On Sunday 15th of December the Chairman and trustees of the Indian Muslim Trust held a reception in honour of Mr Muhammad Walayat Khokar manager at Muslim Aid who had recently received a MBE by her Majesty the Queen.
The oldest Indian Muslim organisation in the UK, recognised as a NGO by the United Nations
Activity
Status of Muslims in India after Sachar Commission
Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood was appointed by Indian Prime Minister as ‘Officer on Special Duty’ for the ‘Sachar Committee’ to study the “social, economic and educational status” of India’s minority Muslim community. Dr. Mahmood was educated at Aligarh Muslim University. Dr. Mahmood is also the founder of three non-profit organizations: Zakat Foundation of India, Interfaith Coalition for Peace and God’s Grace Foundation. Zakat Foundation of India (founded in 1997) is a non-profit which runs an orphanage for victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots in partnership with USA’s One World Children’s Fund. The Foundation recently was in the news for adopting the family of the late 11-year old Shanno Khan. Dr. Mahmood’s work in regard to these organizations has also been featured on CNN and America’s National Public Radio (NPR). In September 2009, ZFI filed a ‘Right To Information’ application to question why the Government had rejected the Sachar Committee recommendations to ensure proper governance of Wakf properties.
British Indian Muslims remember Demolition of Babri Masjid at its 20th Anniversary
On the 20th anniversary of demolition of Babri Masjid, members of Indian Muslim Federation (UK) fully endorsed the joint statement of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat and Babari Masjid Movement Coordination Committee issued in India.
IMF (UK) members urged all Indian origin people living in UK to recall the greatest tragedy of Independent India, the deliberate and organized demolition of the Babari Masjid, Ayodhya in India on 6 December, 1992. The demolition of the three domes of the Babari Masjid amounted to the destruction of the three Pillars of the State the Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Government and the anti-secular elements which were responsible are yet to be punished.
IMF (UK) members appealed to the secular people of India and all over world to recall the tragedy with dignity and draw the attention of the Indian Parliament which is yet to discuss Justice Liberhan’s Report, the Supreme Court which is yet to deliver its final verdict in the title suit and of the Government of India which is yet to punish anyone including those who openly celebrated the Demolition and those who proudly claimed the ‘credit’. People of Indian origin living abroad questioned that why the wheels of justice move so slow in India in this case which tarnish the international image of the secular and democratic image of India. Justice delayed is justice denied.
IMF (UK) members fully endorsed the AIMMM and Babri Masjid Committee’s resolution to demand:
- That the Government of India take up a discussion on the Liberhan Commission Report in the Indian Parliament without any further delay;
- That the Government of India take up a discussion on the Liberhan Commission Report in the Indian Parliament without any further delay;
- That the Supreme Court of India consider the Orders of the Special Bench of the Allahabad High Court on the Title Suit expeditiously;
- That the Government of India pay adequate compensation to the families of the people who lost their lives, to those who were injured in post-demolition violence in Ayodhya and to the owners of the houses and shops torched on that day.
- That the Government of India grant permission to the Muslim community to reconstruct the Masjids, Dargahs and Mausolea that were demolished/damaged in Ayodhya and to construct boundary walls for all the Qabristans;
- That the Government of India activate and implement the 1991 Law for the Security of the Religious Places in order to protect such sacred places in future from intentional and deliberate damage.
IMF (UK) members also remembered and prayed to the Almighty for eternal peace for those who lost their lives on that day and in the post-Demolition riots throughout the country.
Indian Muslim Delegates visiting the IMF
Zubair Hudawi 
Ms Shamina Shafiq 
Rubina Mazhar
IMF (UK) hosted a meeting on Wednesday, 17 October 2012 at IMF Hall in London with the Indian Muslim delegates visiting UK to learn about civil society developments affecting Muslim communities specifically as well as faith communities more generally – within the context of interfaith relations. This was held in conjunction with https://www.faith-matters.org/
IMF (UK) President Mr Shamsuddin Agha welcomed the delegates and briefed about the IMF activities and community involvement. Mr Irfan Mustafa, General Secretary IMF (UK) introduced delegates to the meeting.
Shamina Shafiq
Ms Shamina Shafiq a member of the National Commission for Women, a national level organisation in India briefed the meeting about the NCW’s work to protect and promote the interests of women and its role which includes reviewing and monitoring constitutional and legal safeguards for women in India; recommending legislative measures; ensuring that grievances are addressed and promoting the status of women through the advice it provides to the Indian government.
Rubina Mazhar
Director of SAFA, a leading social organisation based in Hyderabad, India advised that SAFA works to empower women, and especially urban illiterate women, to sustainable livelihoods. SAFA works on both economic empowerment as well as primary education programmes for women.
Zia Haq
Assistant Editor at the Hindustan Times who reports on issues related to minority affairs briefed the meeting on current political and social affairs about Muslims in India and referred the Sachar Commission report for social, educational and economic upliftment of the Muslims in India.
Zubair Hudawi
Representing the Darul Huda University, an Islamic University in Kerala briefed the meeting on their challenges to provide Islamic education with modern methods of teaching and recognition.
The meeting was attended by 50 British Muslim community leaders representing many organisation including Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association (UK).
Mr Akhtar Mirza, Vice President thanked the delegates and community leaders for attending the meeting. After the meeting the delegates and community leaders attended a dinner.
Eid-ul-Fitr 2012
- Quran recitation Salman Patel
- Adil Siddique Naat
- Introduction by Shamsuddin Agha
Hasrat Mohani Day
Poet and Freedom Fighter
The IMF held a successful event to celebrate the life of Poet and Freedom Fighter Hasrat Mohani on 30th June 2012. Two papers were presented; by renowned broadcaster Mr Razali Abidi and Mr Baiz of Bangalore, followed by Mushaira and a meal.
Jalse Seerat-un-Nabi
Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association UK and Indian Muslim Federation Leytonstone organised a really wonderful Jalse Seerat today at the IMF Hall in Leytonstone. It was utterly fulfilling to hear about Seerah, particularly with the participation of highly sophisticated women like Shahnaz Suri and Akhtar Siddiqui.
Programme
The programme was introduced by Khurshid Hasan of AMU and Shamsuddin Agha of IMF jointly! Akhtar Siddiqui welcomed all the guests and speakers to the event,
The main speakers were:
Dr Mohammed Fahim, the Chairman of the Trustees and Chief Imam at the Qurani Murkuz Trust, South Woodford. His talk was on the aspects of Seerah in the present day context. What a dynamic speaker! He had the audience spellbound.
Professor Abdul Ali Hamid: Vice Principal, Muslim College, scholar, author and a life member of the Association. He presided over the proceedings and presented a talk on aspects of Seerah.
Dr Shahnaz Suri: Aligarh, founder member, former treasurer and President of the Association presented a talk on Seerah from the female perspective.
Adil Siddiqui: Recitation of Naat” (Urdu). He is a long term member and a friend of the association and blessed with beautiful melodious voice. He recited really powerfully and touched everyone’s heart.
Finally Irfan Mustafa gave a vote of thanks.
As usual, I learnt so much from these amazing people most of whom have studied at Aligarh Muslim University!!
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
On the 19th anniversary of the destruction and demolition of Babri Masjid on 6th December 2011, members of the Indian Muslim Federation (UK) urged the government of India and particularly, the Supreme Court of India to take action and acknowledge the miscarriage of justice in the case of the Babri Masjid demolition and work towards a full and final resolution of the issue.
High Court Verdict
Mr Shamsuddin Agha, President of IMF (UK) said that “Justice delayed is justice denied. After 19 years since this crime against the nation was committed, it is unacceptable and reflects poorly on of India’s pluralist and secular character.
The Supreme Court’s stay on the October 2010 verdict of the Allahabad High Court is welcome, it is clear that the machinations of those involved in the demolition could result in further delay for the victims of one of the most egregious violations of religious freedom in our nation’s history
added Mr. Agha
IMF (UK) believes that it was Indian government’s inaction, coupled with fanatical mobs driven by the hate-filled discourse of the Sangh parivar that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.
In order to repair the secular foundations of India and to heal the wounds to our national pride caused by the demolition and its murderous aftermath, IMF (UK) has demanded the following:
- Criminal prosecution of those responsible and held culpable by the Liberhan Commission for the Babri Masjid demolition;
- A resolution of the title to the disputed land, based on facts and not on favouring the religious beliefs of one community over those of another;
- A reaffirmation of the “The Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991”, that prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on 15th August, 1947. Although this Act does not apply to the Babri Masjid, it would ensure that sectarian politics is not allowed leverage over other places of worship in order to advance a divisive agenda.
IMF(UK) has called upon people of all faiths to exercise restraint during the upcoming anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, and called upon the law enforcement agencies to provide adequate security to all citizens.
Celebrating Faiz’s birth Centenary
The President of the IMF, Shamsuddin Agha organised an elaborate event at the Federation to pay tribute to Faiz on the occasion of his centenary. The event was well attended by members and some very high profile guests. The Deputy Speaker of the Indian Parliament – the Raj Sabha Mr Khan, specially delayed his flight back to India by one day so he could take part in this event.
The event was compeered by the very mellow mannered Shahid Ali Syed, whose main strong point is that he is brief and to the point. The programme included speeches about Faiz, recital of his poetry and finally a live musical tribute whereby Seema Lodhi presented a selection of Faiz’s ghazals in her melodious voice. She was joined by the IMF’s own Adil Siddiqui who also displayed his reverence for Faiz in his singing.
Zikr uss parivash ka aur phir bayan apna – is the only way I can describe the reminiscent talks about Faiz by two of my favourite Speakers – Raza Ali Abidi and Asaf Jilani. Both of them managed to introduce us to aspects of Faiz’s life that were hitherto unknown to me at least. For example Faiz’s father started his work career as a Quli and ended up being Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the UK!
It must also be mentioned that Saba Shaikh, daughter of the very popular barrister and Counsellor Shuja Shaikh did a fantastic job of decorating the stage. Dr Syed Masroor, in addition to remembering with great fondness how Faiz gifted him a ten rupee note, which was framed and shown off to all friends and family by his father, also supported the event financially. Mr Sarwar of the Nation was put on the spot and invited on stage to say a few words. Being an articulate and sincere man, he was able to express his fondness for Faiz without great difficulty.
The most striking thing about this event was that it was organised by a group who have been founded on their religious values. The fact of their pride in their religion, their beards and Hijaabs, the constant breaks so people could say their prayers did not prevent them from paying their respects to the legendary Faiz, who has often been associated with Marxism and Socialism.
Not only that, his marriage to an English woman called Elys and it’s worth noting that Faiz never gave Elys a different name just to legitimise her existence within his own community and make her more acceptable, did not result in any bias towards him by the IMF. In fact Shamsuddin proudly declared that Faiz’s Sasuraal is in the area. Faiz loved and accepted Elys as she was and she remained devoted to him throughout his life and even after his death, she has continued to live in his beloved Pakistan.
This clearly goes to show that the IMF is a shining example of Muslims who embrace the values of multi-cultural Britain and respect and celebrate figures of history who may not even fit into their criteria of the perfect Muslim. The tolerance and pluralism of the IMF was made even more evident by the two special guests, Ms Sangeeta Bahadur (a Hindu) and Mr S.S Sidhu (a Sikh) who expressed their respect and admiration of Faiz again proving that Faiz was a poet for all the people of the entire sub-continent.
My experience of the IMF has always been that right from the President Shamsuddin to the Executive Committee to the ordinary members – they are all friendly, warm, generous and hospitable. Most notably Irfan Mustafa, Shamsuddins own daughter Huma, Shamsuddin’s stunning and talented granddaughter Qudsia as well as other members of the EC personally looked after the guests with great warmth and affection throughout the evening right up to the point of saying farewell at the end of the afternoon. The amazingly smooth and speedy manner in which the food was served at this event really goes to show that in this organisation, everyone works as part of a team.
My congratulations to Shamsuddin and his whole team for the wonderful afternoon it turned out to be!! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and left the event feeling totally fulfilled!
Article By Huma Price
Videography/Editing: A. Razaq
07956 143 099
Deputy High Commissioner for India Mr. Rajesh N Prasad
The IMF – (Indian Muslim Federation) organised an Eid-ul-Fitr celebration for 2011 award high achieving students who scored outstanding marks. Chief guest Deputy High Commissioner for India Mr. Rajesh N. Prasad presented awards.
