British Muslim Forum

British Muslim Forum also known as the BMF, is an organisation that represents 300 mosques in the UK. It is made up by Sunni Muslim scholars and religious leaders in the UK with the aim of representing the political thoughts of Sunni Muslims in the UK, hence difference in its scope to the Markazi Jama'at-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat.

They were the only Muslim organisation to support an extension to pre-charge detention from 28 to 42 days [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/11/civilliberties.terrorism] . Previously they also supported a government initiative to spy on Muslim students on campus. [http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200705/INT20070530c.html] .

Both Br Khurshid and Pirzada Sahib have openly said that they oppose the 42 days detention (for an honest account go on the BMF website or check the statements in the Urdu press). Whilst Pirzada Sahib says that his recommendation was to continue to oppose the bill and continue to lobby, Br Khurshid's position has been the same although he has aired on the side of caution in case the bill does come into force (as now is the case) and has agreed to disagree so that BMF can focus on the safeguards of this bill.

It seems that Br Khurshid was right to predict that there was a possibility that this bill will be enacted, he would have been told by the Muslim MP's as well as other Labour colleagues that there was a good chance that this was going to happen. Coming out when he did he has insured the ear of govt for the safeguards. If he had come out now the govt would have said too late we have this in the bag why should we listen to you now. Now we all now that this bill will go to the Lords where there is a likelihood that it will be defeated what does that mean?

Well really nothing all that will say is that the Lords will wish for Parliament to reconsider but the Govt will use the Parliament Act to enforce this and now it is inevitable and that's why David Davis has resigned because even he now knows that this is inevitable. This process will now take about a year to formalise.

What Br Khurshid has done is very wisely focussed his attentions on negotiating the safeguards to minimise the impact of this bill and he has a year to negotiate this. He has put the BMF at the forefront of this negotiation whilst everyone else continues to fight a battle on principal that looks very difficult to win. I think he has shown political maturity and demonstrated his knowledge and experience of the British political system he has not played with our liberties but fighting for them in a different way to limit the impact of this bill on our liberties if indeed it becomes active. Remember he has been an active campaigner in politics in the background for over 30 years both at national level and local government level we shouldn't doubt his political acumen.

If this was a religious matter then Br Khurshid is not a scholar and the consensus of the Trustees who are the most senior and most learned in this field would have decided as they have done in the past. Because this was a political matter in which Br Khurshid is the more learned he has had to explain the rationale and the Trustees have come to a consensus and decided to agree with the approach of the Chair.

Now that doesn't mean that this has been a consensus of a Majority but it still has become the BMF position. Br Khurshid and Pirzada Sahib will still remain close and have a huge amount of respect for each other. On principal their opposition to this bill is the same on direction to take they have differed. Pirzada Sahib has taken the approach that the Conservatives would have taken as he would see them as eventual heirs to government and he himself comes from a conservative constituency and would want the BMF to remain politically impartial, Br Khurshid may not have been able to persuade Pirzada Sahib of his course of action but having good relations with both leading parties demonstrates an increasing strength of position for the BMF.

Both positions demonstrate that the BMF has considered this deeply and has come to a consensus.

External links

* [http://www.britishmuslimforum.org.uk/ British Muslim Forum]