Grooming of girls and Asian gangs

Having led a vocal and strong campaign over the past four years against the crime of grooming I am heartened that CEOP have produced this report. I strongly believe that without the fantastic coverage of the Times Newspaper and with my commentary piece we may have not be where we are, I am proud that we initiated a national debate which has led to this report. My only hope is that this report is now followed up with lasting action.

The Ramadhan Foundation provided extensive evidence to CEOP and welcomes the inclusion of some parts of our evidence. Since I raised this in January 2011 and with the media coverage of recent convictions; I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received from the Asian community and their total abhorrence at these sick crimes.

Let me be clear, there are Asian gangs operating in this country who are grooming white teenagers, these gangs think that white girls are less valuable than girls from their own community which is sick and abhorrent. The Asian community have offered their revulsion at these crimes many times and we do so again today; for as long as these girls suffer I will continue to speak out whatever the cost.

I welcome the report’s finding that these crimes are not exclusively an Asian problem, CEOP’s findings that 20% of culprits are Asian, which means 80% are not Asian, this is what we have been saying all along. I ame disappointed that the media and Politicians seem to only focus on the Asian cases when we should be tackling all these criminals regardless of ethnicity or culture. It is time for politicians and commentators to address this issue with honesty and remember this is about saving young girls lives and not grabbing headlines.

There needs to be more preventive work in the community with young girls, telling them of the signs of these crimes and how to prevent getting involved, an immediate stop to the over sexualisation of children, parents and the police taking responsibility for young teenagers when they are wandering the streets at late hours. Ultimately the people responsible are the criminals who groom young girls and as we have seen already the Courts have given long sentences to criminals and long may this continue. It is just not good enough to express the revulsion to these crimes with words but as we move forward all communities will need to be channelling that anger and disgust into helping the Police.

If through this hard work and bravery I have been able to save one young life then the struggles and threats we have received over the past four years have been worth it. There should be no hiding place for these evil people and only together can we stop them.

UK Government new Prevent strategy

The threat from terrorism is real and events like this require communities and Governments to come together to tackle this evil menace from our country. Sadly the Government’s new Prevent strategy seeks to promote the same worn out policy that has failed to achieve success and has led to alienation in the Muslim community

To label all Muslims who promote and practice Sharia law as extremists is a dangerous precedent which will be strongly opposed by our community because the real reasons behind this new strategy is to score cheap political points on the back of the Muslim community. With respect to the Prime Minister and his Ministers Freedom, Democracy, human rights and equality are not British values, they are human values that are enshrined in many faiths including Islam. Adopting a heavy handed approach will lead to more mistrust, division and is not the right strategy to protect our country from terrorism and extremism

Sharia law is a central pillar of our lives for Muslims and nothing any Government Ministers say will stop us using Sharia law to ensure we support our neighbours (Muslim and non Muslim), help the needy in our society, promote equality, fairness and justice.

Holding extremist views is not illegal, just look at the EDL and BNP, this Prevent strategy must be about tackling those extremists that use terrorism and brainwash people and also include the evil of the far right.

This dangerous escalation of attacks on Islam and Muslims will lead to further division and make the task of tackling extremism more difficult. It is interesting that the Government has no strategy to deal with the evil far right like the EDL and BNP. Over the past two years millions of pounds have been wasted in public funds policing these extremists who march our streets and attack our faith and community – no mention of how this Government will deal with these fanatics

The Liberal Democrats spent many years in opposition decrying Labour’s Prevent strategy often urging dialogue and engagement with the Muslim community and not demonisation but now in Government they sit silently as the Conservatives demonstrate their machoism. They should be ashamed of themselves and the Muslim community will not forget their silence in a hurry. Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrats have failed to stand up for their liberal values and this is a sad day for Liberalism.

The Muslim community will continue to take on the terrorists and we will work with the Police and Intelligence Agencies and will not rest until our country is safe from these evil crimes, the terrorists do not act in the name of Islam. But we will strongly oppose attacks on our faith and community from whatever quarter.

Pastor Jones should be banned from the UK

The decision of the fascist EDL to invite US Pastor Terry Jones to the UK demonstrates Mr. Jones real agenda of racism and fascism and his presence here is not conducive to good community relations in the UK. We are a tolerant and peaceful society that prides itself on its diversity and are keen to see communities come together not be ripped apart.

I am a strong defender of free speech but when someone who will incite hatred towards Muslims and furthermore there is a real threat of violence then the Government must ban that person. I would remind Mr. Jones that the UK is proud of British Muslims, our heritage and our contributions here. We are an integral part of our great country and if you come here to promote hatred and division then stay home.
Mr. Jones claims he is a man of Christianity but the great faith of Christianity teaches tolerance, respect and Jesus came to eradicate racism not encourage it – Mr. Jones’s comments and actions run counter to Christianity.

The Home Secretary must not hesitate to ban him from entering the UK, if this does not happen then the Government will be responsible for the division that will ultimately happen if he is allowed to come.

Data Darbar Lahore Terrorist attack

I am deeply saddened by the terrorist attacks on Data Darbar in Lahore Pakistan, this senseless and evil attack is a reminder of the daily chaos that exists in Pakistan today. There are 18 confirmed dead and many injured, tonight I offer the victims and their families my deepest sympathies, prayers and condolences.

Once again I reiterate that Islam totally forbids the killing of innocent people and I abhor these attacks, there can be no safe hiding place for these terrorists and they should be brought to justice.

For too long the Government of Pakistan has failed to provide security for its citizens, surely after so many deaths from terrorism the Government will finally act.

The Government’s amendment tonight to the Children, Schools and Families bill about teaching sex education is a welcome u turn from forcing faith schools to abandon their basic articles of faith and principles. I have been very clear from an early stage that enforcing something that is contrary to religious community’s faith is illiberal and unacceptable in the 21st century.

Faith schools should be able to teach children about sex according to their faiths and not dictated to by secularists.

Whilst recognising this is indeed progress we still believe that the Government has to stop bashing faith groups and their schools, these faith schools add great value to many communities in this country, the Government must recognise and accept this.

Faith schools should be free to teach children according to their faiths, the high standards in these schools speak for themselves.”

We should not give in to the secularists who want to marginalise faith from our public life.

I offer my total condemnation at the attempted terrorist attack in Exeter City Centre. I pay tribute to the Police and Security Services in their hard work to protect the country. I urge any citizen of the United Kingdom that has any information to bring this to the attention of the Police. Islam totally condemns terrorism in any form and we stand ready to offer any assistance.

I urge calm and unity in this country and not allow the terrorists to succeed in their aim to divide the citizens of this country and establish hatred amongst different communities.

I are however disappointed that the description of this suspect of a convert to Islam suggests that those who convert to Islam are somewhat mental and brainwashed into converting, this is a grotesque description and one that is not true. Thousands of people convert to Islam every year in this country because we are a faith of compassion, peace and tolerance – any attempt to belittle converts intelligent decisions to convert will not be tolerated and is a trick to once again demonise Islam.

On behalf of the Ramadhan Foundation I offer my total condemnation of the terrorist attack in Exeter City Centre, we are all grateful of the Police and security services for their hard work.

The attempts to belittle and ridicule converts that come into Islam are unacceptable and will harden divisions amongst communities. Converts come to Islam because they see compassion and peace; we hope extremists rediscover the true meaning of Islam.

I urge unity in this country and urge anyone with information on terrorism to contact the Police.”