|
|
20 Most Recent News Stories
HARINGEY LABOUR IN DISARRAY OVER THE DEFECTION OF CLLR BRIAN HALEY
Fri 22nd Jan 2010
The defection, two days ago, of senior Cabinet member Cllr Brian Haley to the Liberal Democrats spells disaster for the future of Labour in Haringey. And Rightly so! Labour has been in power for nearly 40 years but has failed to address problems with deprivation, poverty and failing services. Residents in Haringey now have to put up with officially the worst Council in London (after the recent Audit Commission report).The defection of such a senior Labour councillor like Cllr Haley (with others in the Labour Group also looking to move) means that the end is finally near for Labour in Haringey. Yet, true to form, Labour's spin machine spews out untruths and attempts deflection tactics by suggesting that about 18 months ago, I applied to join Labour. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNTRUE.
|
|
Read "HARINGEY LABOUR IN DISARRAY OVER THE DEFECTION OF CLLR BRIAN HALEY " in full (458 words).
|
"NATURAL ALLIANCES: MUSLIM AND JEWS SHOULD BE MAKING EVERY CONCEIVABLE EFFORT TO BRING BOTH FAITH COMMUNITIES TOGETHER"
Tue 5th May 2009
So many blogs, articles and 'specialist' pieces make the case that Jews and Muslims are increasingly becoming suspicious and fearful of each other. Polar stories make out that both communities just see each other through the prism and lens of the Middle East and when Gaza's and Jenin's take place, both communities increasingly caricature each other. To some members of British Jewry, Muslims are seen as an 'insular community,' with extremist voices and messages. 'The other,' the narrative goes, promote Anti-Semitism and have taken on the mantle of Christian Anti-Semitism, swallowing it whole and giving life to Muslim Anti-Semitism. Counter to this are the narratives within some Muslim communities, that there is a growing influence politically and socially by members of British Jewry who use extremism to keep Muslim communities under pressure. The narrative goes on suggesting that some anti-Muslim activities come from members of British Jewry and that Israel and the protection of Israel at all costs, is the over-riding agenda for these individuals. Further narratives also suggest that web-sites are being set up that twist core Islamic text and media from Muslim countries so as to promote half truths and to further caricature Muslims.
|
|
Read ""NATURAL ALLIANCES: MUSLIM AND JEWS SHOULD BE MAKING EVERY CONCEIVABLE EFFORT TO BRING BOTH FAITH COMMUNITIES TOGETHER"" in full (2237 words).
|
Turkey: A Force for Positive Change
Mon 9th Mar 2009
I recently visited Turkey on a fact finding visit with my colleague, Cllr John Oakes. The visit took in civil society organisations, key AK Party members, Members of Parliament within Turkey, newspapers like Zamaan and religious leaders who are creating and shaping the landscape of Turkey. What I have found is a country of such vibrancy and new thinking that I am shocked at the level of mis-understanding that is promoted against this country.
|
|
|
Read "Turkey: A Force for Positive Change" in full (279 words).
|
Bringing You to the Party
Wed 17th Dec 2008
Last week, I had the pleasure of bringing new members to the Liberal Democrats, all three of whom who would add value to their local Liberal Democrat associations and to the Party as a whole. Mike Penrose (an international development consultant), Rabbi Deborah Kahn Harris and Dilek Aygun (a Haringey Turkish community activist), were headhunted by me with a view to ensure that high value members and potential candidates like these three, found a home in the Liberal Democrats. This was also allied to the fact that all three of them exuded liberal values and two of whom were fed up with the two other political parties and who were looking for a Party to 'speak for them.'
|
|
Read "Bringing You to the Party" in full (189 words).
|
THE HORN OF AFRICA AND RADICALISATION
Sun 9th Nov 2008
Running up to the next election, Labour are going to lay a number of charges against us, some of which will attempt to paint our Party as being 'soft' on issues of safety and security. They have consistently tried to push this and at the forefront of their strategy will be the charge that our Party has no coherent strategy to tackle radicalisation and extremism.
|
|
Read "THE HORN OF AFRICA AND RADICALISATION" in full (646 words).
|
Gay and Lesbian Muslims? Yes and Proud of Being Both
Mon 20th Oct 2008
Today, I had the pleasure of speaking at the IMAAN annual conference in Euston. Imaan is a group that focuses on informing and campaigning on issues affecting gay and lesbian practising Muslims and I was invited on the basis of my interfaith work and as an elected politician who happens to be Muslim.
|
|
Read "Gay and Lesbian Muslims? Yes and Proud of Being Both" in full (399 words).
|
Getting Rid of the Politics of Fear
Tue 1st Jul 2008
The politics of fear has been something that has been constantly present within the Middle East and rarely does the politics of bridge building get a chance whether it is through the press that hungrily looks for the 'negative angle' or whether it is through politicians who want to keep the status quo in place.
|
|
|
Read "Getting Rid of the Politics of Fear" in full (632 words).
|
Clegg Cares!
Tue 17th Jun 2008
Nick Clegg MP recently visited Enfield Citizens Advice Bureaux and discussed issues of debt affecting middle income families. Debt levels have been rising successively over the last 6 years and whilst the average level of debt in 2002 was about £8,000, it is not now unusual to find individuals with (on average), a £20K of debt. This does not include mortgage debts and payments to be made.
|
|
|
Read "Clegg Cares!" in full (152 words).
|
Linking American and British Muslim Women
Thu 10th Apr 2008
I have just spent 5 days on the road on a project that is being run by Faith Matters, an interfaith and conflict resolution organisation that I founded in 2005. Faith Matters also runs Faith and Finance social regeneration projects.
|
|
|
Read "Linking American and British Muslim Women" in full (520 words).
|
Post Office Closures will Have a Devastating Effect on Local Communities
Thu 28th Feb 2008
The recent announcements that seven local post offices will be closing in the restructuring of Post Offices throughout the Capital will have a devastating impact on local communities. Those that affect Haringey include Highgate High Street, 100 Alexandra Park Road (N10), Ferme Park Road (N4), Salisbury Road (N22), 89 Weston Park (N8), Page Green (N15) and 434 West Green Road (N15).
|
|
Read "Post Office Closures will Have a Devastating Effect on Local Communities" in full (579 words).
|
Responses to the Archbishop Do Not Look At the Facts on The Ground
Sun 10th Feb 2008
Within 48 hours of the Archbishop making comments around religious inclusion and Shariah, there were press calls, comments and rabid responses for his resignation. This strain of fear is disproportionate and based on conjecture, myths and in some instances, xenophobia. But before I lay out these facts, there is something that I must clear up. The vast amount of Shariah Law covers financial elements, marriage and divorce and other codes for living life. It is not primarily around punishment. However, I for one as a Muslim and as a liberal to my very core, see Islam through the prism of emancipation and knowledge sharing. This means having the chance to question, to debate, to discuss and therefore Shariah is a theoretical and practical framework which must be looked through within a modern context. This therefore means ardently protecting women's rights, respect for diversity in all of its forms (the first convert to Islam was a black man), providing the space for dissent, education for all and emancipation from debt by taking out interest in financial transactions. These are just some examples of what I regard Islam to be about. It should be a driver against poverty, against fear and xenophobia and it should be a driver against ignorance. I have to also add, that I cannot accept two legal systems as a citizen of the UK and the resulting confusion and isolation for Muslims if this were to happen would in the long term, provide a foundation to those who want to portray Muslims as the 'other' and therefore somehow different. We should not give them that chance.
|
|
Read "Responses to the Archbishop Do Not Look At the Facts on The Ground" in full (876 words).
|
London is a Liberal City, That is Why We Need a Liberal Democrat Mayor
Thu 13th Dec 2007
Who can forget the fiasco in which Ken Livingstone clambered to be taken back into the fold of New Labour when his principles and policy making resonated with the socialist guard which he accused Blair of sidelining to the touchlines of Labour's political field? Who can forget the rhetoric from Ken on how employment opportunities are better than they ever were, when the reality is that unemployment has grown in the last 6 years in the capital. Worryingly, Ken seems to have forgotten that London is not just about inner city boroughs and their problems, it is about those boroughs like Enfield who have similar concerns and issues and where inflows of migrant communities mean that the demographics of 'outer' boroughs are changing rapidly.
|
|
Read "London is a Liberal City, That is Why We Need a Liberal Democrat Mayor" in full (483 words).
|
For God's Sake Musharraf, Free Imran Khan and Other Political Dissenters That You Have Detained
Thu 22nd Nov 2007
The fiasco in Pakistan continues. The strongman 'El Presidente' Musharraf continues to lock up anyone who dissents and the very basis of democracy is now gravely injured and lying on the side of the road somewhere between Lahore and Islamabad. The Analogy of Rome burning whilst we are all asleep is a very apt one. Who can forget history when today's 'friend' becomes tomorrow's rogue state and rogue administration. Yet, our own Foreign Office has not been robust in making it clear that dissidents like Imran Khan and the thousands of others detained need to be released and the General must never enforce martial law under the complete lie of an Islamist threat. It is clear that the Islamist threat was a smoke and mirrors routine where all opposition could be suppressed to keep Musharraf in power. What a manipulation of the powers of the State that was.
|
|
Read "For God's Sake Musharraf, Free Imran Khan and Other Political Dissenters That You Have Detained " in full (330 words).
|
Remembering The Past For The Future
Sun 11th Nov 2007
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, services right across the country took place to commemorate the fallen in the Great Wars and within others. It was a sombre occasion for many that brought home the horrors of war and the chance to reflect upon those not here since they truly had 'given their today's for our tomorrows.'
|
|
|
Read "Remembering The Past For The Future" in full (306 words).
|
Pakistan is Convulsing Through Dictatorial Measures
Mon 5th Nov 2007
The decision by General Musharraf to impose martial law has set back Pakistan in the eyes of other nations, especially when so many nations realise that military rule is not only socially counter-productive, it is also leads to economic disaster. Today, Pakistan is virtually overwhelmed by the economic powerhouse that India has become and frankly I cannot conceive that India would ever tear up their governance framework and turn to the imposition of martial law. In fact, India has moved on and does not spend the enormous sums of resources on being a counterweight to Pakistan and this position came about 5 / 6 years ago when India realised that constantly worrying about military conflict with Pakistan was actually damaging the nation. Since then, it has moved on, though Pakistan is still convulsing from one military dictatorship to another.
|
|
|
Read "Pakistan is Convulsing Through Dictatorial Measures" in full (607 words).
|
The Mayor's Strategy For Supporting English as a Second Language (ESOL Courses) in London is Bankrupt
Sat 27th Oct 2007
The Mayor recently announced a £15 million injection for 9 further education colleges in London that were facing sharp cuts in funding for English as a Second Language courses. The announcement in May 2007 shores up provision and does not provide extra ESOL spaces in these colleges even though need has dramatically increased due to the migration of communities like the Somali, Turkish Speaking and Eastern European groups.
|
|
Read "The Mayor's Strategy For Supporting English as a Second Language (ESOL Courses) in London is Bankrupt " in full (317 words).
|
The Chinese Community Marches in Soho!
Fri 19th Oct 2007
China Town was awash today with the young and the old, the angry and the sad, the shopkeepers and the restaurant owners. They were marching side by side and for the first time, Chinatown was awash with placards. 'Don't target the Chinese community', 'don't penalise migrant workers', said the voices of this normally silent community.
|
|
|
Read "The Chinese Community Marches in Soho!" in full (618 words).
|
Ken and His Posturing!!
Sat 6th Oct 2007
The Mayor of London is going to be making a trip to India very soon and no doubt his visit will be used as a posturing opportunity in a vain attempt to garner support from Asian communities in the UK as the London mayoral elections draw in. Interestingly when there is an election, Ken starts to travel to far flung places in a vain attempt to gather support though this is not a knock box against Ken since he has stood up on minority issues and has been vocal on them. What I object to is the use and abuse of the same communities that he states he supposedly stands up for. Come on Ken, don't do it and should you not be campaigning in London instead of enjoying the delights of India.
|
|
Read "Ken and His Posturing!!" (133 words).
|
Archive of earlier News Stories.
 News Story Feed(v1.0).
Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY.
Published and promoted by FIYAZ MUGHAL OBE FCMI - Experience, Energy , Vision and Empowering Those I Represent, c/o 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.
|
