Simon Woolley is one of the founders and Director of Operation Black Vote (OBV) which aims to inspire minority ethnic communities to engage with public institutions to address the race inequalities in areas including education, health and employment. He spoke at this event organised by CMF Youth to explain why it is so important for ethnic minorities to be politically engaged.

The event was chaired by CMF Youth Chairman Raza Anjum who in his remarks noted how grassroots campaigning played an effective role in increasing voter registration. Lord Sheikh, the President of the CMF and the event host spoke about the need for ethnic minorities to fully engage in the democratic process and come forward in the political arena to strengthen British society.

In his speech, Simon Woolley spoke about the importance of democracy and the right to vote. He explained in detail the work OBV was undertaking in achieving greater race and religious equality and how the ethnic minority vote has the potential to play a decisive role in key marginal seats. Simon spoke of Britain’s rich and diverse population and how we shared a collective responsibility to encourage youngsters and all citizens to vote in the general elections.

The event included a lively question and answer session and was well received by the audience.

In the group photograph from right to left are:

1. Ms Zanaib Shaikh who gave an excellent Quran reading.
2. Lady SheikhRaza Anjum, Chair CMF Youth
3. Simon Woolley, Director OBV
4. Lord Sheikh, CMF President
5. Mohammed Amin, CMF Chairman
6. Faruk Miah, CMF Secretary
7. Ash Zaman, CMF Deputy Chairman
8. Edmond Yeo JP, Chair of Chinese Information and Advice Centre

On Thursday 19 March 2015 we were looking forward to hearing the Rt. Hon Justine Greening MP talk about the importance of supporting more women to enter mainstream politics, women’s empowerment and her own journey from a successful finance manager at Centrica plc to Secretary of State for International Development.

Every organiser’s nightmare is to have a speaker fall ill just before the event, and unfortunately that happened to Justine Greening who had to leave her office early that day due to being unwell.

Accordingly we were delighted when Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire and Economic Secretary to the Treasury was able to step into the breach. As a Treasury Minister she was able to talk about the Budget as well as her experiences as a female candidate and MP.

One of her most striking comments was that South Northamptonshire was the 117’th seat she had applied for. (She had been selected in 2005 to fight the rock solid Labour seat of Knowsley South, which was good experience but completely unwinnable.) Her experience illustrates the level of commitment a career in politics requires.

There was also excellent engagement from the audience during the question and answer session, and Andrea Leadsom now has our undying gratitude!

Andrea Ledsom can be seen speaking in the photograph below. Seated to her right is Rabia Bhatti, a member of the CMF Executive and Chair of CMF Women, who organised and chaired the event. To Ms Ledsom’s left is CMF President Lord Sheikh who was our host, and then CMF Chairman Mohammed Amin who provided a Quran reading in English and acted as Master of Ceremonies, and CMF Secretary Faruk Miah who gave the vote of thanks.

Not being superstitious, we chose Friday 13 February to hold the second running of our event “Political Engagement – Be a Local Councillor.” We were hosted by MCEC – Palmers Green Mosque, Muslim Community & Education Centre who helped us to take our event out into the community. The first running had been at the House of Lords on 18 June 2014.

The event was recorded and the video can be watched lower down on this page.

As with all CMF events, the evening opened with a Quran recitation by Salah Al-Ansari, Visiting Lecturer in Islamic Studies at Heythrop College, University of London. The text was Quran 42:36-38.

Mohammed Amin, CMF Chairman, who also acted as Master of Ceremonies for the evening then read out the English translation and explained that he had chosen the text because of the importance of “consultation” (“shura” in Arabic) in Islam. He went on to say that in a country of the UK’s size with 60 million people it is not feasible to get everyone together for consultation, but that he considered representative democracy to serve the same purpose.

The Muhammad Asad translation of Quran 42:36-38 is given below:

AND [remember that] whatever you are given [now] is but for the [passing] enjoyment of life in this world – whereas that which is with God is far better and more enduring. [It shall be given] to all who attain to faith and in their Sustainer place their trust; and who shun the more heinous sins and abominations; and who, whenever they are moved to anger, readily forgive; and who respond to [the call of] their Sustainer and are constant in prayer; and whose rule [in all matters of common concern] is consultation among themselves; and who spend on others out of what We provide for them as sustenance;

Mr Shappir Alim, who is a trustee of Palmers Green Mosque, Muslim Community & Education Centre, then formally welcomed us on behalf of the hosts.

Syed Kamall MEP then spoke movingly of the way his parents had instilled a belief in him that in this country he could achieve anything he wanted if he worked hard. This message was enthusiastically received by the audience. Syed went on to explain his challenging road to becoming an MEP (Member of the European Parliament), and his present role as Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists, which is the third largest group in the European Parliament. He is the only individual from an ethnic minority to chair a group within the European Parliament.

The next speaker was David Burrowes MP. He is the Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate, the constituency in which the venue is located. He spoke about how much the Conservative Party, and indeed other political parties, welcome people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds who want to make a difference in their local communities.

Councillor Peter Fleming from Sevenoaks Council (he was the Council Leader 2011-2015) spoke in more detail about the role of a local councillor and the impact one can have.

The final speaker Cllr Halimah Khaled of Broxtowe District Council was perhaps the most moving of all the speakers. After explaining how she was the only Muslim woman on the Council, she gave a special example of the things she had been able to do for her constituents. An elderly constituent was dying of a terminal illness, and his greatest concern was to get a disabled parking badge which his widow would need after his death. Cllr Khaled was able to expedite that. There were few dry eyes as Cllr Khaled told us this story.

Afterwards there was a lively question and answer session. Speaking from the floor, Cllr Abdul Latif from Merton Council told the meeting about how he decided to enter politics for the first time aged 74. At the opposite end of the age range, questions were taken from two young boys who were probably aged about twelve.

While all of the speakers were members of the Conservative Party, their message was not party political. Instead they stressed the way citizens can help their local communities by running for electoral office.

If you don’t want to watch the video from beginning to end, use the information below for the time control.

If you would like us to run this event in your community, please get in touch and we will see what can be arranged.

Below is a photograph of Syed Kamall speaking. Seated to his left is David Burrowes MP and then Cllr Peter Fleming.

The picture below was taken during the question and answer session. Cllr Fleming needed to leave prior to that due to his travelling arrangements. Mohammed Amin is standing with the microphone. To his right are David Burrowes, Syed Kamall and Cllr Halimah Khaled. The young boy sitting in front of Mohammed Amin was one of those who asked a question. (The CMF believes that political engagement should start young!) His face has been intentionally obscured as he is a minor.

Canvassing on the ground is an essential part of winning elections.

It is crucial to identify voters who support us, so that the candidate and his or her team can make sure they vote on polling
day. Also with voters who the canvassing identifies as needing persuasion can subsequently be sent targeted letters about
the issues they care about.

On Saturday 24 January CMF Executive Member Mike Mogul joined a team led by Gavin Barwell, MP for Croydon Central, to canvass not in Gavin’s constituency but in the nearby constituency of Sutton & Cheam in support of the prospective Conservative MP Paul Scully.

Below is a picture of the canvassing team gathered together. Gavin Barwell is wearing a black coat standing to the right of the road sign, and Mike Mogul is next to him wearing a brown coat and hat.

The death toll in the attack by two masked gunmen and their getaway driver on the staff of Charlie Hebdo presently stands at 12 including two policemen, although several of the survivors have life threatening injuries.

French police have identified the three individuals believed to be responsible. One 18-year old individual has given himself up at a police station after hearing his name in the media, although it is not clear at the time of writing whether he actually was the getaway driver. French police have named the gunmen as two brothers, Cherif and Said Kouachi, and described them as “armed and dangerous”. Cherif Kouachi was sentenced in 2008 to three years in prison for belonging to a Paris-based group sending jihadist fighters to Iraq.

The BBC News website states that they were reported to shout “Allahu Akbar”. Agence France Press reports the police saying that after the killings the attackers shouted “we have avenged the Prophet”. The killings have been almost universally recognised as an attack on freedom of speech.

The Conservative Muslim Forum is shocked by this attack and condemns it unreservedly.

Yesterday our Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“What has happened in Paris is an appalling terrorist outrage and I know that everyone in Britain will want to stand with the French government and with the French people at this time. We must never allow the values that we hold dear, of democracy, of freedom of speech to be damaged by these terrorists. We must stand against what they have done and I feel huge sympathy for everyone in France, particularly for the families of those who have lost loved ones. We will stand with you at this time and I know that Chancellor Merkel will absolutely agree with me that everyone should combine to condemn completely this outrage and stand with the French people at this time.”

We share Mr Cameron’s sentiments entirely. A free society requires freedom of speech and a free press, even when the press publishes items that some may consider to be in bad taste or even blasphemous.

It was only some three weeks ago that we saw religion being used to justify the murder of innocent school children in Peshawar in Pakistan. Yesterday, assuming the above reports are correct, we saw religion being used to justify murder in Paris. Such unfounded claims seeking to justify murder in the name of Islam are indeed abominable and are a perverse distortion of a religion which preaches peace.

We call upon all French citizens to give the maximum possible support to the French police in apprehending these killers, and in foiling any other terrorist plots that may be being planned. We also hope that France will come together as one unified nation the way the UK did after the 7 July 2005 London bombings. We note that one of the two policemen who died doing their duty, Ahmed Merabet, was a French Muslim.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) died of natural causes nearly 1400 years ago. He needs no avenging. Satirical cartoons of him published by magazines like Charlie Hebdo have no power to damage his reputation; nor do the actions of those who commit murder in his name.

On 30 November 2014 CMF Executive Member Ajantha Tennakoon (pictured below wearing a dark coat and standing next to the table of leaflets) helped to support Enfield North Conservatives who were campaigning to help re-elect Nick de Bois MP (standing at the right of the photograph) in the general election due on 7 May 2015.

Such campaigning is vital in what is expected to be the tightest general election for many decades.

The Conservative Muslim Forum is horrified by the deaths of at least 135 people, most of them children, in today’s attack by the Pakistani Taliban on an army-run school in Peshawar, Pakistan. We understand that the Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for this attack.

There is no political cause which can justify mass murder of this kind. It is also an abomination when organisations such as the Pakistani Taliban use the language of religion to justify their crimes.

We call for all citizens of Pakistan to give the utmost assistance to the Pakistan Government in its quest to bring to justice those who organised this crime. We also call for Pakistani society to root out the pernicious ideology that underlies the Pakistani Taliban, and which seeks to impose its own view of Islam upon the rest of Pakistani society.

Today we pray for the deceased and our hearts go out to their relatives who have been robbed of their loved ones so cruelly.

On Tuesday 9 December 2014, CMF Executive members Hashim Bhatti and Attic Rahman appeared on Channel i Europe discussing the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

The Politics & Beyond show was hosted by Azam SMS and the television appearance was live lasting just under 2 hours with viewers having the opportunity to call in. Other guests on the show included Roy Miah (Newham Conservatives) and Festus Akinbusoye (the Conservative Party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for West Ham). The show aroused much interest in  the Bangladeshi community with a good discussion on the Chancellor’s proposals.

On Monday 17 November, the President of the Conservative Muslim Forum Lord Sheikh hosted an event in the House of Lords to remember the contribution that Muslims made in the First World War.

The speakers were:

1. Lord Sheikh
2. Lord Astor of Hever – Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
3. Jahan Mahmood – Military Historian
4. Captain Naveed Muhammed –  the British Army
5. Brigadier Alastair Aitken OBE – the British Army

Lord Sheikh’s opening speech

Bismillah Ar Raham Nir Rahim

My Lords, Honourable Members of Parliament, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good evening, Assalaamu Alaikum.

I am pleased to welcome you all to this meeting in the grand surroundings of House of Lords.

The purpose of the meeting is to commemorate the contributions of the Muslims during the First World War and also strengthen the relationship between the Armed Forces and the Muslim Community.

I spoke twice in debates in the House of Lords to commemorate the centenary of First World War.

Today I want to focus on the contributions of Muslims during this war.

The significant part played by the Muslims is not widely acknowledged and the sacrifice they made and the suffering that they endured need to be fully appreciated.

I hope following today’s discussions we can all appreciate their contributions and perhaps address this imbalance.

India raised the world’s largest volunteer armies, a total of 1.5 million during the First World War, and even more in World War II. This was greater than the combined total of all volunteers from Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

There were in fact 400,000 Muslims who were part of the Volunteer Army.

They fought out of love and loyalty to the King Emperor and the Empire.

This marked the first time the Muslim soldiers ever fought on European ground.

They were originally called upon for help when the British Forces were suffering heavy causalities which reinforces just how historically important their role was.

Indian Expeditionary forces, of which there were seven, provided crucial support and fought directly alongside British Forces in Europe for example at the battle of Neuve Chapelle, they provided half of the attacking force.

A British General described them as a magnificent body who performed the most useful and valuable service.

The expeditionary forces also saw action in East Africa, Mesopotamia, Palestine, the Suez, Gallipoli and Palestine.

More than 74,000 Indian troops which included Muslims were killed or declared missing in action during World War I, a number that is testament to the level of sacrifice and loyalty shown by the Indians in supporting the Allied Forces.

Participants from the Indian sub-continent were recognised for their bravery and valour in combat during the First World War with over 9,200 decorations, including 12 Victoria Cross medals.

Sepoy Khudadad Khan who was a Muslim was the first native-born Indian to win the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in the face of overwhelming numbers. He served in the 129th Duke of Connaught’s Own Baluchis regiment.

There were two other Muslims who were awarded the Victoria Cross and their names are Mir Dast and Shahamad Khan.

There were many military hospitals set up in UK and perhaps the most famous of which was in the Royal Pavilion in Brighton where Indian soldiers including the Muslims were treated.

A number of Muslims who died as a result of their injuries sustained during the action in the First World War were buried on the Horsell Common in Woking.

We should never forget their contributions. The Union Jack meant a lot to them and a number of them paid the ultimate price.

The first purpose built mosque in United Kingdom was founded in 1889 in Woking.

The Muslim soldiers were able to prove that it was possible to be loyal to both their faith and a country simultaneously.

Jahan Mahmood who is a military historian will talk about Contributions of the Muslims in greater detail when he makes his presentation.

Now I want to talk about the relationship between the Muslim community and the Armed Forces.

I would like to maintain and strength the harmonious relationship between the Armed Forces and the Muslim community.

I am actively involved in promoting this, both on the ground and at the various meetings that I have addressed. I am committed to this cause; in fact, I am wearing a Royal Navy tie given to me by Commander Richard Moss after a recent talk I gave at HMS “President”.

The Armed Forces have set up the Muslim Association of the Armed Forces.

I was in fact present when Lord Richards launched the Association and became its founding Patron.

I am very pleased that the Armed Forces Muslim Association has been moving forward since its inception.

The Association has organised several activities which I have attended and I will support them as much as possible.

You will notice that I am wearing a Royal Navy tie which was given to me by Commander Richard Moss after a recent talk which I gave at HMS Preisident.

I have also been given a RAF tie and and handkerchief which was presented to me by Squander Leader Zahour Hussain.

Unfortunately Squander Leader Zahour Hussain is unable to be with us today but he and other RAF officers including a Group Captain came to see me in the House of Lords last Friday.

I would like to mention that I speak on defence matters in the House of Lords from time to time.

There are over 600 Muslims who are currently serving in the British armed forces.

There are now nearly 2.7 million Muslims in the United Kingdom.

Muslims have done very well in every field in this country.

I would like to encourage more of the ethnic minorities to join the Armed forces and the police force.

Muslims are now part of the British population and it is important that we get involved in every walk of life.

It is also imperative that we must maintain and strengthen the relationship between the Armed Forces and the Muslims in the country.

I am sure that Brigadier Alastair Aitkens and Captain Naveed will talk about this matter further.

As we with members of the Armed Forces and there is fighting in Syria and Iraq I would like to focus particularly on the role of Islam in the conflicts we are seeing in the Middle East.

I believe that it is important for the honest, peace-seeking, law-abiding majority of Muslims in this country and overseas to speak out against those who commit evil in the name of our religion.

The so-called jihadists in Iraq and Syria do not understand the principles of Islam.

They are harming women and children, forcibly converting people of other religions to Islam and committing barbaric acts.

There are clear rules of engagement in Islam relating to warfare, which were laid down by Prophet Muhammad—peace be upon him—and Caliph Abu Bakr.

Those rules include the following:

• give diplomacy a chance before battle starts; respect treaties;
• do not harm women, children, the elderly and religious persons;
• do not destroy crops and trees;
• protect all places of worship; treat well all prisoners of war;
• allow the bodies of soldiers slain in battle to be buried in dignity.

These rules of engagement were laid down well before the Geneva conventions. The acts of the so-called jihadists are totally un-Islamic and we utterly condemn what they have done and are doing.

In the 7th century when Muslims conquered Jerusalem, Caliph Omar signed the first Jerusalem declaration, which preserved the rights of existence and ensured the well-being of everyone in Jerusalem.

Subsequently, when Saladin conquered Jerusalem in 1187, he allowed people of all faiths to live in peace.

Before him, when Christians conquered Jerusalem in 1099, they mercilessly massacred all Muslims and Jews. In time of warfare Muslims should follow the examples set by Caliph Omar and Saladin.

The so-called jihadists are forcibly converting people to Islam. That is not allowed in Islam. It is written in the Holy Koran that there is no compulsion in religion.

In regard to treatment of non-Muslims by the so-called jihadists and our relationship with other communities, I emphasise that it is written in the Holy Koran that Allah says:

“O mankind! We created you male and female and made you nations and tribes, that you may know one another”.

We live in the United Kingdom, which is very much a multicultural society, and it is important that we maintain and strengthen relationships with everyone in the country.

Unfortunately there is a tiny minority of Muslims who have committed acts of terrorism in the United Kingdom and also countries overseas. Islam forbids act of terrorism and suicide bombings.

It is written in the Holy Koran:

“If anyone killed a person it would be as if he killed the whole of mankind; and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole of mankind”

A tiny minority of young Muslims in the United Kingdom have chosen to join terrorist groups overseas.

These young people have been radicalised. Parents, community and religious leaders have a role to play in ensuring that individuals do not fall prey to extremists’ teachings.

There must be supervision of the social media as young people are been radicalised by propaganda on the social media.

We must listen and communicate with the younger generation and gently put them right in order that they can follow the right path.

We need to ensure that the imams are appropriately trained and can effectively communicate with the young.

I am very keen that we interact with the Muslim Youths and promote them in every way.

I am very glad that our MC today is Zaniab Sheikh, she is indeed one of the many young Muslims who are progressing well in United Kingdom and we must all encourage them in every way we can.

Thank you.

Below are some pictures taken during the event.

A view of the room as the guests assembled.

Captain Muhammad.

Lord Astor.

A group photo including a Muslim veteran.

Campaigning on the ground is vital in politics, and can make the difference between success and victory in a tight race. It is also important for keeping politicians and political activists connected with the views and atttitudes of voters.

On 15 November as part of the by election campaign in Rochester and Strood, a team of activists from Newham Conservatives, Barking Conservatives and the Conservative Muslim Forum travelled to Rochester to campaign for the Conservative candidate Kelly Tolhurst. While the seat was eventually won by Mark Reckless, who had defected from the Conservative Party to UKIP, the hard work paid off in limiting his majority with the strong hope of getting Kelly Tollhurst elected in the general election on 7 May 2015.

Below is a group photograph taken in the campaign offices. Mina Rahman, the Conservative Prospective Candididate for Barking is in the front row near the middle wearing a yellow headscarf. In the second row, in the middle, is Attic Rahman from the Conservative Muslim Forum Executive. On the wall behind many of the senior politicians who campaigned in Rochester have signed their names..

Below are some of the team in their minibus.