Muslim Council of Britain Seeks Government Engagement Amidst UK Riots

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Zara Mohammed, the head of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), has expressed deep concerns over the government's lack of communication with the organization during the recent summer riots. The riots saw mobs targeting Muslims and mosques, prompting Mohammed to call for a review of Downing Street’s non-engagement policy with the MCB. Mohammed, who made history three years ago as the youngest and first female secretary general of the MCB, described the government's silence as "quite shocking."

 

During the riots, Mohammed reached out to the government, hoping to address the growing threat posed to Muslim communities. However, her appeals were ignored. While the MCB had been actively engaged with Labour’s shadow cabinet during their time in opposition, including a meeting in 2021 with Keir Starmer, who emphasized “the importance of engaging with Muslim communities,” the government remained unresponsive.

 

Mohammed acknowledged the challenges facing the new government, including economic downturns and other national crises. However, she was disheartened by the absence of formal or meaningful engagement with the MCB, especially as far-right groups were targeting Muslims and mosques. "I think what was really disappointing, and perhaps for many in the Muslim community, quite shocking, was no formal or meaningful engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain during a time when mosques and Muslims were being targeted by the far right in a terrifying way,” she said.

 

The Conservative government has maintained a policy of non-engagement with the MCB. On 1 August, Labour communities minister Alex Norris confirmed to parliament that “there are no plans for ministers to meet with the Muslim Council of Britain.” The rationale behind this policy was linked to past controversies. In particular, the government cited positions taken by previous MCB leaders that contradicted fundamental values, which they claimed had not been explicitly retracted. This referred to an incident in 2009, when former MCB deputy secretary general Daud Abdullah signed the Istanbul declaration, which advocated attacks on the Royal Navy if it tried to prevent arms from being smuggled to Hamas in Gaza.

 

The then-Labour government responded by severing ties with the MCB until Abdullah stepped down. Once he resigned, and the MCB clarified that Abdullah’s views did not reflect the organization’s stance, relations were restored in the final year of Gordon Brown’s government. Engagement continued under Liberal Democrat ministers in the coalition government elected in 2010.

 

While there have been occasional interactions since then, the overall policy has been one of exclusion. Penny Mordaunt, then a Conservative paymaster general, met with Mohammed in 2021 but faced significant media criticism. Mohammed remarked that the MCB has been "locked out" since, though there were exceptions, such as the MCB’s involvement in the appointment of Muslim chaplains by the Ministry of Defence. This collaboration was eventually cut after a Daily Telegraph article highlighted the relationship.

 

Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner informed the Commons that the government was “actively considering” its approach to addressing Islamophobia. Mohammed remains “optimistic” that the government will reassess its stance. "I think what I’m hopeful of is that the government will review the former position and will look at offering a position of clarity as to why [they are not engaging], and having a conversation with us to see, you know, what are the challenges; what are the blocks in 2024, not in 2009," she said.

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-09-17

 

 

 

 

 

[jippytum]

The open immigration problem and social security system have allowed muslims with several wives and large families to dominate large areas of the urban landscape in the UK

[JonnyF]

She should focus on rioting BY Muslims and be thankful the two tier British police were so lenient towards it. 

[Chomper Higgot]

21 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

She should focus on rioting BY Muslims and be thankful the two tier British police were so lenient towards it. 

You want her to engage in your own whataboutary?

[proton]

It's not a council, nobody elects them, They are just a gang of Islamist activists trying to extend the influence and control by Islam in the UK. Their stated aim is to empower British muslim communities.

Edited September 17 by proton

[JonnyF]

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You want her to engage in your own whataboutary?

 

I want her to acknowledge the role of Muslims in many of the UK riots this summer. 

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I want her to acknowledge the role of Muslims in many of the UK riots this summer. 

In the riots being discussed they were the victims of violence t attack, looting and arson.

Or did you miss that?

 

[proton]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

In the riots being discussed they were the victims of violence t attack, looting and arson.

Or did you miss that?

 

 

They were not the victims, apart from a small demo outside one mosque where an outer wall was damaged, no muslims were attacked. In Birmingham armed muslims went on the rampage and attacked a man outside a pub putting him in hospital. Of course they always portray themselves as the victims, nothing is ever their fault, despite the endless terror attacks, stabbings and killings over the years. Thousands worldwide since 9/11, that was not their fault either, according them.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

 

They were not the victims, apart from a small demo outside one mosque where an outer wall was damaged, no muslims were attacked. In Birmingham armed muslims went on the rampage and attacked a man outside a pub putting him in hospital. Of course they always portray themselves as the victims, nothing is ever their fault, despite the endless terror attacks, stabbings and killings over the years. Thousands worldwide since 9/11, that was not their fault either, according them.

A bit of revisionism there Proton.

[proton]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

A bit of revisionism there Proton.

 

Yesterday you were defending a slave trafficker, today it's muslim rioters  any sympathy and empathy at all for Huw Edwards?

[Chomper Higgot]

9 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Yesterday you were defending a slave trafficker, today it's muslim rioters  any sympathy and empathy at all for Huw Edwards?

The slaver I said should be imprison and deported?

 

Or is that you posting a lie ridden slur?

[Kinok Farang]

54 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You want her to engage in your own whataboutary?

Who would have thought you would stick your oar in?

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, Kinok Farang said:

Who would have thought you would stick your oar in?

Obviously the fact that this is a discussion forum escaped you.

[mdr224]

Liberal posters here after what liberals have done to the UK - BRAINWASHED

[Kinok Farang]

The nerve of these people is astounding.

Muslims riot on a massive scale about anything affecting Muslims but do nothing about the underage grooming gangs,acid attacks,honour killings and terrorist supporters in their own communities.

Speakers corner in Hyde park,once a bastion of free speech is a dangerous place to voice your opinions nowadays because of the packs of these bully boy Muslims who think their stone-age religion is the only one to have a voice.They routinely shout down all other peaceful religious speakers.Fxxking savages.

[wombat]

what i find to be a glaring anomaly is...

 

1.6 billion muslim people and not a singlel group or organization vocal about decrying the radicals amongst them, The more we empower minorities the more they want until the minority Muslim dictate to the majority…. like now.

 

 

[Kinok Farang]

7 hours ago, Kinok Farang said:

The nerve of these people is astounding.

Muslims riot on a massive scale about anything affecting Muslims but do nothing about the underage grooming gangs,acid attacks,honour killings and terrorist supporters in their own communities.

Speakers corner in Hyde park,once a bastion of free speech is a dangerous place to voice your opinions nowadays because of the packs of these bully boy Muslims who think their stone-age religion is the only one to have a voice.They routinely shout down all other peaceful religious speakers.Fxxking savages.

Discuss this then Chomper.

[cncltd1973]

the MCB advocated attacks on the Royal Navy if they stop arms to Hamas, and they now complain the gov isn't seeking their advice? ridiculous. if the MCB was smart, they would have reorganized under another name. they already burned themselves by showing they are Muslim first and ally with any other Muslim country before Britain

[JonnyF]

11 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

In the riots being discussed they were the victims of violence t attack, looting and arson.

Or did you miss that?

 

 

I didn't miss the muslim riots.

 

The police, the courts and the MSM did though.

 

2 tier Britain. 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

I didn't miss the muslim riots.

 

The police, the courts and the MSM did though.

 

2 tier Britain. 

Ah, back to your dog whistling.