NEW CAMPAIGN in Rochdale- “Stand for Islam” launched

By Majed Iqbal- A new campaign has been launched in Rochdale which plans to open up discussion and debate over the increasing levels of intolerance currently witnessed throughout Europe against Muslims and their way of life, Islam.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has launched this campaign, titled ‘Stand for Islam’ in Rochdale to tackle the various challenges dawning over the Muslim Community. Majeds Blog will be providing exclusive coverage of the whole campaign and the messages being relayed to the Rochdale Muslim Community.

In recent years, especially the last few, have seen many attempts which have mocked Shariah law, equated the Niqab to segregation of British Society, a ban on the Hijab in France, Mosque applications denied in Italy, caricatures of the Prophet of Islam arrogantly published by Danish Media, the British Government trying to threaten islamic grous with bans after being heavily challenged on Foreign Policy in the Muslim World, Dutch MP Geert Wilders calling for the ban of the Quran, and the viable alternative of governance in the Muslim world, the Caliphate (khilafah) heavily attacked as being outdated, irrelevant and a system which demonises minorities, denies womens rights and equated to a dictatorship.

Rochdale Online refuses to cover Question Time Event Story

In the last week not only have we had a Politician and his team of spin doctors to fabricate lies about why they do not wish to attend a Question Time Event, we now have Press wishing to “censor” stories as if they did not even occur!!

 

Rochdale online has refused to cover the story for the Question Time event. Since Monday, calls have been made twice a day asking for a chat with the News Editor, only to be fobbed off with the same answer “they’r not in”. I left them with a message and my number each time on calling such that i could speak to someone- but to no avail.

On speaking to someone i was informed that Paul Rowens Office was instrumental in asking another newspaper not to run the story. This immeadiatley explained the sequence of events with Rochdale Online. I decided to write an email and sent the following:

The truth Behind Paul Rowen MP’s refusal to attend Rochdale’s Question Time

PRESS RELEASE from Majed’s Blog- Saturday 09/02/2008

Amid much planning, organising and Public discussion, the event titled “Dialogue, Debate and Discussion on Extremism, Islam and the Muslim Community” organised by Majeds Blog, a popular Rochdale based Blogger, has gone ahead, despite Paul Rowen MP, deciding not to attend the event.

Unfortunately, in true local Politics fashion, Paul Rowen has hid behind arguments to justify his decision for not attending.

His first excuse was aired whilst on a radio show on the Local Community radio station, Crescent Radio, when on being asked why he is attending an event alongside a member of the organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir he replied:

“I only found out on Friday (01/02/08) that Hizb ut-Tahrir were going to be on the panel that i had agreed to go to………….My position is clear. I am not willing to engage in Public discussion with Hizb ut-Tahrir…………..I have been given false information for a second time now about who is going to be there at that particular meeting”

Press Coverage of Rochdale Extremism Dialogue Event Advertisement

Rochdale has whole heartedly embraced the much awaited event titled “Extremism, Islam and the Muslim Community” which is to be staged this Saturday. The Event has been well advertised by various newspapers as well as interest shown by a Digital Television Channel to cover it for its news items. The folowing newspapers have covered the story so far.

Click on the images to go straight to the Articles written about the event organised through Majed’s Blog.

The event has had very good publicity in the community. Over 1000 flyers were distributed on Friday after the Friday prayers in various mosques which were greeted with great pleasure from everyone. People felt a sense of enthusiasm that finally on a public level a discussion of such a nature where the community can participate is taking place in Rochdale.

Posters have been placed in shops, Community Centres, Cash and Carries where once again the people working at these places expressed great joy when the idea of the event was presented to them. We all look forward to an evening of vibrant discussion on a topic which is gaining immense attention from Politicians, Media and Government.

How Rochdale “greeted” Musharraf on his UK visit

By Majed Iqbal- How many times have you visited a relative’s home and saw you elderly engrossed in a discussion and argument about Pakistani politics over a cup of tea in the vicinity of their large traditional front room? Seems to ring a bell! Déjà vu for definite! Heated debates, full of resentment against Pakistani politicians, utter disgust at the state of affairs and that’s all it’s left to.

Unfortunately that’s how far it will go with our community; hot air and outbursts of raw emotion. We are quick to raise the finger but have next to no thought on how to translate this into positive action.

Musharraf, whom some consider the Mugabe of South East Asia, was on his UK tour, drumming up support to place a charade over his ill seeds planted in his country, the brunt of which his nation is taking. The question on peoples minds should have been- how can we living in the UK challenge him on his failed policies, subservience to foreign interests, massacre of his own citizens, blaming terrorism instead of his own failures on the downfall of Pakistan, and being given full VIP treatment her in the UK by the British Government?

SKY News Interview on Bhutto Assassination

In light of the current events in Pakistan with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Sky news visited Rochdale to ascertain the views of young Pakistanis on what they thought about the events of Rawalpindi.

In line with other participants from Rochdale, i also presented my views today on the current predicaments in Pakistan.

Watch the Interview here

DM Digital Appearance discussing Pakistan Crisis

On Sunday 12 December I was invited on the DM Digital Channel to join another panelist to discuss the Current Events in Pakistan on the Mehboob Khan Late Gup Shup Show. I was joined by Qaiser Malik, the main guest on the show who focused on the root economic and political problems plaguing Pakistan.

I was presented Questions revolving around the developments on Tehreek-e-Insaaf and Jamaat-e-Islami boycotting the forthcoming elections and what would be the impact of such moves. Questions were also posed on why the Judiciary is not functioning and wielding out corruption and do Pakistanis have any power in the West to make change.

Ramadhan Program

DAWAH STALLS outside Masjids this Ramadhan

Inshallah there will be dawah stalls available after taraweeh Salah set up outside the various Masaajid in Rochdale providing an oppurtunity for LIVE discussion on topical issues affecting Muslims.

Brothers at the stalls will have a range of literature available linked to the Work for Khilafah, Political Islam, Muslim Unity, Pakistani Elections, British Governments agenda for the Muslim community and advertisement for an event this Ramadhan organised by Members of Hizb-ut-tahrir.

Join Majed and many other brothers displaying engagement with Rochdale Muslims and sensing what is on their minds. Ramadhan themed messages will be distributed weekly to initiate reflection on key Islamic ideas for this month. One message for each week- all of which will be in Urdu and English and available on this Blog for download.

Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an:

“Ramadan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong)” (Surah Al-Baqarah:Verse 183)

ROCHDALE SISTERS in the Press

ROCHDALE SISTERS air their views with Media

More than half of the participants at Sunday, 4th August’s conference on Khilafah in London were women. The press took note of this as their diet of thoughts on Islam, women and Political/social life were marred and shaped through western liberal insight which often depicts muslim women as voiceless and victims of male patriarchy. Rochdale sisters made the following statements which appeared in the International Herald tribune, New York times and the BBC.

“Some of the most ardent adherents to the party’s ideas about a caliphate were expressed by women. Rubina Ahmed, 33, a mother of four who came on a charter bus from Manchester (should be Rochdale!!!), said,

“It’s the in-depthness of the caliphate that I like.” Hizb ut-Tahrir “doesn’t compromise on the values of Islam, and it’s not afraid to speak out for what it wants,” she said. “

“Neela, a London-born woman now living in Rochdale, was one of those who sympathised.

ROCHDALE at the Khilafah Conference

Early morning on Saturday, just after fajr (morning prayer), 55 men and women, some young and some old. some educated and some…………………more educated…….gathered together to set off for the much awaited Khilafah Conference in London. There were plenty of discussions circulating in Rochdale about the importance of such an event after 3000 flyers had been distributed 2 weeks earlier at Jumah (Friday prayers) and in the evenings in the various areas of Rochdale.

Hence there was healthy debate surrounding the conference on the journey on what the Government means when it talks about Extremism; Is the concept of khilafah (Caliphate) extreme? Is Political Islam which calls for the Muslim world to be shaped on its beliefs, History and Islamic legacy non-negotiable in todays era? Are political movements working for the aspirations of Millions in the Muslim world in any way a threat to anybody? Does the government believe that Islam is outdated and non-applicable? How can the Government Praise Islamic History but actively work to distort its re-application in the Muslim World by labeling it as unfit to “Global values”?