http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from FIYAZ MUGHAL OBE FCMI - Experience, Energy , Vision and Empowering Those I Represent en-GB FIYAZ MUGHAL OBE FCMI - Experience, Energy , Vision and Empowering Those I Represent http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 FIYAZ MUGHAL OBE FCMI - Experience, Energy , Vision and Empowering Those I Represent 2010-03-18T10:51+00:00 United Kingdom http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000039/haringey_labour_in_disarray_over_the_defection_of_cllr_brian_haley.html The defection, two days ago, of senior Cabinet member Cllr Brian Haley to the Liberal Democrats spells disaster for the future of Labour in Haringey. And Rightly so! Labour has been in power for nearly 40 years but has failed to address problems with deprivation, poverty and failing services. Residents in Haringey now have to put up with officially the worst Council in London (after the recent Audit Commission report).The defection of such a senior Labour councillor like Cllr Haley (with others in the Labour Group also looking to move) means that the end is finally near for Labour in Haringey. Yet, true to form, Labour's spin machine spews out untruths and attempts deflection tactics by suggesting that about 18 months ago, I applied to join Labour. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNTRUE. 2010-01-22T01:56+00:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000038/natural_alliances_muslim_and_jews_should_be_making_every_conceivable_effort_to_bring_both_faith_communities_together.html So many blogs, articles and 'specialist' pieces make the case that Jews and Muslims are increasingly becoming suspicious and fearful of each other. Polar stories make out that both communities just see each other through the prism and lens of the Middle East and when Gaza's and Jenin's take place, both communities increasingly caricature each other. To some members of British Jewry, Muslims are seen as an 'insular community,' with extremist voices and messages. 'The other,' the narrative goes, promote Anti-Semitism and have taken on the mantle of Christian Anti-Semitism, swallowing it whole and giving life to Muslim Anti-Semitism. Counter to this are the narratives within some Muslim communities, that there is a growing influence politically and socially by members of British Jewry who use extremism to keep Muslim communities under pressure. The narrative goes on suggesting that some anti-Muslim activities come from members of British Jewry and that Israel and the protection of Israel at all costs, is the over-riding agenda for these individuals. Further narratives also suggest that web-sites are being set up that twist core Islamic text and media from Muslim countries so as to promote half truths and to further caricature Muslims. 2009-05-05T00:34+01:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000037/turkey_a_force_for_positive_change.html I recently visited Turkey on a fact finding visit with my colleague, Cllr John Oakes. The visit took in civil society organisations, key AK Party members, Members of Parliament within Turkey, newspapers like Zamaan and religious leaders who are creating and shaping the landscape of Turkey. What I have found is a country of such vibrancy and new thinking that I am shocked at the level of mis-understanding that is promoted against this country. 2009-03-09T18:20+00:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000036/bringing_you_to_the_party.html Last week, I had the pleasure of bringing new members to the Liberal Democrats, all three of whom who would add value to their local Liberal Democrat associations and to the Party as a whole. Mike Penrose (an international development consultant), Rabbi Deborah Kahn Harris and Dilek Aygun (a Haringey Turkish community activist), were headhunted by me with a view to ensure that high value members and potential candidates like these three, found a home in the Liberal Democrats. This was also allied to the fact that all three of them exuded liberal values and two of whom were fed up with the two other political parties and who were looking for a Party to 'speak for them.' 2008-12-17T01:26+00:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000035/the_horn_of_africa_and_radicalisation.html Running up to the next election, Labour are going to lay a number of charges against us, some of which will attempt to paint our Party as being 'soft' on issues of safety and security. They have consistently tried to push this and at the forefront of their strategy will be the charge that our Party has no coherent strategy to tackle radicalisation and extremism. 2008-11-09T15:55+00:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000034/gay_and_lesbian_muslims_yes_and_proud_of_being_both.html Today, I had the pleasure of speaking at the IMAAN annual conference in Euston. Imaan is a group that focuses on informing and campaigning on issues affecting gay and lesbian practising Muslims and I was invited on the basis of my interfaith work and as an elected politician who happens to be Muslim. 2008-10-20T00:40+01:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000033/appointment_as_advisor_to_the_liberal_democrat_leader_nick_clegg_mp_on_interfaith_and_preventing_radicalism_and_extremism.html Can I firstly congratulate and thank the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg MP, on his bold vision to appoint Cllr Meral Ece and I as advisors. My new role as of this week is to advise the Leader on issues related to the fields of interfaith and preventing extremism and radicalism. 2008-09-12T15:00+01:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000032/getting_rid_of_the_politics_of_fear.html The politics of fear has been something that has been constantly present within the Middle East and rarely does the politics of bridge building get a chance whether it is through the press that hungrily looks for the 'negative angle' or whether it is through politicians who want to keep the status quo in place. 2008-07-01T01:29+01:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000031/clegg_cares.html Nick Clegg MP recently visited Enfield Citizens Advice Bureaux and discussed issues of debt affecting middle income families. Debt levels have been rising successively over the last 6 years and whilst the average level of debt in 2002 was about £8,000, it is not now unusual to find individuals with (on average), a £20K of debt. This does not include mortgage debts and payments to be made. 2008-06-17T02:00+01:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000030/linking_american_and_british_muslim_women.html I have just spent 5 days on the road on a project that is being run by Faith Matters, an interfaith and conflict resolution organisation that I founded in 2005. Faith Matters also runs Faith and Finance social regeneration projects. 2008-04-10T14:00+01:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000029/post_office_closures_will_have_a_devastating_effect_on_local_communities.html The recent announcements that seven local post offices will be closing in the restructuring of Post Offices throughout the Capital will have a devastating impact on local communities. Those that affect Haringey include Highgate High Street, 100 Alexandra Park Road (N10), Ferme Park Road (N4), Salisbury Road (N22), 89 Weston Park (N8), Page Green (N15) and 434 West Green Road (N15). 2008-02-28T14:55+00:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000028/responses_to_the_archbishop_do_not_look_at_the_facts_on_the_ground.html Within 48 hours of the Archbishop making comments around religious inclusion and Shariah, there were press calls, comments and rabid responses for his resignation. This strain of fear is disproportionate and based on conjecture, myths and in some instances, xenophobia. But before I lay out these facts, there is something that I must clear up. The vast amount of Shariah Law covers financial elements, marriage and divorce and other codes for living life. It is not primarily around punishment. However, I for one as a Muslim and as a liberal to my very core, see Islam through the prism of emancipation and knowledge sharing. This means having the chance to question, to debate, to discuss and therefore Shariah is a theoretical and practical framework which must be looked through within a modern context. This therefore means ardently protecting women's rights, respect for diversity in all of its forms (the first convert to Islam was a black man), providing the space for dissent, education for all and emancipation from debt by taking out interest in financial transactions. These are just some examples of what I regard Islam to be about. It should be a driver against poverty, against fear and xenophobia and it should be a driver against ignorance. I have to also add, that I cannot accept two legal systems as a citizen of the UK and the resulting confusion and isolation for Muslims if this were to happen would in the long term, provide a foundation to those who want to portray Muslims as the 'other' and therefore somehow different. We should not give them that chance. 2008-02-10T01:46+00:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000027/london_is_a_liberal_city_that_is_why_we_need_a_liberal_democrat_mayor.html Who can forget the fiasco in which Ken Livingstone clambered to be taken back into the fold of New Labour when his principles and policy making resonated with the socialist guard which he accused Blair of sidelining to the touchlines of Labour's political field? Who can forget the rhetoric from Ken on how employment opportunities are better than they ever were, when the reality is that unemployment has grown in the last 6 years in the capital. Worryingly, Ken seems to have forgotten that London is not just about inner city boroughs and their problems, it is about those boroughs like Enfield who have similar concerns and issues and where inflows of migrant communities mean that the demographics of 'outer' boroughs are changing rapidly. 2007-12-13T16:50+00:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000026/for_gods_sake_musharraf_free_imran_khan_and_other_political_dissenters_that_you_have_detained.html The fiasco in Pakistan continues. The strongman 'El Presidente' Musharraf continues to lock up anyone who dissents and the very basis of democracy is now gravely injured and lying on the side of the road somewhere between Lahore and Islamabad. The Analogy of Rome burning whilst we are all asleep is a very apt one. Who can forget history when today's 'friend' becomes tomorrow's rogue state and rogue administration. Yet, our own Foreign Office has not been robust in making it clear that dissidents like Imran Khan and the thousands of others detained need to be released and the General must never enforce martial law under the complete lie of an Islamist threat. It is clear that the Islamist threat was a smoke and mirrors routine where all opposition could be suppressed to keep Musharraf in power. What a manipulation of the powers of the State that was. 2007-11-22T11:25+00:00 http://fiyazmughal.org.uk/news/000025/remembering_the_past_for_the_future.html At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, services right across the country took place to commemorate the fallen in the Great Wars and within others. It was a sombre occasion for many that brought home the horrors of war and the chance to reflect upon those not here since they truly had 'given their today's for our tomorrows.' 2007-11-11T22:00+00:00