Government’s New Islam and Citizenship Education (ICE) Curriculum for Mosques and Madrassah’s- Too cold for the Muslim Community

 By Majed Iqbal- In the last few years there has been an intense effort by the government in taking direct hands on approach in the affairs of the Muslim community in the name of tackling ‘radicalisation’ and combating ‘extremism’.

For some, this has been a welcoming gesture, seeing the Government playing a ‘positive’ role in understanding the issues of the Muslim community. For the majority, this has been viewed as intervention and a concentrated effort to make Muslims swallow ideas with a carrot and stick approach.

No other faith group in the country has been subject to so much scrutiny as the Muslim community has with project after project being designed to tackle all possible sectors and groupings of Muslims.

Muslim women groups like the Muslim women’s assertiveness course, Youth groups, National Mosque Groups like MINAB, ‘Extremism’ tool kits for schools and Colleges for Muslim pupils, New Government endorsed curriculum’s for Mosques in the North West titled ‘Nasiha’ and local councils given thousands of pounds to give to groups to promote key ideas which the government is interested in imparting to local Muslim residents- the list can continue with numerous more examples.

ASIAN NEWS ARTICLE- Muslim Communities in the North Reject Government PVE strategy

Pubished on the Asian News Website-

By Majed Iqbal- A report released last week by think-tank the New Local Government Network (NLGN) has criticised the flagship £70 million Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) programme launched by the government two years back because it alienates Muslims.

Community groups across the North West and Yorkshire have refused to join a Government-funded scheme to prevent violent Islamic extremism because it “victimises” Muslims, it has been claimed.

The PVE programme was modeled to “promote shared values, support local solutions, build civic capacity and leadership and strengthen the role of faith institutions and leaders”.

The generic nature of the strategy was welcomed initially at the first look but rejected once the details became further apparent. The plans were considered divisive and an effort to divide the Muslim community on the lines of moderates and extremists by branding what ideas of Islam will be acceptable in Britain and what won’t.

Rochdale Muslims to participate in Consultation against Compulsory Sex Education for 5 year olds

In the last months, there has been an active campaign to mobilise the Rochdale community against new  Government plans to introduce compulsory sex education for 5 year old children.

The group “Rochdale Muslims against Sex and Relationship Education for 5 year olds” has played an active public role in highlighting these proposals and demonstrating exactly how the Muslim Community specifically and the wider community in general will be affected by this.

The group “Rochdale Muslims against Sex and Relationship Education for 5 year olds” now will be participating in the national consultation process on this issue.

We have gathered over 1000 petition signatures, and have led a Facebook campaign with at the time of writing, galvanised 388 Facebook group members on board, organised Weekly public stalls in busy areas in Rochdale, promoted the issue through a locally created YouTube advert, presented information packs to all Rochdale Mosques, visited churches and opened dialogue with local councillors.

ASIAN LEADER Article- Rochdale Imam accuses Mosques of Child beatings

The following article was published in the Asian Leader Newspaper which discussed claims that Rochdale Mosques were involved in Child beatings.

The Newspaper article can be read online on the Look Asia Website. Please click HERE to read

ASIAN NEWS COVERAGE: Madrassah beating claims is scare tactic

   The following article was published on the Asian News Website detailing the views from various Community leaders in Rochdale on the Mosque Child beating Fiasco which has hit national press. Comments from this blog also featured in the article.

MOSQUE leaders and community members have hit back at an unpublished report by a Rochdale imam who has claimed students at some madrassahs are being regularly beaten and abused by their teachers.

Imam Irfan Chishti, a former government adviser on Islamic affairs and religious education teacher who runs the Light of Islam Academy on Milkstone Road, Rochdale, compiled the report based on interviews with victims in madrassahs in the north of England.

He told The Times, which also carried out its own investigation in Rochdale, that he was “shocked” how even victims had accepted the abuse and said there was a “culture that accepts it.” He said part of the problem was that madrassah teachers were ignorant of British law which bans corporal punishment.

Both Mr Chishti’s and the Times report suggest that children are regularly slapped, punched and even had their ears twisted. One student was “picked up by one leg and spun around” while another said a madrassah teacher was “kicking in my head – like a football”.

Rochdale Imam accuses local Mosques of ‘Child Beatings’

By Majed Iqbal- According to a new report compiled by Irfan Chishti, a government adviser on Islamic affairs and a close ally to Hazel Blears on her agenda to tackle Extremism, has stated that Muslim children are being beaten and abused regularly by teachers at some madrassas. 

Students have been slapped, punched and had their ears twisted, according to the unpublished report by the Rochdale imam based on interviews with victims in the north of England.

The times newspaper, who ran the story and claimed Exclusive coverage for it, was forthright in painting a bleak picture of Muslims In Rochdale and their institutions. It is yet to be verified as to how the report came to the attention of the times newspaper.

Rochdale Muslims have met the news with utter disgust and have been sceptical over the last months of the direct repeated references being made about Rochdale Muslims in Press and Government Circles. This news story adds to the frenzy which has gradually been whipped up in recent weeks.

THE RAMADHAN CONNUNDRUM!- All eyes on the decision makers-

THE RAMADHAN CONNUNDRUM!- All eyes on the decision makers- By Majed Iqbal

Its that time of the year again coming soon next week. Yes, you got it……………its Ramadhan around the corner!! All of us now will be preparing ourselves mentally and physically for the month ahead; a month full of blessings, rewards and forgiveness. Each of us will be looking ahead at this month to better our selves as Muslims, re-inject the purpose of life within us, contemplate on our existence, and do much more in actions to gain closeness to Allah (swt).

However, once again,we will be facing the years old problem of moon sighting; the one issue which affects us all as individuals, families, commuinities and as an ummah year in year out. Why such a mess? “Blame it on the maulvis (clergy)” is the classic answer!!! “they’r the ones who spoil it every year because they belong to different groups and dont want to unite and give into each other” is the other answer you will find in the muslim Street, especially in the U.K. aswell as in Rochdale.

Is it that complicated? Do we have more than one moon to sight? Are there so many divisions amongst Muslims?

EXPOSED- “NASIHA” PROJECT

EXPOSED- “NASIHA” PROJECT-

NO to Government Agendas in Rochdale By Majed Iqbal

It has been months since the Government flashed out its new agenda for the Muslim community in the guise of re-structuring madrassahs with the teaching of a British version of Islam. Despite millions being poured in to win the ‘Hearts and Minds’ battle within the Muslim community, success has been minimal.

Gordon Brown, shortly after his inaugration re-championed the cause promising £32 Million in investment for next year on this very project and praising the launch of the Nasiha project in its pilot area, Bradford . Rochdale was allocated £100,000 by government to tackle the causes of ‘Violent Extremism’ , which again is the principle concept behind issuing this new curriculum for Masjids.

The clickable documents found above are all the organisations, institutions, groups and prominent individuals from Bradford who rejected the Government project and showed concern at the motivation behind the idea. However, on TV, through the press, and hand-picked Muslim personnel, the picture trying to be painted out is one of success and amazing results. The Documents are a proof of the rejection of the Government Plan, in the pilot area from grasroots organisations and individuals. If this is the case in the pilot area, what credibility does it have elsewhere?

Masjids Responsibility lies with the Community- NOT Govt

ROCHDALE Masjids Responsibility lies with the Muslim Community- NOT in the hands of Government- By Majed Iqbal

Masjids have been central to the development of the Muslim community ever since our fathers and mothers generation came to the UK. They were constructed with the sweat and dedication of hard working immigrants who valued their adherence to Islam, their heritage, and their values. These Masjids were built independently, financed out of the pockets of labourers and wives who sold their gold and jewellery to witness the continuation of their Islam which they bought with them from the sub-continent.

However, over the years to come, the Government has began to play a more increasing role in the affairs of Masjids, seeing them central and pivotal to tackling community affairs. After enjoying decades of independance, the cards seemed to have switched.

After 7/7, the government called upon Masjids to root out extremism and play their role in supporting the Government.
Plans were rolled out for imam Training to be ‘re-cultured’ in discussing only certain aspects of Islam which tow a secular line. Madrassah curriculum’s have been worked on and been re-defined to make Muslims apolitical, pacifist and cheer leaders of a bankrupt British Foreign Policy. Politicians have asked for Parents to play increasing roles on spying on other Muslims. Agendas and discussions have been rolled out by the government on camping Muslims into a moderate Muslim and extremist Muslim branch.

Responding in accordance with these measures, Masjids have slowly began to loose out on their independence and decision making procedures. These pressure on Masjids to conform has been witnessed by all- through Politicians, press, programmes like Panorama and Dispatches and hand-picked people from their own communities (and this is the unfortunately the case for Rochdale too) to spear head government agendas on Masjids despite their fallacy and corruption.Rhetoric from government ministers including Blair, Kelly, Blears, Reid, Clarke equates an approach no similar from brutal Arab dictatorships who have used the masjids to spill out government agendas- khutbas tailored to tow particular lines and monitored by intelligence services to reprimand anyone who oversteps the barrier. 

What is laughable is how the debate of loyalty is being pitched onto whose side Muslims want to be as deliberated by a MP in Bradford.

Towing the government agenda on Masjids is instrumental to the governments position to internalise the debate and blame the Muslim community of problems spawned out of colonial mis-adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan. What is more disturbing is the use of Muslim personalities to achieve these objectives for Masjids in Rochdale. Rochdale has already had its share- now no more are excusable.