We were delighted to learn that the Conservative group in the European Parliament has chosen Syed Kamall MEP as its new leader and send him our warmest congratulations.

Syed has represented London in the European Parliament exceptionally well since he was elected in 2005. In particular his role on the influential Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee which sets the regulatory framework for the financial services industry has been indispensable, given the importance of financial services to the UK economy and to London.

Syed has also been a good friend of the Conservative Muslim Forum and has spoken at many of our events. He also hosted some of our members on a trip to Brussels earlier this year.

His contributions in the European Parliament on behalf of the UK are an outstanding example of how British Muslims are serving our country in so many fields.

On Saturday 23 November 2013, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported an interview with the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve, MP for Beaconsfield and Attorney General. The story can be read on the internet at this link. When the story was reported on radio and television, the media gave enormous emphasis to a passing remark that Mr Grieve had made in response to a question from the interviewer about electoral corruption, which specifically mentioned members of the Pakistani community. This understandably led to many Britons of Pakistani origin expressing concern very publicly. They contended that Mr Grieve’s remarks demonised the Pakistani community.

Many of the members of the Executive of the Conservative Muslim Forum, including the Deputy Chairman Mohammed Amin, are of Pakistani origin. They know Dominic Grieve as a friend of the CMF, and as a tireless campaigner for the greater integration and for the rights of all citizens.

Instead of going to the media, Lord Sheikh, the Chairman of the CMF, spoke directly with Dominic Grieve after which Dominic wrote to Lord Sheikh.

Lord Sheikh’s letter to CMF Members and Supporters

6th December 2013

Dear Members and Supporters

Interview reported in the Daily Telegraph

When the article appeared in the Daily Telegraph on the 23rd November 2013 I was very surprised to read the headline in the newspaper and felt that the reporting was perhaps not accurate.

I say this because I have known Dominic for 10 years and shared the platform with him on numerous occasions when we have discussed issues relating to BME Communities. I have been and am constantly in touch with him and have found his contributions to be pertinent and positive.

When I originally conceived the idea of Conservative Muslim Forum, Dominic rendered me support and in fact he became a member of the Executive of the Forum. He has since then remained our friend.

Subsequent to the article in the newspaper I have spoken to Dominic Grieve several times, he was rather concerned that Daily Telegraph has published a headline which suggested that corruption was rife in the Pakistani community. In view of his concern he has written me a letter which is attached.

I also attach a transcript of parts of the interview which I would ask that you kindly read to appreciate what Dominic has said in answer to points raised in the interview.

In addition I would like to refer to the comments made by Grant Shapps (Co-chairman of the Conservative Party) on 23rd November to ITV and Channel 4. These comments are as follows:

ITV

Grant Shapps: Dominic Grieve has got a very long history of reaching out to communities,  minority communities in this country. I think the most important thing is we don’t pinpoint any particular communities. Wherever corruption exists of course we want to make sure that is rooted out we will do that.

  C4

Grant Shapps: The government is absolutely clear we never want to pinpoint individual communities. Of course corruption needs to be rooted out wherever it is in this country. But we think that is something that needs to be tackled everywhere not in a specific community.

I hope that the above will clarify the situation and people will have a better understanding of the true situation.

Kind regards

Yours sincerely

The Lord Sheikh

Chairman

Transcript from the interview mentioned in Lord Sheikh’s above letter:

DG: “…and we also have to make people confident that there’s a bright future and I happen to be very optimistic about the future of the UK. We have managed integration of minority communities better than most countries in Europe. As long as we maintain the rule of law, as long as we maintain institutions that are democratic, as long as we prevent the growth of corruption, which is actually quite a big challenge, and actually a growing one in this country, which has been underestimated…”

BB: Why is that?

DG: “Because we have minority communities in this country which come from backgrounds where corruption is endemic and I think it is something we as politicians have to wake to up to and have to make absolutely make clear there is absolutely no requirement… I mean I have quite a big south Asian community in my constituency and I can see many of them have come because of the opportunities that they get. But they also come from societies where they have been brought up to believe you can only get certain things through a favour culture. One of the things you have to make absolutely clear is that that is not the case and it’s not acceptable but also it’s not necessary. Which is why for example what the UK has done over the Bribery Act is actually very important internationally but I have to say to you it is also rather important domestically as well.”

BB: Is scale of corruption is increasing?

DG: “I note that electoral corruption has increased I think you only have to look at Slough which is on my borders where I have seen a number of instances of corruption creep in at election time and this is rooted in certain minority communities who consider that is an acceptable way to behave.”

BB: Do you have in mind the Pakistani community?

DG: “Yes it’s mainly the Pakistani community, not the Indian community. I wouldn’t draw it down to one. I’d be wary of saying it’s just a Pakistani problem. It’s also ….historically you can find white Anglo Saxons doing this. But I do think as politicians, the political class, these are issues we need to pay some attention to.”

Dominic Grieve’s letter to Lord Sheikh is reproduced below

4 December 2013

Lord Sheikh

House of Lords

Dear Mohamed [Handwritten]

Thank you for your letter concerning the interview that was published in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday 23 November.  In this I made reference to the need to address the risk of electoral corruption developing further in our country.

My remarks were made in the context of a discussion about the steps that are needed to ensure that the United Kingdom can develop as a harmonious society and accommodate the peoples of diverse backgrounds who live in it. Central to this in my view is the maintenance of the Rule of Law and equality for all under the law irrespective of ethnicity or faith. The integrity of our democratic institutions is an important part of this and I have a concern that electoral fraud or corruption if not challenged could undermine this. There have been instances of proven electoral fraud, some of which are linked to individuals from several ethnic minority backgrounds that reflect unlawful practises from their countries of origin. I do not think this is an issue that can be ignored. We should work collectively to ensure that there is an understanding that this is damaging to a free society and wholly unacceptable.

In reporting my remarks the Daily Telegraph published a headline which suggests that I had asserted that “corruption rife in the Pakistani community”. A reading of the interview and of the transcript which I enclose shows that I never said any such thing.  I can well understand that members of the British Pakistani community would have been offended by the headline which is unjustifiable and wrong. This is why I apologised for the offence it would have caused.

It has been my privilege over the last ten years to have had extensive engagement with many different ethnic minorities including British Pakistanis in furthering our common good. I will continue to do this and to try and work with them and the wider community to address problems including electoral corruption.

Yours ever [handwritten]

Dominic [handwritten]

Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP

The death of Nelson Mandela has united people all around the world who are both saddened by his death and grateful that South Africa was blessed to have a leader with such an incredible capacity to forgive.

In 2013, it is easy to forget how brutal was the apartheid regime in South Africa, maintaining privilege for South Africa’s white community with the expropriation of land from South Africa’s native population and treating them as a lesser form of life. In 1918 Nelson Mandela was born into that world, and grew up to become a resistance leader. For that he was jailed for life, spending 26 years incarcerated, most of them in hard labour under a prison regime designed to break men’s spirits. It would have been easy for him to emerge from prison with deep hatred for those who had treated him and his fellow non-white South Africans so inhumanly.

Instead, when he was released from prison he preached reconciliation. Indeed he did not just preach reconciliation, he practiced it. He negotiated a new future for South Africa with  President FW de Klerk, leader of the Afrikaner regime that had jailed him. Instead of starting a witch hunt for those who had been responsible for the brutalisation and murder of African National Congress supporters, he set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that has become a model for dealing with the aftermath of oppression.

Without Nelson Mandela’s vision and generosity of spirit, there is every likelihood that South Africa would have descended into a bloodbath as the apartheid regime collapsed.

When he died, Nelson Mandela was probably more admired around the world than any other living human being. The respect in which he is held is demonstrated by the fact that every living British Prime Minister will be attending his memorial ceremony. We join them in mourning the passing of someone who taught all of us what it means to be a human being.

After Lord Sheikh learned that Clare College Cambridge had selected the CMF’s Deputy Chairmain Mohammed Amin as Alumnus of the Year 2014 he invited Mr Amin and his wife  to a celebratory dinner and extended his invitation to the entire Executive of the Conservative Muslim Forum. Lord Sheikh also invited Carl Arrindell, Director of International Operations and Head of News & Current Affairs at the Islam Channel, and his wife Pauke. Mr Arrindell is a mutual friend of Lord Sheikh and Mohammed Amin.

The dinner took place on 5 November 2013 at Layalina Restaurant, Knightsbridge. The  Conservative Muslim Forum Executive had taken a collection and presented Mr Amin with an engraved glass trophy. It can be seen in the group photo below and also in the 13 minute video below as Mr Amin rests his hand on it while speaking. The inscription is reproduced below:

Presented by Members of the Executive Committee of the Conservative Muslim Forum to Mohammed Amin to commemorate the honour bestowed upon him of Alumnus of the Year 2014 by Clare College Cambridge.

After Lord Sheikh had presented Mr Amin with the trophy, he was asked to say a few words. Mr Amin’s speech was recorded by Executive Member Cllr Asif Ayub and can be watched below. Mr Amin has since mentioned that he had not prepared a speech and was speaking impromptu!

Below are some pointers towards the content of the video:

• Mr Amin thanks Lord Sheikh for inviting the entire Executive.
• He explains how Cambridge transformed his life and gives his view of the levels of racism in society 40/50 years ago, sharing a personal experience he had at school.
• Mr Amin expresses his view that a Cambridge graduate never needs to make any effort to convince other people that he or she is bright and well educated and that this is an enormous benefit throughout life.
• He recounts the story of Lady Clare who endowed Clare College and explains why he believes British Muslims should give, and be seen to give, to mainstream charities such as their college or university.
• The video also gives a panoramic view of all of the members of the CMF Executive who were there.
• The background music is nothing to do with Lord Sheikh’s dinner. The restaurant had many other diners and the music was playing for them.

In the photograph below, standing from left to right: Mrs Pauke Arrindell, Aiysha Mahmood, Shaheen Mahmood, Lady Sheikh, Lord Sheikh, Mohammed Amin, Mrs Tahara Amin, Carl Arrindell, Faruk Miah.

Kneeling in front from left to right: Cllr Asif Ayub, Ahmedur (Attic) Rahman.

On Thursday 10 October 2013 Lord Sheikh hosted a delegation from the Yorkshire Sikh Forum for tea at the House of Lords. He was supported from the Conservative Muslim Forum by Lady Sheikh, Deputy Chairman Mohammed Amin and Executive Member Fuad Hamzeh. The guest of honour was the Rt Hon Eric Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. During the tea Mr Pickles, who was born in Keighley and was previously leader of the council in Braford reminisced about his fondness for Yorkshire.

Lord Singh also attended. The guests from the Yorkshire Sikh Forum were:

• Nirmal Singh Sekhon MBE- Chairman
• Hardev Singh Sidhu- General Secretary
• Jaswant Singh Hundal- Vice Chairman
• Karnail Singh Chattah- Patron
• Kavel Singh Chahal- Patron
• Dalip Singh Cheema- Panel Member
• Balwant Singh Bassi- Vice Chairman
• Darshan Singh Heer- Panel Member
• G Singh Ujla- Panel Member
• Gurdial Singh Johal- Assistant Treasurer
• Ranjit Singh – Auditor

The picture below shows the splendid House of Lords tea service. Eric Pickles is seated with Lord Singh on his right and Lord Sheikh his left. On Lord Sheikh’s left is Mr Nirmal Singh Sekhon MBE, the Chairman of the Yorkshire Sikh Forum.

At the event PC, Purnima Raval bound a “Rakhi” on Lord Sheikh’s right wrist and has adopted him as a brother.

Lord Sheikh believes in building and maintaining harmony and friendship between the various racial and religious groups. The significance of a rakhi is explained on the BBC Religions website.

Below is a group photo of the delegation with the CMF hosts.

On Thursday 6 November 2013, an awards ceremony was held to recognise the Brightest 100 British Bangladeshi’s in the UK in the magnificent Jubilee Room of the House of Commons. The publication of the ‘Brightest 100’ is the brainchild of Wazid Hassan Shelim of Pride of Asia. He is himself a successful businessman from the Bangladeshi community who has helped the Conservative Muslim Forum by catering our Eid party for several years.  The goal is to highlight the achievements of the most talented young people from the community and create a professional network of the brightest British Bangladeshi achievers.

The ‘Brightest 100’ included participants from a wide range of professions from across the UK.

Lord Sheikh, Chairman of the CMF made an inspirational speech at the event about his own personal experience of having come to the UK with nothing and through hard work and determination, made his fortune in business. The first Conservative Muslim peer, Lord Sheikh’s speech included the words “the UK is a land of opportunity, and you can be anything you want to be so long as you are willing to work hard to realise your dreams”.

Amongst those honoured in the ‘Brightest 100’ were three members of the CMF Executive:

• Faruk Miah MBE an award winning educator,
• Hasina Momtaz, a media relations expert who has advised two London Mayoral administrations,
• Ahmedur (Attic) Rahman , a property lawyer and deputy Chairman of the East Ham Conservative Constituency Association.

Faruk said “I am humbled to be chosen amongst the Brightest 100 and congratulate Shelim on a fantastic initiative.  It was amazing to meet so many people from all across the country whose common denominator was hard work and determination to succeed. I am very excited about getting some of the Brightest 100 involved in the empowerment and engagement projects that I am planning for the Conservative Muslim Forum in 2014 as part of my role as CMF Chair of Education”

Hasina said ”I am very honoured and privileged to be included in the publication.  It is particularly humbling to be counted amongst such amazing contemporaries.  British Bangladeshis are excelling in and contributing to every sphere of activity – from politics, to business, to finance to the arts and culture.  They are making their mark and this publication is only the beginning. I hope that in years to come, the publication will be able to number British Bangladeshis in their thousands if not millions.  To do that, it is important that we support each other, nurture young talent and bring our achievements to the attention of both our own community and the wider society so that we can help to inspire others.”

Attic said “the Brightest 100 event showcased only a small proportion of British Bangladeshi talent. I am honoured to have made it into the publication as one among many up and down the country whose professional and political achievements, dedication and hard work demonstrate that our [British Bangladeshi] achievements extend far beyond the restaurant business which we have proudly dominated for decades.”

The Conservative Muslim Forum held its annual Eid ul-Adha reception on 6 November 2013 in Conference Room E of Westminster House, 7 Millbank, London. The evening was well attended, with over 120 participants from Britain’s diverse communities. The diversity of the participants was reflected in the diversity of the speakers.

The Master of Ceremonies was CMF Executive Committee member Raza Anjum. As with all CMF events, we began with a Quran recital which was given by Imam Shakeel. The passage recited came from Surah Maryam, the 19’th Surah in the Quran which recounts the virgin birth of Jesus.

Speeches were given by:

1. Lord Sheikh – Chairman of the CMF
2. The Rt Hon Eric Pickles – MP for Brentwood and Ongar and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
3. Kris Hopkins – MP for Keighley and Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department for Communities and Local Government
4. Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
5. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
6. Lord Popat of Harrow
7. Lord Singh of Wimbledon CBE
8. Dr. Rami Ranger MBE

CMF Deputy Chairman Mohammed Amin concluded the formal proceeding by giving the vote of thanks. This was followed by a buffet dinner which was catered by Pride of Asia whose owner Mr Shelim has supported the CMF’s events for the last three years and catered for the last two Eid ul-Adha events.

Below are some photos from the event starting with the audience.

Lord Sheikh speaking.

Some of our other speakers. From left to right, Kris Hopkins MP, an audience member, Lord Sheikh, Raza Anjum, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP and Dr Rami Ranger MBE.

From left to right, Executive member Raja Najabat Hussain, Lord Sheikh, Mohammed Amin, Baroness Nicholson, Lord Singh, Raza Anjum, Eric Pickles.

Lord Popat speaking.

Lord Ahmad speaking.

After the event was over, those members of the Executive still present posed for a group photo.

Seated left to right: Mohammed Amin, Lady Sheikh, Lord Sheikh,  Dr Alam Ara Khan, Shaheen Mahmood (CMF Administrator).

Standing left to right: Hashim Bhatti, Cllr Asif Ayub, Ajantha Tennakoon, Fuad Hamzeh, Hasina Momtaz, Samir Thantrey, Ash Zaman, Faruk Miah.

Each year the Prime Minister hosts a reception at No. 10 Downing Street to celebrate Eid. This year the event was held on Monday 21 October.

Invitations to this event are always highly sought after. Accordingly we were very pleased that a number of members of the Conservative Muslim Forum were able to attend. The Prime Minister also made an excellent speech which amongst other things recognised the contributions that Muslims play in the life of our country. A brief extract is below:

So, a very warm welcome to Number 10. Tonight is about celebrating the contribution that British Muslims make to our country. It is a huge contribution. It’s one I’m happy to celebrate here, but also to talk about these issues of integration, of how we help Muslims around the world, and also the importance during this time of religious festivals – the importance of our faith, not just for us and our relationship with our maker, but also what we contribute to our country and to our communities. And the Muslim faith is so strong in that, and I have huge respect for everything you do.

The full text of the PM’s speech is at this link.

Below is Shaheen Mahmood, CMF Administrator with the Prime Minister. Mohammed Afzal, Chairman of Manchester City Conservatives, is behind the PM’s right shoulder.

Below is a group photo of several members of the Executive with Carl Arrindell, Director of International Operations and Head of News & Current Affairs at the Islam Channel. From the left, Samir Thantrey, Carl Arrindell, Cllr Asif Ayub, Dr Altaf Hussain, Ash Zaman.

Below is Executive member Raja Najabat Hussain in conversation with the Prime Minister while Samir Thantrey is at the left of the picture.

Below is Manchester City Conservatives Chairman Mohammed Afzal with the Prime Minister.

Below is Mahboob Ahmed from the Conservative Muslim Forum North West with the Prime Minister.

Below is Executive member Cllr Asif Ayub with the Prime Minister.

Below is Executive member Ash Zaman with the Prime Minister.

Below is Executive member Raza Anjum with the Prime Minister.

Some our our people were also photographed outside No 10. In the picture below, from left to right: Cllr Asif Ayub, Samir Thantrey, Ash Zaman, Lady Sheikh, Shaheen Mahmood, Cllr Altaf Hussain.

Clare was founded in 1326 and is the second oldest college in Cambridge. It is seen in many photographs of Cambridge due to its location by the river next to King’s College Chapel.

45 years ago Clare College offered a place to a poor but bright applicant of Pakistani background from the slums of Moss Side in Manchester. He went on to become the first Muslim partner in Price Waterhouse, and is now our Deputy Chairman Mohammed Amin.

Each year Clare College makes the Alumnus of the Year Award which recognises and celebrates the achievements of alumni who have made outstanding contributions to society through:

• significant charitable work or philanthropy
• exceptional contributions to a community, in the UK or abroad
• outstanding dedication to the care and/or development of others
• an act of heroism

The award is a demonstration of Clare College’s pride in its alumni and its commitment to inspire both students and alumni, encouraging them to value their contribution to society as highly as their career goals and other aspirations.

We are delighted that Mohammed Amin has been chosen by Clare College as Alumnus of the Year 2014. When making the award, Clare College mentioned some of the many organisations to which Amin gives his time, including the Conservative Muslim Forum.

Mohammed Amin has written on his own website of his delight at receiving the award

n 29 October 2013 the Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP addressed a meeting of the Conservative Muslim Forum and took questions.

The CMF has many members who either work in the medical professions or take a strong interest in health issues and has an active Health Group. We had invited the Secretary of State to give us his vision of the NHS against the backdrop of the latest re-organisation, with particular reference to free access to health care at the point of delivery, staff to work ratio and the availability of funds at the frontline of patient care.

Despite his heavy schedule of work, the Health Secretary was able to to find time to give us a broad outline of the innovations in health care management introduced by the Coalition Government. His talk was followed by several written questions from the audience which he responded to. Some 15% of members present were able to ask a question.

The audience were keen and motivated and as can be seen from the audience picture the event was oversubscribed. It was reassuring that not only the Health Secretary but also the members of the Forum were well versed in the issues; their keen knowledge of the recent organisation was remarkable.

Had it been possible to have a greater span of time many more of the audience would have had liked to continue the dialogue.

The organisation of the evening was as usual expertly managed by our Administrator Mrs Shaheen Mahmood.

Mr Hunt speaking, with Shaheen Mahmood in front of the window watching him.

A view of the packed audience.