AGM January 2021: Candidates

I do this as an Imam, teacher, broadcaster, author, fundraiser, family counsellor, community organiser and grassroots activist. I have devoted all my working life to bringing communities together and building bridges.

I come from a humble family in London’s East End. At a young age, my father took me to his native Bangladesh for my Islamic education for some years. When I returned to school in the UK, I had to work very hard to catch up on the education I had missed. I graduated from University of London with a Master of Arts in Islamic Studies.

I began work as youth worker and community development officer for local authorities across London, and with Citizens Organising Foundation. This led to founding Communities in Action, specialising in community development, cohesion and capacity building programmes.

Subsequently, I served as
• vice-chair of the London Civic Forum
• contributed to the London Mayor’s strategy for London
• led campaigns including the Vision, Voice and Vote campaign for Londoners, the Living Wage Campaign, and Standing Together Against Intolerance.

I have been a member of many Muslim youth and community organisations, including
• FOSIS
• Islamic Society of Britain (Chair 2016-19).
• I am a trustee at Britain’s first mosque, the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque in Liverpool.

I twice stood for parliament, but unsuccessfully.

As a London based imam, I have been leading Friday prayers for over twenty years in mosques in many parts of Britain.

I have designed a course on Islamic approaches to peace-making called “Learning to be a peacemaker and delivered it to over 500 young European Muslims over the last 15 years.

I have been a robust champion of peace and harmony and vehement opponent of hate crime in all its forms. I actively challenge all forms of extremism and injustice. I believe moderation and tolerance is the essence/ fundamental values of Islam and our intra-faith diversity as a source of strength.

I am frequently invited nationally and internationally to address events, rallies and conferences on issues ranging from integration, Islam in the modern world, and the representation of Muslim community in politics and media, theology, family, marriage and relationships.

I have been a production consultant and presenter on programmes about Islam and Muslims for Channel 4, BBC, ITV, CNN and National Geographic, as well as having my own programmes on the Islam Channel and Channel S. I have represented the Muslim voice authentically and honesty in the mainstream media for the last 20 years.

I have published articles in newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, The Evening Standard, The Economist, The Statesman and Huffington Post, as well as books and booklets on issues including marriage and relationships, faith and identity, politics and society.

I have authored handbooks on diversity and community cohesion including “The Mark of Faith” for Southwark Borough Council, “Muslims in Britain” for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the “Ramadan Health Guide” for the Department of Health, as well as being a cultural relations consultant for the British Council.
In 2014 I was honoured to be included in the list of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world.

As a fundraiser, I have been able to raise approximately £50 million over the last twenty-five years for Muslim humanitarian aid organisations.

I co-founded with my wife, Henrietta Szovati, the Barefoot Institute that specialises in building Muslim relationships, providing relationship training, counselling and mediation.

When the English Defence League threatened to attack the central Mosque in Harrow, I was called to help the local community and succeeded in defusing the confrontation.

In the immediate aftermath of the murder of drummer Lee Rigby, The Economist wrote of me: ‘The bonne parole came from Ajmal Masroor… “If you dislike Britain so much…why don’t you just hand your passport over and leave? And if you dislike the policies of the government…participate in the electoral process, stand for election,” he rhetorically told the soldier’s attacker, in an interview with Sky TV which won big approval ratings on social media. At a time when ugly and vindictive threats were starting to hurtle through cyber-space, this was just the sort of message that many citizens wanted to hear…from a Muslim.’

I believe that I can help the MCB fulfil its huge potential, building on its excellent track record and existing priorities.

As Secretary General I will use all my expertise to help MCB achieve the following:
1. Become a stronger voice for all the sections of Muslim community in UK
2. Greater investment in young people
3. Confident Muslim families
4. Taking MCB closer to the grassroots
5. Better relationship with the media, engaging more meaningfully and strategically
6. Greater Muslim participation in politics and media  
7. Eradication of all forms of inequality, discrimination, racism and Islamophobia
8. Greater cooperation between the Muslim communities for social and economic development
9. Helping to create a new a more inclusive narrative for all communities in the UK
10.Greater Muslim contribution on common good
11.Making MCB more financially stable and self-sustainable.

I am a Master’s graduate in Human Rights Law and a Training and Development Consultant.

As well as contributing to the MCB National Council since 2016, I have also been serving as an Assistant Secretary-General. Rooted in tradition and with a vision for the future, I appreciate the critical role the MCB must play as a strong and representative platform for our diverse Muslim communities. With my proven track record in leading national organisations, relevant skill set and understanding of the challenges ahead, I am ready to lead the MCB into the future.

Leadership Experience
Assistant Secretary-General of the MCB, 2018 – present
• I have been responsible for facilitating National Council meetings for this term; I have ensured that meetings included discussions on improving affiliate engagement as well as an ‘affiliate zone’ segment to share best practice

• As part of the COVID-19 National Community Response Group, I have worked to support affiliates, delivering more than 40 webinars across multiple organisations and platforms

• I have contributed to MCB staff meetings for over 8 months and introduced wellbeing strategies to support staff and volunteers during the pandemic

• After conducting a staff survey, I designed and delivered internal training programmes for our staff as part of their continuous professional development

• I have represented MCB on national and international news media including Sky News, BBC and Euronews as well as local and national radio broadcasters

• I delivered the MCB 2019 (non election) AGM at the Prince’s Trust Birmingham Office creating a new partnership for youth engagement

• I hosted the first OMOF Conference and the Muslim Leadership Dinner with Mayor Sadiq Khan

Head of Media & Communications for the Muslim Council of Scotland (MCS) 2019-present
• I have represented Scottish Muslim communities across the media spectrum; developing positive relationships through newsroom visits; leading community responses to crisis e.g. Christchurch, COVID-19
• I have engaged effectively with the Scottish Government at all levels; meeting with Cabinet Secretaries and Civil Servants
• I spearheaded the rebrand and development of the MCS website and logo

President of Federation of Student Islamic Societies (2016-17)
• FOSIS is the largest Muslim student umbrella organisation within the UK and Eire. Along with gaining key skills in leadership, I identified and nurtured talent to help develop future leaders
• I worked collaboratively with regional teams and listened to our wider membership to respond to key issues and help develop stronger Islamic societies

Suitability for the position of SG
(1) Developing a more strategic organisation
The MCB needs to ensure the structure and operation of the organisation is fit for purpose and provides an effective forum for strategic conversation. If elected I would:
• enhance the operating model for the National Council so it is a real forum for critical discussion and debate

• develop a better working model for internal Governance, staff structures and support mechanisms within the MCB

• continue to support the work of the Governance Review Working Group to create the optimum legal, financial and operational structure for the MCB

(2) Representing the interests of British Muslims
The MCB has made significant progress in media monitoring and reporting but there is more to be done to impact policy change. If elected I would:
• seek to build critical relationships to influence policy making in the UK

• ensure fair representation of the diversity of our affiliates in the media

• continue to support the excellent media and public affairs work being carried out by the MCB (including CfMM and Public Affairs)

(3) Developing a culture of leadership
The MCB has an important role to play in ensuring we help affiliates develop the best talent to support our communities. If elected, I would:
• invest in dedicated leadership development programmes for staff, volunteers and affiliates

• ensure capacity building is a key part of MCB activities

• build strategic partnerships and alliances across civic society and sectors including other faith communities and professional bodies

(4) Addressing future challenges for Muslims in the UK
The MCB needs to prepare for the critical challenges that will face our communities in the future. If elected, I would:
• help to develop practical solutions for COVID-19 to help those in need by engaging widely with our affiliates and sharing best practice

• facilitate collaborative responses to key consultations such as education, employment, social mobility, health and protecting religious freedoms

• help develop an MCB that truly embodies the spirit of what a membership organisation is; with grassroots activism at its heart and faith inspired action.

I have enjoyed supporting the MCB and our affiliates to reach new audiences, from writing articles on the challenges of leadership in British Muslim communities today  and the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, to submitting letters rebutting articles attacking the MCB and supporting projects on understanding British Imams. 

But I’ve also seen the unpleasant sides of our communities too. Muslim-led organisations or individuals refusing to meet me due to political grudges or external influence, instead of frankly talking through our differences. Senior community members sneering at me when I tell them I’m an MCB Office Bearer because “you’re too young.” Or individuals misinterpreting scripture to justify maintaining a mosque with minimal or no space for women to connect with their Creator and Sustainer. Our communities must navigate these and other internal challenges, all against the background of rising Islamophobia globally, the normalization of far-right populism in parts of Europe and unprecedented economic turmoil caused by the COVID19 pandemic. I thus humbly seek reelection for a second term as Deputy Secretary General with a number of focus areas.  

Stability & Continuity 

In the last few years, the MCB has grown from an organisation employing little more than two or three employees and a small number of projects, to one that employs about a dozen employees running multiple projects. As we look ahead to the next two years, we need a period of consolidation, review and grassroots listening in order to restructure and stay aligned with the needs of British Muslim communities in a post-COVID19 world. 

I stand ready to support the new MCB Secretary General in their tasks and to ensure continuity and a smooth transition internally, so that externally, we can provide a stronger and community-rooted voice to the Government, media and wider British civil society.  

‘New normal’, new relationships 

 British Muslim communities are growing, with latest polling estimating approximately 3.4 million Muslims in Britain in 2018, compared to the 2.7m from the 2011 census. With this growth comes new organisations, institutions and campaigns, some of which the MCB has a healthy working relationship with, whilst others need more outreach and bridge building. In particular where there are areas of overlap in work, we must step-up efforts in bringing like-minded organisations, initiatives and campaigns together at local, regional and national levels – instead of each of us operating disjointedly and divided in silos – as is often happening today. There will always be differences in approach, but our objective should not be to achieve unity of views, but unity of purpose. The preamble of the MCB Constitution begins with the verse from the Holy Quran, “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided…” (Quran, 3:103, Saheeh International translation), and we should never forget this.  

The UK is not London 

Previous criticisms from some MCB affiliates is that we are too London-centric. Whilst some improvements have been made in recent years – including more events held, and affiliates, volunteers and employees recruited nationwide – there is still more to be done. The reduction in geographic barriers for meetings during the COVID19 pandemic has also opened new opportunities for countrywide engagement which we are already capitalizing on. However, developing stronger local and regional community engagement structures must continue to be a focus for the next two years to improve our visibility and reach to new and existing affiliates and volunteers.  

Overall 

It is an exciting time to be involved in British Muslim affairs. The community is rapidly developing, more young Muslims are getting involved in community initiatives with new energy, ideas and enthusiasm, all whilst our challenges in tackling internal community matters as well as external threats like Islamophobia have never been greater. I will strive to do my utmost to ensure the MCB continues to be at the forefront of these challenges, accountable to our affiliates and always striving in empowering British Muslim communities to achieve a just, cohesive and successful British society.