the UK's leading Muslim youth organisation that is
working for peaceful co-existence and dialogue for all
communities. Based in Greater Manchester and working to also
create the platform for Muslim unity amongst our communities in
the UK.
For further information contact:
Mr. Mohammed Shafiq
Press Spokesman
Mohammed.shafiq@ramadhanfoundation.com
07814835912
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