Umar Farooq

The 22nd Anniversary of Hillsborough

2011-04-15T23:36:00.001+01:00

Tributes pitchside for victims of the Hillsborough disaster

It has been quite an emotional day. April 15th - 22 years on, football fans have been remembering the 96 Liverpool fans who went to an FA Cup game at Hillsborough and never came home. As their fight for justice continues, over 12,000 came out in force and brought Anfield's infamous Kop end to life. Gone but never forgotten. RIP.

umaronline.com

In London, protests turn nasty...

2011-03-26T22:37:00.001Z

Another weekend, another big protest and more nasty scenes on the streets of London. I need not tell you the story of what happened but would draw your attention to some of the footage I captured trawling through the city. I was (if you follow me on twitter) also tweeting updates (with pictures) throughout the day.

To sum it up, it was the biggest street party of the year as they came, danced and a minority decided to smash the place up. Here's my footage (HD) - A rant, scuffles, fire and more trouble:

1) This dude having a go at the police.

2) Scuffles - there were plenty of them.

3) A fire and more screaming.

4) Protesters being a nuisance for the police (non-HD)

On twitter - @UmarOnline

RADIO: Thanksgiving in London

2010-11-26T16:34:00.002Z

The Thanksgiving menu.

On the 4th Thursday of November, Americans across the world celebrate Thanksgiving day. This year, once again, the festivities have started. I went out to explore how people in London are celebrating Thanksgiving.

Listen!

Featuring -

Dr. Barry Gaeddert - Senior Pastor of the International Community Church of Surrey.
Briand Beausoleil - Dr. Marcia Balisciano, Director, Benjamin Franklin House.
Paul Drury - Curator, Pork & Pickle Pie Comedy Club.

Extended interviews coming soon.

RADIO: Tackling bike theft in London

2010-11-13T12:45:00.002Z

More and more bikes are being stolen in London. (Image: thisislondon.co.uk)

Since the launch of the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme by London Mayor Boris Johnson, only 5 bicycles have been stolen from the 6,000 available on the streets of London. However, more and more ordinary bikes are being stolen in the city on a regular basis with over 18,000 being stolen this year. So what is TFL doing to tackle bike theft and how can cyclists safeguard their bikes?

Featuring -

PC Rob Johnston - Member of TFL-funded Metropolitan Police Cycle Taskforce.

Briand Beausoleil - Director, Bike Revolution (www.bikerevolution.org)

Listen!

Asian Awards 2010: Sachin Tendulkar, AR Rahman and George Alagiah are awarded in star-studded ceremony

2010-10-27T18:00:00.008+01:00

Sachin Tendulkar picked up two awards on the night.

Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, music artist AR Rahman and newscaster George Alagiah OBE were amongst the winners at the inaugural Asian Awards 2010 in London last night.

In a star-studded ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and film director Yash Chopra were also on the winners list. The awards, celebrating South Asian achievement and excellence were hosted by Lord Sebastian Coe and featured some of the biggest names from the world of showbiz, business, sports and politics. Renowned Bollywood playback singer Sonu Niigaam also gave a rare live performance.

The star of the show was Tendulkar, who won two awards, including the 'Outstanding Achievement in Sport' award, along with the 'Lebara People's Choice' award. His fellow countrymen, Rahman and Chopra were also awarded. The former picked up the 'Outstanding Achievement in Music' award, whilst the latter won the 'Outstanding Achievement in Cinema' award. Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan was given the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement' award but was unable to collect it due to family commitments. Vijay Mallya was the 'Entrepreneur of the Year,' whilst BBC's Alagiah was recognised for his 'Outstanding Achievement in Television.'

Sonu Niigaam performed live at the Asian Awards 2010.

Here are just some of the guests we spotted - Deputy PM Nick Clegg, Jermaine Jackson, Nasser Hussain OBE, William Gallas, Gurinder Chadha, Christian Louboutin, James Caan, Nina Wadia, Simon Webbe and Monty Panesar.

Caroline Jackson Levy, Managing Director of the Asian Awards said:

"We are delighted at the incredible success of the inaugural Asian Awards. Through the Asian Awards we begin to build a legacy for the South Asian community and through the achievements of our winners, to inspire the millions of us who strive to be the best we can.

We are honoured to have been joined by so many world figures – with the support of the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Nasser Hussain OBE, Christian Louboutin, Sonu Niigaam and other major personalities, the Asian Awards were a spectacular success."

You can listen to audio highlights from the evening on the umaronline Audioboo channel or click on the players below.

From the ceremony -

Listen!

Listen!

Interviews:

Listen!

Listen!

Photos -

Jermaine Jackson

Nina Wadia

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla with Dimple Kapadia

Cleo Isaacs

Gurinder Chadha

Deputy PM Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP

Caroline Jackson Levy, MD of UBM

Lord Sebastian Coe

Diana Brightmore Armour, CEO Corporate Banking, Lloyds Banking Group

George Alagiah OBE with Nina Wadia and Neeraj Arora, VP Sony Entertainment

Yash Chopra

Vijay Mallya

Sachin Tendulkar

Lebara CEO Ratheesan Yoganathan with Sachin Tendulkar

Lord Sebastian Coe

As always, comments are welcomed.

Interview Spot: Food critic and columnist GILES COREN

2010-10-22T21:26:00.001+01:00

Earlier this week, I caught up with renowned food critic and The Times columnist Giles Coren, at the launch of his book 'Anger Management for Beginners.' The star of the Supersizers series is well known for his witty writing style and somewhat controversial outbursts. In an exclusive interview, he spoke about his book, his life, the past controversies (including that e-mail), the cuts, his favourite restaurant and his cooking skills. He even passed comment on cookery shows like MasterChef. This is one not to be missed.

Listen!

Giles Coren was interviewed at an event to mark the launch of the paperback edition of his book, 'Anger Management for Beginners.' The book is available for purchase from Amazon, Waterstones and most other book retailers.

NEWS Reaction: Islamic extremism at City University

2010-10-18T20:12:00.004+01:00

Hard line Islamic extremism is being promoted at City University London, according to a counter-terrorism think tank. According to a report published by Quilliam, City University Islamic society (Isoc) has been involved in the intimidation of staff, students and members of minority groups. The Daily Mail article can be read HERE. The full 39-page report can be downloaded HERE.

This is an interesting story and one that leads many to ask: what is the Government doing to tackle the potential homegrown terror threat? Radicalisation on University campuses across the country is potentially one the biggest threats to UK national security. So, what do we do about it? Let me know what you think. Your comments, as always are welcomed on this post or though e-mail, via the contact page.

Here is some of the latest reaction to this story from various bodies:

An exclusive interview with the author of the Quilliam report - Lucy James.

Listen!

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, from LGBT rights group OutRage! "This report is a wake-up call to complacent university authorities and student unions. They too often look the other way while Islamists foment hatred and intolerance among the student population. It is a strong defence of the vast majority of Muslim students who do not share an extremist mindset and who frequently face ostracism and denunciation by fundamentalists. Quilliam have produced a thorough expose of the way Islamist extremists are bullying and threatening other students. It highlights sexist, homophobic and anti-Semitic intimidation, and the victimisation of Muslims and non-believers who do not adhere to hard-line fundamentalist Islam. Radicalisation often begins with the promotion of misogynistic, queer-baiting and anti-Jewish prejudice; together with the stirring up of hostility against Muslims who believe in other strands of Islam or have abandoned their faith. Such intolerance is can be a gateway to Islamist extremism. That’s why it should never be ignored or tolerated. City University would never host white supremacists who incite racism and racial violence. Why the double standards?"

Qasim Rafiq, Head of Media at Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) said: "It is important that claims of extremism or radicalisation are investigated with maturity, responsibility and evidence, not with sensationalism and speculation. If anyone has been threatened by any individual, be they Muslim or non-Muslim, then this is a major cause for concern and is something that must be addressed through the appropriate channels, i.e. through the union, dean of students, and if serious enough, then the police. Campuses should be safe havens for all individuals and we request that any such incident be reported as a matter of urgency to the relevant authorities. In order to ensure that such claims can be fully investigated, it is vital that evidence is not simply anecdotal but is supplemented with other, more concrete forms of evidence. For example, when 3 Muslim students at City University were stabbed, reports were obtained from a number of eyewitnesses as well as CCTV footage and involved the relevant university authorities and police who immediately carried out a thorough investigation. With regards to allegations of radicalisation, again it is important to recognise the importance of freedom of expression and the role of academic institutions in preserving this important principle. We continue to maintain our stance that individuals should be free to express their views and opinions on campus as long as such views are not considered illegal. If there are concerns about some of the views expressed by members of the Islamic Society, then we have more than adequate legislation in this country to deal with such views and there is full recourse to the courts of law. Freedom of expression on university campuses, however, is under real threat and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that in the interests of academic freedom, such rights are protected. Universities are meant to be arenas for academic debate and discussion and if we begin to start clamping down on views which aren't considered illegal, then we begin the to tread the dangerous path of self-censorship."

Tehmina Kazi, Director, British Muslims for Secular Democracy (BMSD) said: "British Muslims for Secular Democracy supports the recommendations contained within the Quilliam Foundation briefing paper. It is clear that the activities and general attitudes of the City University ISoc impinge on free speech, and in the longer term, lead to separatism and the deterioration of good relations on campus. They are quick to accuse the authorities of “religious discrimination,” when these matters are brought to their attention, but this is clearly a case of trying to deflect the spotlight away from their own failures on equality (be it gender equality, sexual orientation or the treatment of people with different religious and non-religious beliefs). Fellow students – Muslim and non-Muslim alike – have (quite rightly) raised grievances as a result of this unacceptable conduct. BMSD hopes that City University fully addresses their concerns, and protects them from any harassment or intimidation that could arise."

COMING SOON: The Asian Awards 2010

2010-10-13T21:35:00.001+01:00

“THE GREATEST GATHERING OF ASIAN EXCELLENCE…EVER.”
AMITABH BACHCHAN, ACTOR

The Asian Awards 2010, in partnership with Lebara, is the first of its kind event celebrating achievement and excellence among South Asians from around the world. To be held on October 26th at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane London, The Asian Awards 2010 has already confirmed a calibre of guest unlike any other Asian event before it:

Lord Sebastian Coe – Olympic gold medalist and Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games
Yash Chopra – veteran Bollywood director
Sachin Tendulkar – India’s legendary cricketer
Vijay Mallya - Owner of United Breweries, Kingfisher Airlines and Force India F1 team
AR Rahman – Double Oscar winner
Gurinder Chadha – Director of Bend It Like Beckham
Sir Richard Stagg – High Commissioner to the UK
Sonu Niigaam – Renowned Bollywood playback singer

Also lending his support in the judging panel is Lord Alan Sugar. With leading figures in business, film, sport and politics giving their full support to the inaugural Asian Awards 2010, make this prestigious celebration of international South Asian excellence one of the most important awards ceremonies to launch this year.

Caroline Jackson Levy, managing director of UBM Awards, said:

"We have been overwhelmed by the incredible response to the Asian Awards- it is quite simply an honour to have the support of some of the world’s greatest achievers."

Legendary playback singer and songwriter Sonu Niigaam has also confirmed that he will couple his personal appearance at the awards with a rare live performance.

The Asian Awards 2010 is a collaboration between United Business Media and businessman Paul Sagoo. The awards also support Save the Children as its official charity.

For more: visit - www.theasianawards.com.

BLOG: Where were we...

2010-10-09T17:08:00.003+01:00

At www.umaronline.com, we probably focus on web exclusives like no other personal website, but the occasional blog post is always a good idea to gage the mood. So, where were we? Well, since the last blog post - Provocative, senseless and deeply offensive - Should the US intervene to stop Koran burning Pastor? - 1 month ago, there have been developments. It's time for our regular catch-up.

Perhaps the most significant development has been the start of my MA Broadcast Journalism course at City University, London. So far, it has been an immense experience of many highs and relatively few lows. City's global reputation in journalism education cannot be questioned and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to hone my journalistic skills at such a credible institution. The journalist of the future must be equipped to inform the public on many different mediums, be it radio, TV or the internet and my course will teach me those valuable skills. Furthermore, learning from some of the finest journalists to have ever graced the media industry is a great privilege, as their passion for telling a story is second to none. The students, themselves, have dreams and ambitions too. From war reporting to sports commentating, everyone has a background of good knowledge and a destination to reach. My journey is no different and I'm looking forward to reaching my goals through studying this NCTJ (National Council for Training of Journalists) qualification.

Elsewhere, a return to online activism is essential and the list of planned exclusives is currently being compiled. So, coming soon on www.umaronline.com - more events, more interviews and more stories. For the latest developments and much more, follow me on twitter (@umaronline) - and get in touch.

CONCERT: Abrar, Jawad and Rahim Shah rock Wembley Arena in aid of Pakistan flood victims - 'Eid Hungama 2010' is a success despite some problems.

2010-09-13T21:42:00.003+01:00

Abrar-ul-Haq was the star of the show at Wembley Arena.

Some of Pakistan's finest music stars performed at the Wembley Arena, last night, in a concert in aid of the Pakistan flood victims. 'Eid Hungama 2010', organised by Daredevil promotions and 143 Entertainment, brought together the likes of Abrar-ul-Haq, Jawad Ahmed and Rahim Shah in front of a crowd in the region of 6,500. Other performers included Ustad Hamid Ali Khan who performed 'Zindagi' with Raga Boys, Raja Kashif and Ashia Khan. The host for the evening was filmstar Noor.

EVENT REVIEW

Well there can be no doubt that the arena was rocking when the big-hitters Abrar, Jawad and Rahim Shah performed some of their classics. After all, it was a concert being held for a noble cause and whilst the crowd had a good time, every performer also stressed the importance of the occasion. This was the celebration of Eid with British Pakistanis doing their bit to help their fellow countrymen in South Asia. On that note, the organisers deserve lots of credit for organising a big concert, at such a short notice and getting a pretty decent turnout too.

However the show did not flow without the odd blip. The first disappointing news for fans was that Arif Lohar, a folk music legend, had to cancel his appearance, which meant Jawad Ahmed had to be drafted in at the last minute. Other notable performers, advertised but failing to appear, were Annie Khalid and Humera Arshad. The former cited 'lack of professionalism' for pulling out (not sure on whose behalf that was), whilst there was no word on the latter from the organisers.

Secondly, the Abrar and Jawad show rolled on. The former 'Jupiters' man renewed his rivalry with Abrar - leading on from a TV debate earlier in the year about the concept of charity. Appearing on stage before Abrar, he repeated his claim that Pakistan doesn't need to beg for charity, it needs leaders. Abrar, responded to this with his own speech soon after, referring to the importance of charity donations in Islam. It was a silly exchange but one perhaps needed considering both were performing at a charity event.

In another incident, Jawad became the sole victim of a corrupt CD which exposed his lip-syncing. Although he was only one of the few not 'performing' on the night, he opened up to the audience - admitting that performers not performing live are in the wrong, when his chosen track kept skipping. The delay was an annoyance for the crowd on an otherwise entertaining night at Wembley Arena.

EVENT RATING: 7/10
All in all, a night of quality Pakistani music and all for a good cause. Organising a huge event like this was never going to be easy and whilst problems were apparent on a few minor fronts, the thought that the ultimate aim was to help Pakistan somewhat overrides these problems.

Here are some exclusive photos and videos from 'Eid Hungama 2010' - brought to you by umaronline.com and Urdu Times UK. If you were at Wembley Arena last night, let us know your thoughts on the event. Comments are welcomed on this article or through the contact page.

PHOTOS -

Pre-concert.

The host. Noor.

The audience.

Ashia Khan

Raja Kashif

Rags Boys.

Raga boys with Ustad Hamid Ali Khan.

Ustad Hamid Ali Khan.

Ustad Hamid Ali Khan on stage

High Commissioner of Pakistan in the UK, Mr. Wajid Shams-ul-Hassan.

Noor on the stage.

Rahim Shah

Rahim Shah and Noor.

Jawad Ahmed.

Abrar-ul-Haq.

Abrar-ul-Haq

Abrar and the crowd.

Abrar-ul-Haq

Abrar-ul-Haq and Raga Boys.

VIDEOS -

EID MUBARAK from Umar Online

2010-09-10T00:33:00.001+01:00

It's here. After the blessed month of Ramadhan, Muslims across the world are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr. It's the time for sharing, caring and forgiveness. Above all, it's the time for being thankful for God's blessings, whilst helping those who are not as fortunate. This Eid, make a difference to their lives. Remember them in your prayers.

Umar Online would like to wish you and your loved ones a happy Eid. Hope you have a wonderful day.

BLOG: Provocative, senseless and deeply offensive - Should the US intervene to stop Koran burning Pastor?

2010-09-09T02:06:00.001+01:00

Pastor Terry Jones has been condemned for his planned "Burn a Koran Day."

As Muslims across the world look forward to celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr after a month of fasting, one Florida-based fame-seeking Pastor, namely Terry Jones, is planning to hold an "International Burn-a-Koran Day" on Saturday, to, in his own words 'send a message to radical Islam.'

Whilst the timing of Eid, being so close to the 9th anniversary of 9/11 is a mere coincidence, the Pastor's intentions of burning the holy book on 9/11 are not. His deeply offensive act is not only an insult to Muslims across the world but to people who believe in the very concept of religion. It has the hallmarks of an act of waging war against Islam and that is exactly how it is likely to be interpreted by the extremist minority that purports to represent Islam in the East. In the end, only the innocent will suffer in the war of the extremists.

So far, we've seen widespread condemnation of this despicable act - from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and religious leaders from Christianity, Judaism, Islam and many other faiths. The man at the centre of this, head of the Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville, has received more than 100 death threats but remains defiant. He's never read the Koran but wants to burn it. An indicator of the thinking behind this moronic act which negates debate over the content of the book for a provocative and inciting gesture.

So, what WILL happen as we get closer to Saturday? Should the US intervene to stop the Koran burning Pastor? Well, many British Muslims in my hometown of Bradford think that's exactly what will happen (surely they won't allow his flock of 50 odd to burn the Koran). The White House has condemned the Pastor's plans but many expect to see the event being called off or the Pastor being arrested. The likelihood of either is minimal at this moment in time but as national and international pressure grows, the Government will be left with no option but to intervene. The US is supposedly the land of freedom where individual liberty prospers but the senseless event, taking place at a small church in Florida could potentially have global implications - putting the national security of the West (not just the USA) under threat. In such a hostile environment, the US Government must intervene and make its own statement - the burning of a religious text, a crime against the religious, will not be tolerated.

Comments welcome.

£100,000 raised by Islamic Relief at Pakistan Floods Charity Fundraiser in Bradford

2010-08-21T03:19:00.002+01:00

A sum in the region of £100,000 was raised by Islamic Relief at a charity dinner and fundraiser held for victims of the Pakistan floods, in Bradford.

The event, at the Hilton hotel was attended by around 500 people who gathered at the venue to help those caught in the midst of some of the worst flooding the South Asian nation has ever seen. From businesses, big and small to schools and charities, pledges were made of sums from as little as £100 to £10,000. In the charity auction, just over £5,300 was raised through the auctioning of various goods including a Boxing glove signed by boxer Amir Khan, a Liverpool FC shirt signed by every single member of the team and a VIP executive box for 10 people to watch a One Day International cricket match between England and Pakistan.

After the event, Islamic Relief's Jamil Aziz, one of the event co-ordinators said:

"We organised this fundraiser in one week and we're delighted with the response from the Bradford public. The sell-out event has been highly successful as we hit the £100,000 mark."

"We would like to thank everyone for their generous donations and the people of Bradford for this wonderful gesture which sends out a message that we are here to help those caught up in the Pakistan floods in their time of need."

Here are some exclusive photos from the event, courtesy of www.umaronline.com. For a more extensive selection, see the 26th August issue of Urdu Times UK, available online at www.urdutimesuk.com.

As always, comments are welcomed.

BRADFORD: Campaign against hate gains momentum

2010-07-27T17:20:00.003+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?

2010-07-03T21:47:00.007+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.

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

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

2010-02-11T17:36:00.004Z

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