04 Nov 2008
Last week we hosted an important international seminar, Our Mosques, Our Future. We managed to get an unprecedented number of mosques and imams, international speakers and national organisations together into one room to discuss the challenges facing Islam in Britian. On top of that, nearly 400 viewed on the webcam. Perhaps my opening remarks might give you a taste of what the day was about.
"On behalf of the London Borough of Hounslow I would like to welcome everyone to this important national seminar. I am delighted to confirm that over 100 delegates are attending this seminar, with representatives from many London boroughs, mosques, organisations and community groups from across the country. I am delighted that Hounslow Council is hosting this historic gathering of mosques and imams as part of a series of national roundtable discussions on the future of our mosques in Britain.
I would also like to extend my warmest welcome to our eminent speakers, Imam Shahid Reza, Ghulam Rasool, Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad from Cambridge University and our key note speaker Habib Umar Hafiz from Yemen. I also welcome Imams and representatives from our Hounslow mosques, who are playing a leading role in promoting cohesion and inter-faith dialogue.
There is no doubt that building cohesion and tackling extremism is one of the most important agendas, nationally and internationally. Globalisation, the expansion of the European Union, mass migration, and international tensions all impact our local community.
In Hounslow we have our own challenges including far right groups who have actively recruited in parts of the borough and canvassed during the local elections.
We can easily get caught up in all the news and believe that our society is struggling to deal with all these complex developments. However, despite the many challenges I do believe that as a community we have more that unites us than divides us. As British citizens, we do promote tolerance, free speech, and opportunity. Which is why this country stands out in its record of integrating new communities and promoting opportunity and human rights. We should be proud of our heritage and our achievements.
As a Roman Catholic myself it always strikes me that there are interesting parallels between the culture of Muslims in Britain today and Catholics in the 1950s and early 60s.
Catholic culture was largely synonymous with Irish culture, as Muslim culture here now overlaps with the culture of the Indian sub-continent. A number of things distinguished us from our neighbours: Catholics demanded denominational schools; we had a different attitude to women and family life; we had that sense of communal self-sufficiency and we were seen as loyal to a foreign religion that seemed to aim at a global theocracy - all things which the white community today sees in the Asian communities.
Catholics have gone through a process in which it is possible to hold onto a distinct religious identity, with distinctive values, and yet become completely British, and in doing so to bring our values to bear influentially on the mainstream of society. It has been, of course, a long business.
We are proud of the positive contribution that our Muslim community has made to Britain. Through all walks of life Muslims are actively engaging in all walks of British life. There is no doubt that there are many shared values between British culture and Islam.
Yes we have challenges, but by us working together and pro-actively addressing the issues we can build a more stronger and united community. A community where we enable each other to achieve their full potential and their aspirations.
The role of our mosques is a very important issue for us all to consider. There is no doubt that the mosque is the heart and foundation of the Muslim community. The mosque can provide leadership, guidance and social welfare to all communities living in Britain.
I do hope that you all benefit from today’s programme. Please use this day constructively to have an open and frank discussion about your experiences and suggestions. By dialogue, engagement and partnership working we can as British citizens come together as one community and one country."
Cllr Peter Thompson
Leader
London Borough of Hounslow
