MCB Formally Responds to Tory Party’s ‘Uniting the Country’ Report

T H E M U S L I M C O U N C I L O F B R I T A I N



3 May 2007


Press Release



MCB Formally Responds to Tory Party’s ‘Uniting the Country’ Report



The Muslim Council of Britain has today written to the Conservative Party leader, Rt. Hon. David Cameron, to send him their formal response to the ‘Uniting the Country’ interim report published by the Tory party’s Group on National and International Security.



“The MCB document is a necessarily robust response to the accusations levelled at leading Muslim organisations in the Tory report. Regrettably, the Uniting the Country interim report does very little to help unify this nation but plenty to try and further divide and fragment British society. It is a poorly researched exposition by authors more intent on serving cynical ideological goals. The Conservative Party can choose to listen to those sane voices within the Party who base their arguments on years of dialogue and experience derived from actually speaking with Muslim communities and a range of Muslim organisations across the country. Or, it can listen to a doctrinaire, agenda-driven faction. We urge the former,” said Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.



In keeping with the ethos of the MCB, this response does not reject the Report outright. In an otherwise poorly researched and poorly argued exposition, there are extremely rare morsels of wisdom from which we can all learn. These include the question of integration and the empowering of women. But this Report significantly undermines the exploration of these subjects. For this to be successfully championed, the Conservative Party would need to commission a different report with a newly assembled policy group. The MCB stands ready to help in this endeavour.



[ENDS]

Notes to Editors:

The full MCB response to the Conservative Party’s Group on National and International Security can be downloaded at: http://www.mcb.org.uk/uploads/Interim%20Report%20on%20National%20Cohesion-%20MCB%20RESPONSE.pdf



The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body with around 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.


Media enquiries should be addressed to the MCB Media Office on 0845 26 26 786 or 07956 353 738. Email: media@mcb.org.uk.



Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the MCB Office at The Muslim Council of Britain, PO Box 57330, London E1 2WJ. Tel: 0845 26 26 786 Fax: 0207 247 7079



This press release and other MCB publications and information are available on the MCB website at www.mcb.org.uk.

MCB SUPPORTS CALL FOR INQUIRY INTO LEAKS AND RELATED MATTERS

T H E M U S L I M C O U N C I L O F B R I T A I N



27 April 2007


Press Release



MCB SUPPORTS CALL FOR INQUIRY INTO LEAKS AND RELATED MATTERS

The Muslim Council of Britain welcomes and fully supports the calls by senior politicians across the political divide for an inquiry into the alleged leaks of information to the media prior to the arrests of Muslim suspects.

MCB Secretary-General Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said, “We have always maintained that no-one regardless of their faith or crime should be tried by the media. We have a distinguished legal tradition whose integrity should not be sacrificed for cheap political gains.”

“This latest episode concerning Muslim suspects in Birmingham raises the unpleasant and disturbing spectre of the impartiality and independence of the law enforcement agencies. If law enforcement policies are developed and enforced in concert with sections of the media, it is inevitable that many in the community would seriously question the motivation of such policies,” added Dr Abdul Bari.

Following the arrest of nine Muslims in Birmingham in February 2007 the MCB wrote to the Attorney General urging him to consider the publication of a protocol reminding all concerned of their duty not to undermine, prejudice or compromise the right of the accused to a fair trial.

The MCB reiterates its call for a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged leaks and all other related matters to the policing of the Muslim community. Such an inquiry would help immeasurably to restore public confidence in the integrity of our law enforcement agencies, a factor which is indispensable to their success.

[ENDS]

Notes to Editors:

The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body with around 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.


Media enquiries should be addressed to the MCB Media Office on 0845 26 26 786 or 07956 353 738. Email: media@mcb.org.uk.



Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the MCB Office at The Muslim Council of Britain, PO Box 57330, London E1 2WJ. Tel: 0845 26 26 786 Fax: 0207 247 7079



This press release and other MCB publications and information are available on the MCB website at www.mcb.org.uk.

MCB Supports Freedom of Conscience

T H E M U S L I M C O U N C I L O F B R I T A I N

25 January 2007

Press Release

MCB Supports Freedom of Conscience

The Muslim Council of Britain fully supports the principled stand taken by the leaders of the Catholic and Anglican churches on the Sexual Orientation Regulations. The right to practice one’s faith, or the freedom to have no belief, is a cornerstone of our society as is the right of all to live free from unfair discrimination and harassment.

The MCB whilst reiterating its support for anti-discrimination laws will naturally remain vigilant about the potential of any legislation to conflict with our belief. Homosexuality is forbidden in Islam. The Sexual Orientation Regulations as we understand them do not promote homosexuality but would provide protection against discrimination and harassment on account of sexual orientation.

“As Muslims we are obliged to uphold the moral standards and codes of conduct dictated by our faith”, said Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, MCB Secretary-General.

The MCB urges the government to review its position that the Sexual Orientation Regulations can have no exemptions. This argument, we believe, is absurd and inconsistent with domestic as well as international legal precedents. Each anti discrimination legislation has exemptions.

The MCB maintains that the Regulations need to take full account of our multifaith, multicultural and multiethnic society and, wherever appropriate, make accommodation to accord with differing beliefs and values.

Notes to Editors:

The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's representative Muslim umbrella body with over 400 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.

Media enquiries should be addressed to the MCB Media Office on 0845 26 26 786 or 07956 353 738. Email: media@mcb.org.uk.

Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the MCB Office at The Muslim Council of Britain, PO Box 57330, London E1 2WJ. Tel: 0845 26 26 786 Fax: 0207 247 7079

This press release and other MCB publications and information are available on the MCB website at www.mcb.org.uk.