It's been a busy month in the media with MCB engaging with dozens of media outlet to get the voice of MCB members heard in the mainstream media. Highlights include:
Challenging discrimination - Sky News, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary accused of racism for saying terrorists are 'generally Muslim men'."He openly advocates discrimination against 'males of a Muslim persuasion', which presumably is not based on specific intelligence but solely whether someone 'looks or acts like a Muslim'," an MCB spokeswoman said. "It is a shame that such racism is being expressed so openly, and that the CEO of a large airline would so want to discriminate against his customers so brazenly."
Islamophobia in the Conservative Party - The Telegraph, Tory MP escapes suspension for speaking at far-Right event An MCB spokesman added: "Serious questions must be asked about why this was allowed in the first place, why the party now feels it was unacceptable, and why it feels a mere slap on the wrist is sufficient. "Kawczynski should have the whip removed, and be subject to a thorough investigation if the Conservatives want to claim, at least in this case, a 'zero tolerance' policy on all forms of racism."
London Central Mosque stabbing attack, "Zainab Gulamali from the Muslim Council of Britain told ITV News: 'It's really shocking, and I know lots of people are really concerned. The Regent's Park Mosque is a great mosque, it's very friendly, Central London, so it's a real community hub. And it's really distressing for people – not just Muslims, but people of lots of faiths who worship at particular places of worship that this sort of thing could happen and particularly at a prayer time."
Can you help us provide a strong voice for British Muslims? Become a Friend of the MCB today with a £10/month donation and make sure a strong community-rooted voice for British Muslim communities can continue.
#VisitMyMosque Day - 21 June!
It's only 4 months left until #VisitMyMosque Day, taking place for the first time on a summer date on 21 June 2020. This is your chance to get involved and show the true face of Islam to your neighbours and local community! Register your mosque online today www.visitmymosque.org/register.
Need support, ideas or inspiration for your mosque open day? Attend a free training workshop taking place at over 8 cities nationwide, including:
including advice for Umrah Pilgrims who are affected by the temporary suspension announced by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The current NHS advice is that we should be continuing to follow good hygiene practices in our mosques and madrassas, and display posters in your mosque e.g. "Catch it, Bin it, Kill it"
It is particularly important for Muslim institutions to advise their community members (congregation members, volunteers, staff etc.) who have travelled back to the UK from specific regions of the world as highlighted by the Foreign Office in the last 14 days and develop symptoms of cough or fever or shortness of breath, to self-isolate (do not leave home) and call NHS 111 immediately.
The number of Muslims aged 65 and over is estimated to increase from 110,000 in 2011, to 450,000 by 2036.
38% of Muslim women aged 65+ self-declared having bad or very bad health.
We hope that Arabic-speaking community members find this translation useful. Further translations into other community languages are also planned. For more info email [email protected]
NLE Report Launch on 9th April
We're excited to announce the date for the first report launch of the National Listening Exercise on 9th April* 2020, 6.30-8.30pm in Manchester.
*This event was previously advertised for the 27th February but has been moved to the 9th April. We apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Save the Date - AGM on 28 June
The 23rd MCB Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be taking place on Sunday 28 June 2020 in London – save the date!
Registered MCB members have voting rights in the leadership elections. If you are not already a registered MCB member, find out more about joining MCB here. New members must apply by 25 March to enable sufficient time to receive your delegate forms/papers ahead of the AGM.
Open Tender: Terminology Web Portal
As part of the MCB Centre for Media Monitoring’s work, we are launching a new terminology web portal showcasing the centre’s analysis on how language is used in the media to report on Islam & Muslims. If you are a web developer and would like to offer a proposal to carry out this work, please email [email protected].
Mayoral Elections - With mayoral elections coming up across England in May 2020, the MCB will be working with mayoral candidates and local communities in London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. If you are based in one of these regions and are interested in being involved with this campaign, please get in touch with [email protected]
Ongoing
Counter-Terrorism policy - The MCB National Listening Exercise (NLE) survey is shortly closing. Last chance to share your views if you haven't already at www.mcb.org.uk/nle
To find out more or get involved in any of the above consultations, get in touch here.
New Members Zone
Welcome to new MCB member: Masjid Al-Farouq (Walsall) "We believe as British Muslims we have a duty to each other and society, nevertheless there are many challenges we as a community face as well. We felt the MCB since 1997 have done great work in representing, articulating and highlighting Muslim causes, concerns and issues - now it is the time to remain united and have a strong umbrella body" -Masjid Al Farouq
1st February Hassan Joudi, Deputy Secretary General attended 'Muslim Youth in Crisis' event at Balham Mosque & Tooting Islamic Centre.
3rd February
Zainab Gulamali, Public Affairs Manager, had a community meeting with the Met Police following the Streatham attack.
Harun Khan, Secretary General met with and discussed Muslim community issues with a dozen Muslim professionals in the City of London.
5th February The MCB Office hosted a delegation from the Belgian Muslim Students Association.
Rizwana Hamid, Director of Centre for Media Monitoring delivered a presentation on the misrepresentation of Muslims & Islam in the media to journalism and media students at Middlesex University.
Hassan Joudi met with the Muslim Charities Forum to discuss areas of collaboration.
6th February Dr Shuja Shafi, Research & Documentation (ReDoc) Committee Chair met with Eternal Gardens, who provide affordable burial service to Muslim Londoners, mainly at the Green Acres Kemnal Park Cemetery in Sidcup. Following its 2019 report 'Elderly and End of Life Care in the UK', the MCB is continuing to collate information on best practice around burial/end-of-life issues to help facilitate and promote coordination, For more information email [email protected]
7th February Dr Shuja Shafiand Ehtasham Haque, ReDoc Committee Members, attended a Marie Curie joint Working Group meeting.
8th February Harun Khan attended the inaugural Climate Assembly UK event in Birmingham. Read statement here.
12th February Navshir Jaffer, Treasurer, attended the FA "Bringing Opportunities to Communities" workshop tour in London.
Rizwana Hamid attended an "Our Youth Our Future" event organised by Minhaj Welfare Foundation which also saw the launch of a new local community radio station "Revive FM".
Hassan Joudi and Lamine Konate, Assistant Treasurer, attended an Interfaith Network Community Forum meeting.
13th February Research & Documentation (ReDoc) committee members met the Chairman of a North London Housing Association and the director of the North London Community Centre, as well as senior team members from Raha Care, Nursing and Residential Care Home project
Hassan Joudi attended a Christian-Muslim Forum farewell event for outgoing Director, Catriona Robertson.
15th February
National Council members met for the penultimate quarterly NC meeting of the current 2018-20 session at Finsbury Park Mosque, London
18th February
Rizwana Hamid met the new chair of the press regulator IPSO, Lord Edward Faulks, and shared CfMM’s evidence on the British media's reporting of Islam and Muslims.
Zainab Gulamaliheld a meeting with Rebecca Long-Bailey regarding the Labour Party Leadership elections.
22nd February Hassan Joudi attended a "Meet the Board" event of the Association for Black & Minority Ethnic Engineers.
Lamine Konate, attended the Muslim Association of Britain's (MAB) General Assembly event in Nottingham.
24th February Zainab Gulamali attended an Indian Muslim Federation event in the House of Commons regarding the ongoing crisis around Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Ehtasham Haque, ReDoc Committee Member, ran the first of the Councillors Workshops exploring how publicly available borough and ward level socio-economic data, combined with FoI requests, can be used for local representation and advocacy work.
29th February Zainab Gulamali attended the Husayn Summit event at KSIMC Birmingham.
Community News
Let's talk about Organ Donation The law around organ donation is changing in England. This means that from 20 May 2020, all adults in England will be considered an organ donor when they die unless they opt-out.
MCB member, the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) has produced resources based on medical and scholarly voices from within Muslim communities to enable Muslim adults in England to make informed choices, as well as running workshops at mosques nationwide. Please visit:
Healthy Ramadan Campaign 2020 Ahead of the start of the Month of Ramadan in late April 2020, mosques and community centres nationwide can "Request a Speaker" who is a medical professional, from MCB member, the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA).
Their talks are tailored to educate community members on healthy lifestyle advice during Ramadan; with a focus on practical tips and managing conditions such as diabetes and other conditions in Ramadan.
Encouraging more Muslim Foster Families
Foster Friday on 20 March 2020 is an annual day to raise awareness about fostering and adopting within Muslim communities via a Jummah Khutbah.
Over 4,000 Muslim children living in care, many of whom are living with carers of other or no faith background. Therefore there is anan urgent need for more adults from Muslim communities to become foster carers.
