March has no doubt been an unprecedented month, and it feels as if we live in a very different world now as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to all Muslim community members who have acted swiftly and who are working round the clock to keep our communities safe.
As part of bringing unity to the Muslim communities' response to the COVID-19 crisis, the MCB is collaborating with leads from a range of national, regional and specialist Muslim community organisations to co-ordinate the community response efforts.
This is summarised in the newsletter below, and for any queries, please email [email protected]. May Allah (swt) grant us increased strength to support each other and wider society in the coming months.
COVID-19 response co-ordination
Since launching a guidance web page in late February (www.mcb.org.uk/coronavirus), the situation has rapidly developed. We took steps to ramp up communication to Muslim communities nationwide, including:
12 March - Guidance poster translated into seven community languages
16 March - Press release strongly calling for the suspension of all congregational activities in Muslim communities
23 March - Lobbying for amendments to the emergency Coronavirus Bill to avoid cremations on the grounds of faith
26 March - Updated Toolkit for UK Muslim communities in dealing with the pandemic
Weekly - Holding Community Briefing Calls every Sunday at 11am.
On 12 March, in collaboration with the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) we issued guidance specifically to mosques, advising mosque leaders to prepare for suspension of congregational activities. The guidance was translated into 7 community languages, including Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, Somali, Turkish, Gujarati and Yoruba.
Calling for suspension of all congregational activities
On 16 March, following the UK’s Chief Scientific Advisers call for extraordinary social distancing measures, we issued a Press Release on the same evening with the unprecendeted step of strongly recommending for mosques and Islamic centres to temporarily suspend their congregational activities.
We continued to support MCB members and wider UK Muslim communities throughout that highly emotional week to understand and implement this very difficult decision and encourage worshippers that it is safer for them to pray at home.
Lobbying for amendments to the emergency Coronavirus legislation
After constructive engagement by the MCB, National Burial Council and other faith communities, as well as several MPs, most notably Naz Shah MP, an amendment was agreed that protects the religious freedoms of religious minorities, in particular Jewish and Muslim communities, as we all pull together to support each other during this national crisis.
Updated Toolkit - 26 March
As the situation rapidly developed, we collated an updated Toolkit for UK Muslim Communities (26 March) that focused on how best to protect ourselves and our loved ones, both physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Key messages included
Stay At Home- everybody must suspend congregational activities
Keep Connected- including through Social Media/WhatsApp, volunteer phone calls or drop offs/collections
Support - mobilising volunteers to support the socially vulnerable and isolated.
To keep the community informed with the latest updates, we facilitated a weekly Community Briefing Call every Sunday morning, with key speakers on medical, burial, mental health and other topics, followed by Q&A.
All calls are recorded and can be listened to afterwards. To register for the next call on Sunday 5 April, click here. For suggestions on topics to cover, email [email protected]
Uniting COVID-19 response efforts
As part of bringing unity to the Muslim communities’ response to the COVID-19 crisis, the MCB is collaborating with the leads from a range of national, regional and specialist Muslim community organisations to co-ordinate community response efforts.
Several Community Response Groups have been established using WhatsApp and Zoom calls to enable volunteers and leads within each field to discuss and co-ordinate efforts. These include Medical, Burials, Charities & Relief, Online Service Delivery, Mental Health, Financial Support/Business advice, Hajj & Umrah and Publicity. Click here to read more or to get involved.
COVID-19 Muslim volunteer initiatives
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Seek out the vulnerable among you. Verily, you are only given provision and support due to your support of the weak.” (Tirmidhi).
We've collated a list of over 80 volunteer initiatives started by mosques or Muslim groups since the COVID-19 pandemic started, together with the Muslim Charities Forum.
May Allah (swt) reward generously everybody who has mobilised swiftly to support the social vulnerable or isolated in their local neighbours in these difficult times.
Calling for the suspension of congregational activities - The MCB's call for all congregational activities in Muslim communities to be suspended was echoed by the Mayor of London, and covered by the BBC, The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Mirror. Deputy Secretary General, Hassan Joudi, was featured on BBC local radio discussing this.
Social distancing in Muslim communities - Zainab Gulamali, Public Affairs Manager, joined Dr Sufian Ali of the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) on the Sky News podcast to discuss the response in Muslim communities.
COVID-19 and Muslims - Harun Khan, Secretary General, and Maswood Ahmed, Assistant Secretary General, have been featuring on Islam Channel's Coronavirus Emergency programmes, highlighting the support available to Muslims.
Paying tribute to Muslim physicians
30 March - The MCB and the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) recognise the invaluable work of the four Muslim medical professionals who have lost their lives in recent days to Coronavirus. They are:
Dr Adil El Tayar - Organ Transplant Consultant, London
Dr Habib Zaidi - GP, Essex
Mr Amged El-Hawrani, Ear, Nose and Throat Consultant, Burton
Dr Alfa Sa'adu, Retired Geriatric Physician, London
In addition, thousands of Muslims across Britain will have been affected by the loss of a loved one from COVID-19 so far, and more will be affected in the coming weeks, and we pray for their health and forbearance as well. Click here to read full statement.
Other news this month
Anniversary of the Christchurch massacre
Sunday 15 March marked the 1st year anniversary of the terrorist attack at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Despite cancellations of remembrance events due to COVID-19, millions across the world remembered the 51 Muslim victims who were slaughtered whilst attending Friday prayers that day, as well as their families and communities.
The Muslim Council of Britain remembers and sends prayers to those affected by this tragedy, as well as to all those who have suffered from all forms of hate. Click here to read statement.
EHRC Submission: updated dossier on Islamophobia in the Conservative Party
On 5 March, we renewed calls for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to investigate the Conservative Party over allegations of Islamophobia, by submitting a new dossier. Click here to view press release.
The dossier details incidents involving over 300 individuals, including councillors and party members, new MPs and even Number 10 special advisers, including Dominic Cummings and Andrew Sabisky.
Harun Khan,Secretary General, said, “Having furnished the Equality and Human Rights Commission with evidence of over 100 incidents of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party ten months ago, we find it extraordinary that the Commission has failed to give any response, let alone inform us and British Muslims as to whether action will be taken."
The City Retreat (Leicester)
"The City Retreat, Leicester, was set up to make Islam and its spiritual and social values accessible to all the people we share our city with, with a café, courtyard and a commitment to education, sharing, and partnering on social projects with other organisations, Muslim and non-Muslim.
We are inspired by the work of the MCB both in representing Muslim communities in the UK and also its collaborative work in broader society, and we have welcomed the opportunity to become a member of MCB." -The City Retreat
