Umar Online

Pakistan President Asif Zardari set for UK visit - Plans to meet PM David Cameron and address Pakistani community in Birmingham

2010-07-31T20:15:00.000+01:00

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari looks set to go ahead with his tour of the UK, after rumours of the trip being cancelled were denied by the Pakistan High Commission.

Mr Zardari will be in the UK from August 3rd to 8th and hold meetings with the British Prime Minister David Cameron, other British leaders and the Pakistani community. The trip had been in doubt following Mr. Cameron's remarks at a press conference with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh where he said that no-one was in "any doubt" there were terrorist groups operating in Pakistan and the Pakistani government must do more to "crack down on and eliminate" them. Despite domestic pressure and calls for the tour to be cancelled, the Pakistani government has decided to go ahead with the visit.

President Zardari will meet newly elected members of British Parliament of Pakistani origin and other high government functionaries, on 5th August. Then on the 6th, he will hold a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameroon at the Prime Minister’s country residence in Chequers, on the outskirts of London. On August 7th, he will address the Pakistani community in Birmingham's International Conference Centre. At the event, he is expected to speak about the challenges facing Pakistan and the measures taken by the present democratic government to resolve them.

Pakistan Air Crash - NUPSA statement

2010-07-28T14:23:00.006+01:00

As you may be aware, an airliner has crashed near the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, killing all 152 people on board.

The plane, operated by private airline Airblue was travelling from from Karachi to Islamabad when it came down in hills north of the City. For further news on this incident, visit the BBC News and Sky News websites.

Umaronline.com would like to echo the following remarks of NUPSA.

NUPSA: National Union of Pakistan Students and Alumni has released the following statement -

NUPSA expresses its deepest shock and sorrow on the tragic air crash of an Islamabad bound flight ED-202 from Karachi. We also express our sincerest condolences on the loss of six Youth Parliament and NUPSA members: Hassan, Rabab, Bilal, Prem, Owais and Arsalan. Our prayers are with the victims' families and friends, especially the Pakistani Youth Parliament and the entire Pakistani nation for the loss of such bright youth and leaders of the future.

It must also be taken into consideration that these YP members were not traveling on personal business. They were travelling to contribute to a better Pakistan and a better tomorrow. They were travelling on the behalf of all the youth of Pakistan which believes in prosperity and progress. We must never ignore this mission of theirs. Their sacrifice will always be remembered and their mission for a better Pakistan will be continued by NUPSA and all the youth of Pakistan.

NUPSA once again sends its deepest condolences to all those who lost their loved ones and friends in this national tragedy.

In solidarity with our brothers and sisters,

NUPSA.

National Union Of Pakistani Students and Alumni

NUPSA has also organised a Vigil and Dua for those who died in the air crash. The event will be held at Imperial College, South Kensington, London. For further information, visit the event facebook page.

BRADFORD: Campaign against hate gains momentum

2010-07-27T17:20:00.002+01:00

An anti-hate campaign to keep the English Defence League (EDL) off the streets of Bradford has started to gain momentum.

Bradford's local newspaper, Telegraph and Argus has started an official campaign against EDL's proposed march in the city at the end of August and today, the campaign was backed by local politicians across the region.

The West Yorkshire city which has seen some of the most devastating race riots in the past continues to recover from the scars of 1999 and is once again standing up to show outright disapproval at EDL's plans. According to the newspaper, any march will 'only damage community relations and threaten the prosperity and harmony of the city and district.'

To stop and march of hate and support the ban on EDL, sign the petition at http://www.bradfordtogether.org.uk/

umaronline.com

POLL: Who will win WC2010?

2010-07-03T21:47:00.006+01:00

In my previous poll, around 65% backed Germany to win the World Cup. Now that we know that won't happen, who are you backing to be crowned world champions on Sunday? The classy Spain start as favourites but Brazil-conquerors Holland will want to pull off a shock of sorts in Johannesburg. How do you see it going? Vote now.

Who will win FIFA World Cup 2010?survey software

NEWS: Dr. Zakir Naik banned from the UK - Poll + Reaction

2010-06-18T14:33:00.022+01:00

Dr. Zakir Naik is the founder of Peace TV.

Renowned Islamic scholar and founder of Peace TV Dr. Zakir Naik has been banned from the UK. Dr. Naik was planning to speak at different events in Sheffield, London and Birmingham at the end of the June 2010.

The decision to ban his entry into the UK was taken by Home Secretary Teresa May who said, "Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behaviour. Coming to the UK is a privilege, not a right and I am not willing to allow those who might not be conducive to the public good to enter the UK." In a press release issued by the Islamic Research Foundation on 11th June, Dr. Naik categorically denied glorifying terrorism, outlining his outright condemnation of 'acts of violence'. He also said he was seeking legal advice over the misrepresentation of his views.

Today's ban has shocked many Muslims in the UK who were looking forward to hearing Dr. Naik in the events organised. However, at the same time, many organisations have supported the Home Secretary's decision to ban Dr. Naik. What do you think? Is the ban on Dr. Naik justified or should it be lifted in interests of freedom of speech. Vote now on the exclusive umaronline.com poll and as always, feel free to drop me an e-mail or comment on this article.

EXCLUSIVE POLL:

LATEST REACTION:

CEO of Al-Khair Foundation, Imam Qasim Ahmad has e-mailed those who were planning to attend the Al-Khair Peace Conference in which he has appealed for protest to the decision. He writes, You will be aware of malicious reports in some parts of the press regarding Dr Zakir Naik and his proposed participation at the Al-Khair Peace Conference 2010 events at Wembley Arena and Sheffield Arena. These were initiated by an article in the Sunday Times on 30th May 2010 in which Dr Zakir Naik was selectively quoted from his speeches at previous conferences. The quotes were given without the relevant context or were completely untrue. As a result Dr Zakir Naik’s visa to visit the UK has been revoked and we understand that matters are being considered for a legal challenge in the High Court. To strengthen our case your help is required. Please send a letter of protest to both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary – template letters are attached for you to use if required where you can simple fill-in your name and address details and sign the letter. Time is of the essence and my personal request to you is to dispatch the letters (by post instead of using emails) as soon as possible to support this case for social justice and freedom. Inshallah, with your help we hope will be able to secure Dr Zakir Naik’s attendance and participation at the APC2010 events.
Ramadhan Foundation says the issue is one of freedom of speech. Chief Executive Mohammed Shafiq has said, "You either believe in freedom of speech of you don't. Banning people is not the way to tackle any issue. We must encourage debate and not stifle it. If we disagree with Dr. Naik's views, we must be mature enough to have an open and honest discussion instead of banning him. In this case, I'm not sure how effective the ban will be as he is already broadcasting on Peace TV through Sky TV anyway. It has been interesting to see the likes of Patrick Mercer MP praising the Govt. in its decision to ban Dr. Naik but when it came to Geert Wilders and other right-wing groups/individuals, they used the freedom of speech card"
Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) have released a press statement clarifying Dr. Naik's views and how they have been taken out of context. You can read the full statement HERE. PR Manager Maqbool Barwelkar went through different quotes from Dr. Naik before concluding, As a student of comparative religion, Dr Zakir Naik has worked tirelessly for the common good amongst people of all faiths engaging in constructive debate and dialogue. These discussions have been hugely successful and have resulted in much progress towards a better understanding of Islam as well as enhanced harmony between people of different beliefs, dispelling fears, suspicions and misunderstandings. Dr Zakir Naik is undoubtedly an opponent of terrorism and as such has often spoken out against all acts of violence and violent extremism. He has emphatically and unequivocally condemned the killing of civilians and is one of the world's regular noted orators on this topic. In the wake of the exclusion order and based on legal advice, Dr Zakir Naik intends to bring the matter before the High Court of the United Kingdom and request a Judicial Review to have the exclusion order overturned.
Muslim Council of Britain deplores Home Secretary Theresa May’s uncharacteristically intemperate move to ban the renowned Indian mainstream Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Abdul-Karim Naik. Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said today "this exclusion order demonstrates the double standards practised by the government concerning freedom of speech. While preachers of hate such as Geert Wilders are free to promote their bigotry in this country, respected Muslim scholars such as Dr Naik are refused entry to the UK under false pretences. It is deeply regrettable this is likely to cause serious damage to community cohesion in our country."
Pakistan Thinkers Forum UK - Chairman M. Hussain has said, "Dr. Naik should not have been banned because in a democratic society, we value the opinions of others and pride ourselves on respecting them. If you don't agree with someone's opinion, debate or discussion must be the way forward instead of not listening to them at all. The more we strike-down on free speech and dialogue, the more we end up adding fuel to radical and extreme views."
British Muslims for Secular Democracy (bmsd) approves of the decision to exclude Zakir Naik from the UK, based on thorough research conducted by the Home Office. - Dr Shaaz Mahboob, Vice-Chair of BMSD, said: “This is an encouraging decision from the new Government. We would now like to see them take a similarly firm approach to far-right organisations that stir up racial hatred, and domestic extremists such as the newly-formed ‘Muslims Against Crusades,’ who hurled abuse at the Royal Anglian Regiment homecoming parade in Barking on 15th June 2010.”
Student Rights - Spokesman Raheem Kassam has stated, “It’s a promising precedent that this government is alert to the dangers of radicalisation. Speakers such as Naik are touring the UK and we must expose and impede them to stop them spreading hate across the country.”

EXCLUSIVE: 'RAAVAN' Red Carpet - Interviews with Abhishek, Vikram, Mani Ratnam and SRK

2010-06-18T11:46:00.023+01:00

On Wednesday 16th June 2010, Bollywood heavyweights were in London for the World Premiere of RAAVAN at the BFI, Southbank. On the Red Carpet, India’s most celebrated couple Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan were joined by by fellow cast member Vikram, director Mani Ratnam and king of Bollywood Shahrukh Khan. Umaronline.com brings you exclusive audio interviews with Abhishek Bachchan, Vikram, Mani Ratnam and SRK.

Click HERE to download audio of interviews.*

*Incentive - Vikram, Abhishek and SRK tell us who they will be supporting during the Football World Cup 2010.

Umaronline.com would like to thank BollySpice and Maya Newspaper for providing the following snaps.

BFI Southbank

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan

Mani Ratnam

Shahrukh Khan with his wife, Gauri

The presentation

Vikram and Mani Ratnam

Abhishek Bachchan

umaronline.com

COMING UP: 'RAAVAN' Red Carpet World Premiere

2010-06-15T17:07:00.008+01:00

On Wednesday 16th June 2010, Bollywood heavyweights will be in London for the World Premiere of RAAVAN at the BFI, Southbank. India’s most celebrated couple Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan will be joined on the Red Carpet by fellow cast member Vikram, director Mani Ratnam and composer A.R. Rahman. Umaronline.com will bring you exclusive coverage of this event.

Released in cinemas worldwide on Friday 18th June 2010, RAAVAN is from the cinematic tour de force, director Mani Ratnam (Dil Se, Bombay) and Academy Award winner and music maestro A.R Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire). RAAVAN stars Indian cinema royalty and off-screen couple Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan who reunite on screen following the critically acclaimed ‘Guru’, and undisputed superstar of South Indian cinema, Vikram.

Unconventional in equal but harmonized measures, police inspector ‘Dev’ (Vikram) and feisty classical dancer ‘Ragini’ (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) relocate to Lal Maati, a remote town in Northern India, after marrying. On arrival, they discover that the law of the land is firmly grasped in the hands of ‘Beera Munda’ (Abhishek Bachchan), a ruthless tribal who has shifted the power equation in the region from the ruling to the have-nots. Dev knows that the key to restoring order in Lal Maati is to vanquish Beera and in one fell swoop manages to create carnage in Beera’s world, thus setting in motion a chain of events which will claim lives and change fortunes. An injured but enraged Beera now drags both Dev and Ragini into battle through the deepest ravines of the jungle and a labyrinth of human survival. The journey ahead tests the very core of their existence as the lines between good and evil, between Dev and Beera, between Ram and Raavan become ever blurred.

Release: Across the UK by Reliance BIG Pictures on 18th June 2010.

Certificate: TBC.

Running time: 130 minutes.

South Africa WC2010 - ENGLAND EXPECTS

2010-06-11T19:21:00.006+01:00

Exclusive tweeting on England's World Cup 2010 journey including live text updates and fan reaction.
Visit http://www.twitter.com/umaronline

EVENT: Dr. Zakir Naik to speak in Sheffield, London and Birmingham

2010-05-29T23:24:00.000+01:00

Dr. Zakir Naik is the founder of Peace TV.

Renowned Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik will speak at different events across the UK towards the end of June 2010. On 25th, 26th, and 27th June, Dr. Naik will be in Sheffield, London and Birmingham respectively.

Firstly, as part of the Al-Khair Peace Convention, Dr. Naik will spread the message of peace on Friday 25th June 2010 at the Sheffield Arena, followed by a speech at the Wembley Arena on Saturday 26th June 2010. Tickets are free and available on a first-come-first-served basis (max. 4 per household). For further information and to reserve tickets, click HERE or go to http://apc2010.org/.

Finally, he will deliver a IDCI public lecture titled 'Freedom of Speech: An Islamic Perspective' on 27th June 2010 at the LG Arena, NEC in Birmingham. Tickets are once again free and available on a first-come-first-served basis (max. 4 per household). For further information and to reserve tickets, click HERE or go to http://www.events.idci.co.uk/index.php.

BOXING: Big Fight POLLS - Katsidis v Mitchell / Khan v Malignaggi

2010-05-08T16:09:00.017+01:00

Khan takes on Malignaggi live on ITV1 as boxing returns to terrestrial TV.

As far as big time boxing goes, next weekend promises to big. British boxing takes centre stage once again as two of Britain's finest step into the ring for their own unique glory. Firstly, on Saturday May 15th, Sky Sports brings you live and exclusive coverage from Upton Park as East-Londoner Kevin Mitchell fights for the interim WBO lightweight title against dangerous Aussie Michael Katsidis. Then, in the early hours of Sunday 16th May, turn over to ITV1 for live coverage of Amir Khan's US debut as he puts his WBA light-welterweight title on the line against 'magic-man' Paulie Malignaggi.

These are exciting fights for any boxing fan. The pre-fight hype has been electric with fans eagerly anticipating both big fights. In the build-up, Khan has been accused of cherry-picking fighters and taking the easy route. In particular, his decision to fight the 'non-puncher' Malignaggi over the dangerous Marcos Maidana has allowed Mitchell to brand him 'vulnerable'. Khan has also faced visa problems and been allegedly involved in a sex text scandal involving a topless model ahead of the big fight in New York. On top of this, the twitter taunting between Khan and Malignaggi has highlighted the animosity between the two. Mitchell's big night at the home of West Ham United is likely to be a sell-out and he starts as the underdog against the heavy-hitting Katsidis. However, a night akin to Hatton-Tszyu is in store as unbeaten Mitchell chases glory on his home turf.

Upton Park will be rocking for Katsidis against Mitchell.

So, two big fights and two big polls. I want to know how you think the fights will go. Can Mitchell battle his way past the tough Katsidis or will it all end in tears? Are we underestimating home-boy Malignaggi by seeing Khan as favourite or will Khan's punch power be too much for the New-Yorker? Will both British fighters come through to set up an all-British encounter? The umaronline.com polls are asking, firstly, what will be the outcome of Kevin Mitchell v Michael Katsidis? and secondly, what will be the outcome of Amir Khan v Paulie Malignaggi?

Get voting!

1) Poll closes at 8pm on 15/5/10

What will be the outcome of Michael Katsidis v Kevin Mitchell?survey software

2) Poll closes at 2am on 16/5/10

What will be the outcome of Amir Khan v Paul Malignaggi?online survey

Michael Katsidis v Kevin Mitchell - live on Sky Sports 1, Saturday 15th May, 8pm - undercard includes, Danny Williams v Derek Chisora, James DeGale v Sam Horton
Amir Khan v Paulie Malignaggi - live on ITV1, Sunday 16th May, 2.45am

POLITICS: UK ELECTION 2010 - TORIES ENJOY NIGHT OF GAINS BUT FAIL TO WIN IN BRADFORD AGAIN - LIB DEMS BREAK LABOUR DOMINATION

2010-05-07T08:01:00.017+01:00

The new MP for Bradford East, David Ward (centre) with Shabbir Butt (L) and Umar Farooq (R)

The Conservative party is, this morning, the largest political party in Britain but despite a number of crucial gains nationwide, the party once again failed in its' attempts to get a Tory MP elected in Bradford. After a long day of hard work involving campaigning and canvassing the Tories must have fancied their chances of a crucial breakthrough in the region but the results were once again a disappointment. In Bradford West and South, the standing Labour MP's Marsha Singh and Gerry Sutcliffe retained their seats with increased majorities whilst in the closely-fought Bradford East constituency (formerly North) Liberal Democrat David Ward edged out Labour's Terry Rooney by 365 votes on a recount. The thrilling win allows fifth-time standing Mr. Ward to end the Labour party's monopoly in Bradford and continues the long-lasting Tory misery.

The results in Bradford were part of one of the most exciting nights of election results. Some of the other headlines for me included:

KRIS HOPKINS ELECTED IN KEIGHLEY, in a notable success for Conservatives in Yorkshire. He won by a 3,000 majority in a seat with 72.8% turnout.
CAROLINE LUCAS FIRST EVER GREENS MP, elected in Brighton Pavilion.
DEFEATS FOR SHAHID MALIK, CHARLES CLARKE AND JACQUI SMITH in big blows for Labour.
8 MUSLIM MP's ELECTED, 5 MEN, 3 WOMEN, 6 LABOUR AND 2 TORY.Including Sajid Javid, Anas Sarwar, Shabana Mahmood, Sadiq Khan, Rehman Chishti, Rushanara Ali, Khalid Mahmood and Yasmin Qureshi. Defeats for Maryam Khan and Salma Yaqoob.
VICTORY FOR ZAC GOLDSMITH IN RICHMOND PARK.

After a long day of campaigning in the Bradford district, the main parties knew that this was one of the hardest fought elections for years and indeed there was no time for complacency. UmarOnline.com focus seat Bradford East was neck and neck with a two-horse race between Tories and Lib Dems predicted by many. However, Labour cannot be ruled out and it took an official recount for David Ward to end Terry Rooney's 20 year reign. The disappointment for the local Conservatives was the way in which the hard-fought campaign for Mohammed Riaz petered out. There seemed to be an air of confidence among the ranks but as hours passed by belief waned as realisation of Labour's dominance and Lib Dem historical record meant reliance was on the boundary changes (North to East) and a lot of luck. In the end, the Liberal promise of 'Tories can't win here' stood the test as Ward came out on top with 13,637 votes. He was pushed all the way by 2nd placed Rooney with 13,272 votes and Riaz came in at a miserly 3rd with 10,860. Ward's campaign was based on his reputation as a 'people's champion' and his record in the community was one of his main strengths. Those attributes will take him a long way and allow the community in Bradford East to maintain their trust in him. I would like to wish him all the best for the future.

Whilst defeat in Bradford East will be a bitter blow to the Tories, defeat in Bradford West was a little less expected but it was a tough battle nonetheless. The serving Labour MP, Marsha Singh is hardly an electorate favourite but his 4th election win since the first one in 1997 in Bradford West was his best yet. The opposition in upcoming Zahid Iqbal was his toughest test but one he passed again with flying colours. Iqbal, a former Bradford North candidate had started campaigning two years ago and was seen as a favourite needing to overturn a majority of 3,026. In the end, he admitted hours before the official result that 'It looks like a Labour hold at the moment. We have probably closed the gap but not by that much.' That seemed like a white flag statement and soon after, Singh was re-elected to hold on for Labour with an increased majority. The chance for Iqbal in Bradford West was the best for years and the party had selected it as target seat 76. However, once again, although Singh's campaign was quiet, it was effective and he held on to show the trust people have in him and Labour in Bradford.

Finally, a big thank you to all of you for following me on twitter @umaronline. We now have the small matter of a hung Parliament to settle and hopefully some sort of deal can be reached. Once again, umaronline.com would like to congratulate all the newly elected Parliamentary representatives.

Stay safe!

UK Election 2010 - Polling Day LIVE - Bradford East

2010-05-06T09:49:00.007+01:00

It's poll time. Here on umaronline.com I'll be focusing on the newly-created constituency of Bradford East (formerly Bradford North). For action and reaction from Bradford East on polling day, follow me on Twitter as I spend times with the three main party's at various polling stations in Bradford East. Here is a candidate list for a Bradford East seat which is too close to call.

The current MP is Labour's Terry Rooney, (MP since 1990 by-election) whilst the Liberal Democrats (candidate David Ward) have always done well here and the Tories can be confident considering their candidate Mohammed Riaz got nearly 16,000 votes in the 1992 election (Bradford North) - finishing 2nd behind Rooney. So, all the action and reaction throughout the day on twitter and after the polling stations close, I'll be at the count to announce the winner.

In one of the closest elections for years, your vote counts more than ever before. This is your chance to go out and vote for change. Let's do it!

BRADFORD EAST CANDIDATES LIST

- Raja Hussain (Independent)

- Neville Poynton (BNP)

- Mohammad Riaz (Conservative)

- Gerry Robinson (National Front)

- Terry Rooney (Labour)

- Peter Shields (Independent)

- David Ward (Liberal Democrat)

Once again - follow me on twitter @umaronline - the twitter feed is also on the right of this post.

Vote for change!

umaronline.com

MUSIC: Introducing ImanCipate

2010-03-30T07:10:00.008+01:00

At umaronline.com, my recent experiences have allowed me to work with a talented young singer and music composer who is hoping to make a difference with his contribution to the industry. ImanCipate teaches the message of love and peace with the overarching aim of changing hearts and minds through his work. A selection of his music has been posted below which includes a composition called 'Echoes' along with an acoustic version of his first song, 'Share a smile'. Have a listen and let me know what you think. Feel free to comment on this article or send me an e-mail - info@umaronline.com.

Echoes

Share a smile

NEWS: Historical anti-terrorism fatwa can be the trigger for change

2010-03-02T14:29:00.009Z

The issuing of a religious ruling (fatwa) against terrorism and suicide bombings from a well known Islamic scholar is a groundbreaking and historical move from within Islamic jurisprudential scholarship. This morning, Dr. Muhammed Tahir-ul-Qadri, founder of Minhaj-ul-Quran International released the 600-page ruling at a press conference in Central London. The ruling is highly significant and relevant for Muslims and non-Muslims here and around the world. In his report, Mr. Qadri provides detailed reasoning with evidence from the Quran, Sunnah and scholarly debate to defeat the premise of Al-Qaida's ideology. The fatwa has been the subject of considerable media interest and further information can be found here.

So, what is all the fuss about? Well, my first sentence should give it away.

The issue of a fatwa (religious ruling) against terrorism and suicide bombings from a well-known Islamic scholar is a groundbreaking and historical move from within Islamic jurisprudential scholarship.

Three points to can be made. Firstly, the event is unprecedented. For far too long, there have been long silences from within the Muslim community about speaking out against terrorism and extremism. All of a sudden, you have a prominent Muslim scholar providing us with a detailed 60o-page ruling and it's sure to make you sit up and take notice.

Secondly, the authority behind the fatwa is a well-respected and honorable individual who commands respect. We're not talking about any local mosque mullah issuing a verdict (... hopefully this fatwa will make them follow suit) but a globally renowned scholar who has extensively studied the topic, provided detailed references from the Quran and Sunnah and issued a declaration through the authority he rightfully possesses within the Muslim world. It's all good having groups like MCB and BMSD providing a 'happy-faces' vision of Islam but when you have a major Muslim scholar writing a detailed 600-page report on the issue with reference to the religious texts, it's an entirely different kettle of fish. All of a sudden, the burden of proof shifts on to those who carry out or support such atrocities to disprove any of the evidence.

Thirdly and most crucially, the aim of the fatwa is to tackle the extremist mindset and thinking by declaring such acts as unislamic. The British Government has already highlighted eliminating extremist thinking from University campuses as a major counter-terrorism goal. Today's fatwa benefits this goal enormously. We cannot deny that Islamic extremism on and outside of University campuses is a major problem. Watching the BBC's 'Generation Jihad' only brought to light one of the major threats we face in 21st Century Britain - home grown terrorists. In most cases, these individuals tend to be surfing online and get drawn into extremism through propaganda websites, message-boards and blogs. This fatwa, however, provides young Muslims with a perfect opportunity to distinguish the distorted and radical from the well-researched and logical. It sows the seed of doubt in the mind of anyone who believes that the killing of innocent civilians is justified in Islam. That doubt will be, it is hoped, the trigger of a rethink and ultimate eradication of one's dangerous views.

There have, of course been many general criticisms of this ruling. Firstly, why has it taken so long for a Muslim voice to speak out? There have been many Muslims who have spoken out against terrorism in the past but a potentially influential and powerful religious edict like this has not been issued before. There can be many reasons for the slumber but this awakening should hopefully be the trigger of a Muslim revival. I'm aware of groups like the Quilliam Foundation and MCB as having welcomed the fatwa and this can only be a good thing.

Secondly, why a Pakistani scholar and not someone British? Once again, I'd like to return to my earlier point about the potential for change that today's news brings. Quite clearly, there is a need for local mosques in Britain to speak out against such extremism and their failure to do so has been acknowledged in the past. However, this fatwa gives them something to refer to and provides some textual guidance on terrorism which many other documents have not provided.

Finally, will the fatwa have a practical impact? I believe it will. If anything, it is a document of guidance to the Muslim world with a detailed explanation of why terrorism is prohibited in Islam. It is a fatwa issued with the aim of a practical impact upon Muslims in the wider world. Leading from the front, Dr. Qadri has shown Muslims the way forward and in the current climate, a religious ruling which categorically denounces terrorism, from a prominent Muslim authority has the potential to be the trigger for change.

What do you think of the religious ruling? Feel free to comment on this article or drop me an e-mail with your views to info@umaronline.com.

VIDEO: Kick it out! - homophobia

2010-02-11T17:36:00.003Z

I just came across this new 'Kick homophobia out of Football' video which is being circulated online by the Kick it Out team. The video highlights the powerful use of film to deliver the message of tolerance. Note: Some of the images and gestures may offend viewers. If you cannot see the embedded video below, click HERE. As always, comments are welcome.

umaronline.com

THEATRE: 'Jihad - The Musical' a satire about the serious

2010-01-30T16:05:00.009Z

Last night I was at the Jermyn Street theatre to watch 'Jihad -The Musical', a musical satire about the War on Terror which follows the life of Sayid, a Jalalabad flower-seller and his experiences in the West. Sayid dreams of being the best flower-seller in the world and with the help of a passionate American news correspondent, ends up in the West. However, on arrival, whilst the journalist is looking the perfect terrorist story, Sayid is approached by a local terrorist group. Soon, the dream of flower-selling and making his sister proud is a distant memory, or is it?

The musical was condemned for 'a tasteless portrayal of terrorism' after its debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 2007 but now, on its return to the stage, I was given a chance to see what the fuss was all about. So, what do I think? I think it's great. The production knew exactly what they wanted and they pretty much delivered perfectly. There are certain hard-hitting messages about global politics and general messages of love, peace and tolerance. Aside from that, it's all a massive song and dance about issues which we sometimes perhaps take too seriously. Is it mocking Islam? No. Is it a tasteless portrayal of terrorism? No. Is it mocking extremism and terrorism? Yes and rightly so. The musical tells the story of a man and his struggle (an inner-jihad) to make his sister proud. It is playing around with serious issues and cultural stereotypes (i.e the French/Arabic) but in a very light and delicate manner which shouldn't offend anyone. Some of the songs like “Building a Bomb Today” and “I Wanna Be Like Osama” (watch HERE) may sound controversial but in the context of the musical are pretty funny. It's 1.hour 20.minutes long and whilst it's not the best theatre production you will ever see, it provides enough comedy and entertainment value for a quality evening of London theatre.

Final Comment: 7/10 - A well produced musical with light and effective humour about serious and contemporary issues. Song and dance + a good laugh = I'm happy.

Jihad- The Musical is running at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London until 6th February 2010. Tickets (if any are available) can be purchased from http://www.jihadthemusical.co.uk/.

VIDEO: Religion and radicalism - MQI Denmark

2010-01-15T00:37:00.002Z

I would like to draw your attention to a video shown at the recent Islamic Perspectives lecture on the Islamic political system, given by Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri at Queen Mary (University of London). Minhaj-ul-Quran International - Denmark played this out at a historical conference in Denmark, back in October 2009 titled 'Religion and Radicalism.' The video is only 6 minutes long but most crucially delivers a very powerful message. If you cannot see it below, watch it on YouTube by clicking here.

EXCLUSIVE: Islam and Democracy are not incompatible - Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri at MYL event in London

2010-01-13T13:53:00.012Z

Scroll down to watch the speech by Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri s/o Sheikh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri on the Islamic political system.

Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, the son of Sheikh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri was the chief guest at an event organised by Muslim Youth League (MYL) at Queen Mary, University of London last night. The lecture, the last in a series of lectures across universities in the UK was about the origins of the Islamic political system. Speaking to a crowd of around 100 young Muslims, Mr. Qadri destroyed the myth that Islam and democracy are incompatible, highlighting the evolutionary nature of Islamic democracy. He said that Islam had provided a number of basic principles upon which the democratic model could be formed. In considering calls for a Khilafah (caliphate system) from certain Muslim groups, Mr. Qadri argued that whilst the caliphate system was based on Islamic democratic values, those values could be used to formulate any suitable political model in society. His central argument was that 'any model can become a Khilafah if it based on Islamic principles.' In backing up his argument he cited numerous examples from the Quran, Hadith and Islamic history (in particular the ways in which the Caliphs were selected).

Mr. Qadri also issued a rallying cry to Muslims around the world to unite and help their communities. In an inspirational message to young Muslims in the West, he emphasised how Muslims must strive for excellence in their chosen field, be it law, medicine, business or sports. He condemned the use of violence or terrorism as means to an end, describing such activities as haraam (forbidden) in Islam. Instead, he gave the message of peace, tolerance and unity in the eradication of poverty and reiterated the importance of education in solving problems of Muslims nations. The event was organised by the Muslim Youth League (MYL), the youth wing of Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI), a non-political, non-sectarian, non-governmental organization (NGO) founded by Dr. Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri on 17 October 1980 in Lahore, Pakistan (More HERE). For further information of MYL, go to www.muslimyouth.org.uk.

Firstly, I would like to thank the MYL team for inviting me to this event about the Islamic political system. A fascinating insight was provided by the speaker, the son of one of the most influential Islamic scholars of our times.

Secondly, I would like to applaud the work MQI and MYL is doing to portray the true image of Islam, here in the West and around the world. I have researched MQI extensively and have followed Dr. Muhammed Tahir-ul-Qadri's life from a young age. The revival of Islam he has chosen to partake is based on the spiritual self-purification of the individual and the teachings of the Quran and sunnah are presented in light of the modern and moderate interpretation. In other words, the focus is on how Muslims can improve themselves before they set out to preach to others. I think that in today's world, you will find many organisations that talk the talk but fail to deliver. However, in the case of MQI, the practical application of true Islamic teachings is self-evident. Muslims throughout the world have faced practical problems and Sheikh-ul-Islam has delivered practical solutions time and time again. He is proud of the contribution Islam has made to this world and believes that Muslims, wherever they may be, must work for the betterment of society. How do we do this? We spread the message of peace and love that Islam first blessed us with 1400 years ago. We highlight how Islam is the religion of humanity, not terrorism and destruction. Sheikh-ul-Islam himself has been at the forefront of promoting community cohesion and inter-faith dialogue. He has recently issued a historical fatwa declaring suicide bombings and terrorism as forbidden in Islam. He has also set out to raise awareness about Islam for the betterment of society, having written about human rights and women's rights in Islam among many other topics. He has set up many schools and now, a University in Pakistan to promote education of religious and non-religious subjects. Finally, he has also set up a charity, Minhaj Welfare Foundation (MWF) to fight for the eradication of poverty from the world. All these factors made it pretty easy for me to accept the invitation to this event. For an introduction of MQI from Sheikh-ul-Islam with comment on some of the topics affecting Muslims around the world, click HERE.

Thirdly, in terms of the event itself, Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri was well-spoken and logical in his arguments (see exclusive video coverage below). At the end, I managed to get hold of him and asked him about a fellow Muslim whose group had been banned by the British government under the Terrorism Act on the same day. His response to the views of Anjem Choudary and Islam4UK was something along the following lines:

The Prophet (pbuh) said that a Muslim must respect and fully abide by the laws of the land of his residence, unless they (the laws) contradict with the practising of his faith. By that logic, what Anjem Choudary is doing is wrong because even under a non-Muslim ruler, the laws of Parliament are not stopping Muslims from practising their religion. Muslims in the West must live in peace and harmony, not shout slogans and disrupt community cohesion.

There isn't much one can disagree with in that answer. I'm guessing the next question would be whether the British foreign policy in Iraq or Afghanistan is the policy of a non-Muslim ruler which affects Muslims practising their faith? If so, should Muslims revolt?

So a very powerful speech in East London from Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri. I am delighted to be able to bring you the exclusive coverage of the full speech in video, right here @ umaronline.com. I also intend to upload some photos from the evening. Any comments, questions or suggestions can be left on this article or e-mailed to info@umaronline.com.

Keep reading - umaronline.com.

PHOTO -

VIDEO - watch the full speech in HD on YouTube and right here @ umaronline.com.

umaronline.com

ME: For those of you who can read Urdu...

2010-01-05T14:39:00.004Z

.... Yes, you may have noticed my recent advertisement in the weekly Urdu Times UK. I'd like to thank the team at the 'Largest circulated weekly Urdu newspaper in the western world' for their help and support. Incidentally, you can read past and present weekly issues at www.urdutimesuk.com.

umaronline.com

2009: A great year on umaronline.com

2009-12-24T14:54:00.008Z

Season Greetings from umaronline.com (123greetings.com)

May I begin by wishing those celebrating, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you are in the best of health in this season of goodwill. As we wave goodbye to 2009, I would like to take this opportunity to review what has been a highly successful and productive year at umaronline.com. The blog, officially established in 2006 was re-launched on 4th June 2009, bringing you exclusive coverage and analysis of the European elections. At that time, I could not have imagined the level of interest a personal website could generate and I was delighted to be proved wrong. The election coverage acted a catapult to coverage of some bigger events as ratings soared in the latter part of the year. To date, I have covered 21 events in Bradford, Manchester and London. Here is an overview of the fun times we have shared. Thank you for your support.

In June 2009, after the election coverage, umaronline.com brought you exclusives from the Bradford Mela 2009. Backstage exclusives included the official ceremony to mark the opening of the 21st Bradford Mela, interviews with some of British bhangra's finest and videos from RDB's rocking performance. The final event covered in June was the launch meeting of the Conservative Muslim Forum in West Yorkshire, attended by around 50 Conservative party MP's and councillors at the Rio Grande in Bradford. As far as comedy value is concerned, seeing Pakistani political leaders fight on TV was a real highlight around the community. However, the month ended with tragic and shocking news that the king of pop, Michael Jackson had died of a heart attack in LA. RIP MJ.

July began with the coverage of Spiritual Reality - an event highlighting the multi-faith nature of Bradford. Video coverage included exclusives from the performance by Sheffield NoXcuse among others. Other highlights from July - Pakistani stage comedy in Bradford, a Kabbadi competition in Bradford, graduation ceremony from Bradford university, ft. Chancellor Imran Khan and the one which got the most acclaim - the visit of Pakistani politician Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman to the UK.

August was by far one of the most successful months on umaronline.com. There were many exclusives and lots of hits. South Asian independence day exclusives included two massive events, each carrying their own appeal. It all started with the flag-hoisting ceremony at Pakistan Consulate in Bradford, as news came through of Umaronline.com starting work with Urdu Times UK to bring you the very best in independent journalism and ground breaking exclusives. The first big event was the Rock On concert, in Manchester, featuring Atif Aslam and other South Asian performers. This was followed by exclusive coverage of Pakistan Dhoom 2009, featuring some of the biggest Pakistani pop-stars at Wembley Arena. I was delighted with the record number of visitors to umaronline.com during August, because by contrast, September was a quiet month as I moved back down South for my final year of the Law degree. Notable, however, was minimal coverage of my first experience of the Notting Hill carnival, along with my first encounter with Scientology.

October saw the return of boxing commentary to umaronline.com as the sister site sportscene.tk closed down. The big fight LIVE came from Nottingham as Carl 'the cobra' Froch took on American Andre Dirrell in the Super Six series. Other highlights from October included an exclusive poll asking Queen Mary law students about their best lecturer, the National Union of Pakistani Students and Alumni (NUPSA) freshers dinner with an exclusive interview with the Pakistani High Commissioner in the UK and the launch of the Conservative Party general election volunteers campaign at CCHQ with Party Chairman Eric Pickles.

November was an even bigger month and it began with an exclusive that had you all talking. Umaronline.com brought you an exclusive interview with Anjem Choudary, the head of Al-Muhajiroun about his 'March 4 Shariah' campaign in the UK. At the same time, there was coverage of secular Muslims who organised a counter-demonstration against Choudary's plan to impose Shariah law in the UK. Big fight LIVE continued with David Haye taking on Nikolai Valuev in Germany, followed by Manny Pacquiao taking on Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. Mid-November, NUPSA was back on umaronline.com with their joint-press conference emphasising Pakistani youth unity.

This month (December), umaronline.com brought you yet more exclusives. The first major event was David Cameron's speech at the Conservative Muslim Forum Eid party, a personal favourite of many. This was followed by coverage of an intensive debate on the Islamification of Britain held by the Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI) in Central London.

So there you have it, thanks to you, 2009 has been a superb year on umaronline.com. It was, however, just the beginning and what's to say 2010 will not be bigger and better. I aim to bring you more independent journalism, more commentary/analysis and more exclusives from the world of news, sports and entertainment, right here. Thank you so much for your help and support throughout 2009. Thank you for visiting umaronline.com and thank you for taking part in the big debate by commenting on my coverage. Once again, I would like to wish those celebrating a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope 2009 was a successful year for you and 2010 also brings bundles of joy. The man with the camera will keep on exploring in 2010 and I'd like you to be part of my journey. Keep reading umaronline.com.

Warmest Regards.

Umar Farooq

www.umaronline.com

Umar Online Official Statement

2009-12-15T23:39:00.005Z

Thank you for your wonderful support and overwhelmingly positive response in relation to my coverage of the Islamification of Britain debate. It was a fascinating debate and I was delighted to be able to share my views with friends and colleagues about various issues raised. For those of you that read my extensive review, I'm sure you will agree that fairness and impartiality are central to my style of journalism because this is a forum for independent journalism. However, I was pretty upset with some of the allegations coming from certain far-right individuals who believed that my coverage carried a hint of bias towards the organisers, Muslim Debate Initiative. As a result, I would like clarify the situation by making the following points:

I am in no way part of Muslim Debate Initiative - and whilst I applaud them for their willingness to invite other community groups to the table for a discussion, I do not necessarily agree with the views of any individual(s) from the group.

The videos of the debate uploaded onto my YouTube channel, UmarOnlineTV, were independently filmed by myself, exclusively for umaronline.com and have nothing to do with MDI or their official film of the debate. I did not edit any of the videos and uploaded the introduction (in full), the debate (in full), Q&A (in part) and the conclusions (in part). Most crucially, after the introduction, 10-minute speeches were made by each speaker which were not recorded and have not been uploaded.

I hope this clarifies my position and any accusations of bias or lack of fair coverage have been dispelled. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on info@umaronline.com. For more independent journalism and commentary on news, sports and entertainment, keep reading umaronline.com.

Thank you.

Umar Farooq

www.umaronline.com

EXCLUSIVE: BNP and others take part in the Islamification of Britain debate, MDI praised for providing platform

2009-12-10T23:57:00.024Z

The debating panel (umaronline.com)

The Muslim Debate Initiative was the host of a lively and respectful debate about the Islamification of Britain in Central London on Thursday night. The Muslim public discussion group invited members from the BNP (British National Party), English Democrats and the Christian People's Alliance in a frank and open discussion at the Conway Hall in Holborn. Unfortunately, representatives from the EDL (English Defence League) and SIOE (Stop Islamification of Europe) dropped out from the debate at the last minute. The proceedings were chaired by Paul Williams and the six panellists were Jeffrey Marshall (Senior official, and London organiser for the BNP), Abdullah al Andalusi (Co-founder of Muslim Debate Initiative), Alan Craig (Head of the Christian People’s Alliance Party), Andrew Copson (Director of Education and spokesmen for the British Humanist Association), Reverend Frank Gelli (Church of England, Spiritual Advisor to Princess Diana) and Robin Tilbrook (Chairman of English Democrats).

The debate, lasting around 3 hours was divided into different segments. Firstly, each of the six panellists spoke for 10 minutes about the topic of discussion. This was followed by an intense 50 minute debate with views being exchanged across the table in quite a civilised manner. After this, a short break was followed by a 50 minute Q&A session where members of the audience questioned the panellists as to their views. In the end, each of the speakers issued concluding remarks and the proceedings were called to a halt.

So now you know what happened, let me explain how it all unfolded. There is no doubt that the Islamification of Britain/Europe is quite a controversial issue and a range of views exist on this topic. As stated earlier, I'm a big fan of resolving differences through debate and dialogue and in that department, the work of Muslim Debate Initiative in bringing together people from different parts of the community on to one public forum is quite an achievement. The next task is to see the event through on the night itself and avoid any major hiccups. Once again, the debate as a whole was well managed with the speakers getting reasonable time to speak and a fair opportunity to air their views. However, as you may or may not be aware, wherever the BNP go, UAF (United Against Fascism) follow. So, when I arrived outside Conway Hall and was greeted by a man from UAF, there was a slight fear that things could get out of control. Thankfully, that wasn't the case and there was only one occasion during the debate that security was called into action (some guy, presumably from UAF came in and started shouting 'BNP YOU SCUM.....' before he was escorted out). In general, however, the debate took place in good faith and there was plenty of cooperation between the panel and audience.

I will now elaborate on the debate itself. I think it was a very carefully selected and well balanced panel of guests. A few people were complaining about there being only one Muslim speaker (Abdullah) on the panel and perhaps there should have been more but I'm not too keen on that view. In terms of the overall performance of each of the speakers, here is a short summary, followed by a rating out of 10. This rating is not based on their views but on their abilities to put forward a well constructed and coherent argument.

Jeffrey Marshall

The BNP man came in with high hopes but came across as jaded and nervous when putting across his views in the 10-minute speech. His argument, primarily, was that we need to halt mass immigration and that in itself is leading to Islamification. A very typical BNP argument from Marshall who was towing the familiar party line. Aside from the main speech, Marshall wasn't really involved in the actual debate which sort of made me wonder whether he was being marginalised on purpose. Then again, when it came to the Q&A session, he addressed a question about British culture by referring to the niqab (veil) and saying 'they (Muslims) don't understand how much it annoys us (British)'. Not a view that I, nor many of the gasping crowd wanted to hear. A quiet night and a meagre 5/10.

Abdullah al Andalusi

The co-founder of MDI was the only Muslim speaker on the panel. He handled himself well at times often coming across as calm and composed in delivering well structured arguments. Coming from an Islamist stance, Abdullah clearly defined his views about Shariah law and existence of an Islamic state. He did, crucially, and perhaps rather controversially say that Muslims in the UK do not want the Shariah (a point picked up on by Craig) and that Shariah law was firstly a need in the Muslim states before anywhere else. There were times, however, when he looked shaken and was perhaps caught unaware when answering questions from the panel and audience. It seemed as though he was shocked by some of the positions taken by the fellow panellists. In particular, he was involved in some long exchanges with Alan Craig regarding Craig's simultaneous beliefs in liberal freedom and support for banning the veil. Despite this, Abdullah was certainly one of the better speakers on the night and gets a 7/10.

Alan Craig

The head of the Christian People's Alliance was a headliner with many expecting his controversial views regarding the Olympic mega-mosque to take centre stage. However, his subtle approach and careful choice of words really helped his cause. Regular references to Christian values such as 'love thy neighbour' and the importance of social relationships allowed him to have a massive influence on the crowd. Most of his arguments also stemmed from these principles. In particular, whilst emphasising his good faith relationship with Muslims and his positive views regarding Islam, Craig was able to identify some of the issues and concerns he has about the faith. Top of the list was the inequality imposed by Shariah law with emphasis on the discrimination against women. Closely linked to this was his opposition to the veil which he saw as a social barrier. The third argument was regarding his opposition to the mega-mosque based on it affecting social cohesion in the East end of London. All arguments were well structured and well defended by Craig throughout the evening. After the debate, many of the people told me they were quite impressed with the way he put his points across (a little like Abdullah) even though they disagreed with many of the points he made. In conclusion, one of the best speakers on the panel, getting an 8/10.

Andrew Copson

Not much to mention for the man representing the British Humanist Association. Copson came in flying the flag for liberal democracy and the centre ground. An easy position to take, usually, but not when you are surrounded by people firmly to the left or right. He argued for sharing a civic sense and civic identify which was essential to tackling the 'myth' of Islamification. He outlined his position as disagreeing with everyone on the panel which got him the sympathy vote in a way. Ultimately, fell short of taking a position and seemed out of place at times. His fear of holding a position meant he also struggled to back up views of some of the panellists one would expect him to stand up for. Copson took a very neutral view on issues like banning the veil whereas I would have thought he would be against any such ban. Gets an average 5/10.

Reverend Frank Gelli

A representative from the Church of England and supposedly the voice of Christianity on the panel. He was easily swayed and went off topic on many occasions but when on topic, challenged the others with solidly constructed arguments throughout the evening. He defended the veil by taking a liberal stance of free will (like Abdullah). Not involved in many exchanges but a good speaker when called upon. A reasonable 6/10.

Robin Tilbrook

The Chairman of the English Democrats appealed to the values of the crowd in a very clever way. So much so that his views made sense to many whom, like me, were surprised at the firmness of these nationalists. Tilbrook emphasised English-ness based on a cultural tradition. He argued for a revival of the national sense of belonging to a community or society. He praised multiculturalism but feared those who wanted to change England into something else. This fear was clear in his opposition to the slow and incremental Islamification of Britain. Another well-versed speaker and perhaps the dark horse on the panel. Tilbrook was hardly pushed by the audience and enjoyed a quite friendly evening on the stage where he was able to claim some much needed publicity for his party. A very average 5/10.

Just a final point before I leave you with the exclusive video's of this debate. The general view amongst the audience members was that far too often, the panel were drifting off the subject of Islamification. This was certainly true at times, particularly when Abdullah and Craig turned it into an Islam v Christianity comparative religion debate. There were also times when views on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were being shared by the panel and cases of the audience members going on a rant about random issues that had nothing to do with the central topic. To put it firmly, the Chair could have been stricter in his policy of allowing people to drift off topic. Sadly, Williams, a convert (or revert) to Islam wasn't just flexible but at one point decided to step out of his role as chair to answer a question about Islam, much to the dislike of the audience. This level of flexibility can be criticised but it went hand in hand with the good faith on show on and off the stage.

Here is another exclusive. Umaronline.com brings you the full debate (video) on the Islamification of Britain held in Central London yesterday. There are also the best bits from the Q&A and the conclusion, exclusively on umaronline.com. Unfortunately, most of the filming was done hand-held so I'd like to apologise in advance for any shaky camerawork (I am entirely responsible). The discussion must not stop, feel free to air your views on this report. If you were at the debate, how did you find it? If you have seen it and have some points to make, fire away. As always, lets discuss, debate and carry out dialogue in a friendly and civilised manner.

For more independent journalism and commentary on news, sports and entertainment, keep visiting umaronline.com.

ISLAMIFICATION OF BRITAIN - REALITY OF MYTH? MDI DEBATE

PHOTOS :

VIDEOS

INTRO

DEBATE

Q&A

CONCLUSION

umaronline.com

POLITICS: Top of the tower, David Cameron speaks at the Conservative Muslim Forum Eid party

2009-12-02T13:44:00.009Z

Picture this... a lavish Central London venue with awesome city views, 500+ city professionals from different walks of life and some of the leading members of the Conservative party shadow cabinet including the party leader David Cameron. Yes, I'm talking about the Conservative Muslim Forum Eid party held at the prestigious Altitude 360 in Central London yesterday to mark celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha. The chief guest, Rt Hon. David Cameron MP was in attendance with Baroness Sayeeda Warsi (a day after confronting extremists in Luton), Party chairman Eric Pickles MP and Shadow Justice secretary Dominic Grieve MP. The event was organised by the Lord Sheikh's Conservative Muslim Forum, a group set up to encourage British Muslims to participate in British politics by joining the Conservative party. It also hosts regular events in the House of Lords and has various sub-committees such as CMF Youth, Women and Health. Further information about the forum can be found at http://www.conservativemuslimforum.com.

In his speech, David Cameron highlighted the role CMF has played in attracting many young British Muslims to the Party who saw it as a white, middle-class, elitist party. He was also delighted to see Muslims and non-Muslims from different walks of life making it to the top of their professions and hailed their enormous contribution to British society. He used examples of British Muslims like boxer Amir Khan and Baroness Warsi as role-models for young British Muslims and as people they can look up to for inspiration. In the end, he wished everyone Eid Mubarak.

Umaronline.com brings you exclusive video coverage of the full speech. Apologies in advance for the shaky camera and bad lighting.

Incidentally, this is also the 100th post on umaronline.com. At this point, I would like to thank all of you for your help and support. For more independent journalism and commentary, keep reading umaronline.com.

DAVID CAMERON SPEECH @ CMF EID PARTY

Part 1

Part 2

umaronline.com

EVENT: MDI presents - The Big Debate - The Islamification of Britain: reality or myth?

2009-11-30T23:44:00.008Z

UPDATE: 2nd December 2009 Press Release

Muslim Community to host an open frank debate with BNP and EDL.

The public discussion forum, The Muslim Debate Initiative are holding an unprecedented public debate on the future of Britain and the Muslim community in with members from the BNP and EDL, under the topic titled ‘The Islamification of Britain – myth or reality?’.

The event is confirmed to happen on the 10th December 2009 in Central London, at the Conway Hall, Holborn.

Joining the open panel debate will be representatives from Liberal, Christian Democract, Clerical and Muslim backgrounds.

List of Guests:

Jeffrey Marshall – Senior official, and London organiser for the BNP

Joel Titus / Craig Barnes – Representative for the EDL

Abdullah al Andalusi – Co-founder of Muslim Debate Initiative

Alan Craig – Head of the Christian People’s Alliance Party

Andrew Copson – Director of Education and spokesmen for the British Humanist Association.

Bill Baker - English Democrats Party

Reverend Frank Gelli – Church of England, Spiritual Advisor to Princess Diana

For more details please contact:

Abdullah al Andalusi (Phone: 07843126715, E-mail: Abdullah@thedebateinitiative.com ).

--- --- --- --- --- ---

Coming up on Thursday 10th December 2009, Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI) presents an exclusive debate titled The Islamification of Britain: reality or myth? in Central London.

The Muslim public debate organisation is delighted to announce its public invitation to members of the Far-right to an open debate about Islam, the Muslim community in England/Europe and the impact of immigration. The event is aimed at creating engagement between communities by use of open, civilised and frank discussion and debate. The event promises to be a passionate, yet respectful, live debate on some of the most controversial issues dominating the media and the public mind.

I have always been in favour of rational debate in order to defeat even the most evil of ideologies and it is great to see MDI, a Muslim organisation, openly willing to challenge the Far-right groups on the discussion table. Make sure you attend and pass on this invite to your friends.

Confirmed panellists include:

Jeffrey Marshall - Senior official and central London organiser for the British National Party (BNP).
Reverend Frank Gelli - An Anglican priest, a cultural critic and controversialist.
Abdullah al Andalusi - Public speaker on Muslim political affairs, experience Muslim community worker and co-founder of Muslim Debate Initiative; an inter-community discussion forum.
Alan Craig - London Councillor for Newham and Leader of the 'Christian People’s Alliance Party' (CPAP).
Andrew Copson - Director of Education and Public Affairs at the British Humanist Association (BHA).
A representative from Stop Islamification of Europe (SIOE)

Date: Thursday 10th December 2009

Time: 1815 - 2115

Venue: The Grand Hall, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, WC1R 4RL

Nearest tube: Holborn (3 mins walk from Station)

Further information can be found HERE or by going to http://www.thedebateinitiative.com/#/islamification-debate/4536297387

umaronline.com

FOOTBALL: Referee must have the final say on Henry handball incident

2009-11-19T20:55:00.002Z

This incident has got the world talking, so here is my two pence worth on the Thierry Henry handball which killed off Irish dreams of a place in the World Cup finals.

The more I see it, the more sympathetic I feel towards the mightily unlucky Irish who gave it their all but lost out to a freak of a decision. The full-time whistle was followed by national and international outrage with widespread calls for a replay following what could be one of the most costliest decisions in the history of football. From media outlets like Sky, BBC and ITV to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, the out pour of sympathy for the Irish from football and non-football fans has highlighted how strongly the public feels about cheating of any sort, especially in football.

As a matter of principle then, one would expect me to be fully supportive of the Irish attempts to force a replay. However, I believe that once a few more days pass and the dust settles, everyone will move on and forget about Henry's deceiving act. I may be in the minority here but isn't it time to get real? Here are my arguments:

1) Until there is goal-line and video technology fully introduced in modern-day football, there will always be one boss out there on the pitch and that is the referee. For me, he must have the ultimate say on what he has seen and what has happened. As it turns out, he missed Henry's handball yesterday which means that the goal has to stand. Now, you can jump and shout and protest all you like but if the referee has had his say then its a goal. This simple principle, the referee being the ultimate decision-maker based on what he sees with his own eyes - and perhaps assisted by the linesman is currently in operation in football matches throughout the world. Furthermore, it doesn't matter what level the game is being played at, the rules are the same be it Conference league, Premier league, the World Cup final or a World Cup play-off match.

2) It leads on from my first point that the lack of technology at this moment, whilst arguably a bad thing, has -in my view - always led to controversial decisions in football. From the infamous 'Hand of God' by Maradona back in 1986 to Euro 2004 when Urs Meier disallowed Sol Campbell's late goal v Portugal and there are many more. So, injustice and cheating (sadly) has been part and parcel of the game but the referee's are human and have made mistakes. With all due respect to the Irish, I do not think they are the first team to be hard done by and in all honesty, they cannot expect special rules to apply to them when so many other teams have suffered in the past.

3) My final point relates to the nature of the incident. I certainly feel that the over-reaction is primarily due to the way in which Henry cheated. Say, for example that instead of handling, Henry dived and won a penalty which made the crucial difference. Do you think the reaction would have been the same? I doubt it very much. The principle is, however, the same in that the decision is to be made by the referee in a split second and often he/she may make the wrong call. The wrong call has been made many times but we cannot dwell on it.

So, to conclude. Whilst I'd love to see another fiery encounter between France and Ireland for a place in the World cup finals in South Africa this coming summer, I'm afraid to say I cannot see it happening. If the referee is to make the final call and call it as he sees it then that is how it will end, be it by luck, by nature or by cheating. Good luck to France, unlucky Ireland.