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Following hot on the heels of the Quilliam Foundation is another group containing all the usual suspects!! I would like to know what on earth Br. Inayat is going there for!? Aims sound all right, but I wouldn't trust this lot!!
http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/1894
A new charity, British Muslims for Secular Democracy, launches on 1st May, giving voice to Muslims committed to democracy and calls for all London based Muslims to use their individual voting rights in the Mayoral election
Launch debate at the Royal Society of Arts on 1 May 2008: The Secular State – the best option for Muslims?
Time & date: 1.00 pm on 1st May 2008
Venue: Royal Society of Arts, 8 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6EZ
Subject: The Secular State – the best option for Muslims?
Chair: Baroness Kishwer Falkner
Speakers: Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, columnist; Inayat Bunglawala, Assistant Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain; Dr Usama Hasan, Director, City Circle; Ed Husain, author of the Islamist and Deputy Director of the Quilliam Foundation.
British Muslims for Secular Democracy (BMSD) achieved charitable status in 2008 and provides a voice for the silent majority of Muslims in Britain who feel no conflict between their faith and democracy and who seek to dissolve the apparent misconception that Islam and democracy in Britain are incompatible.
BMSD aims are twofold:
· Firstly, it aims to project the more balanced, constructive perspective of the majority of Muslims in Britain who embrace democracy. It will strive to address the influence of religious radicalism and intolerant beliefs.
· Secondly it aims to promote a greater understanding of the benefits of being part of a British Democracy to the Muslim community within Britain and to oppose racism against Muslims.
Background on BMSD
The BMSD began as an idea in 2005 with a discussion between two women Nasreen Rehman (Vice Chair) and Yasmin Alibhai Brown (Chair) to be a ‘platform’ from which to present the ‘unheard’ moderate and modern voice of Muslims. Gaining charitable status in 2008, it now aims to continue and expand this work with media, policy makers, public, Muslim people and communities.
BMSD is chaired by
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, the journalist and author who has written and been published extensively on issues relating to Muslims in Britain. The Trustees represent and bring together many sections of the Muslim faith from Sunni Muslim to
Ismaili[Are they even Muslim
]. BMSD accepts all Muslims and this is reflected in the make-up of the Board.
Trustees include
Ghayasuddin Siddique, Head of the Muslim Parliament in the UK; Nasreen Rehman, Screenwriter; Imran Ahmad, writer; Dr Shaaz Mahboob, Medical Doctor and NHS Manager;
Dr Taj Hargey, Oxford Academic; Reem Maghribi, editor in Chief, SharqMagazine.com and Andy Gregg, Chief Executive of LASA.
Registration/attendance to the debate is free and can be made via telephone to the RSA on 020 7451 6868 or through their website (
www.rsa.org.uk) and the following link:
http://www.rsa.org.uk/events/detail.asp?eventID=2537
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