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Issue 231, Friday 25 July 2008 - 23 Rajab 1423

Twenty two Muslims honoured in Queen's honour list

By Elham Asaad Buaras

Twenty two members of the Muslim community were named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their contribution to society: two CBEs, seven OBEs, 11 MBEs and two overseas & military MBEs. Amongst the four women and 18 men are an artist, barrister, doctor, professor and translator. The number of Muslims awarded for their work is considerably higher than last year when only seven were honoured.
Other members minority faith groups have also been included, with 14 members of the Hindu and Sikh faiths (2 OBEs, 11 MBEs, 1 Diplomatic Overseas List MBE) and 22 members of the British Jewish community being awarded two knighthoods, seven CBEs, seven OBEs and six MBEs.

Chair of the British Muslim Forum, Dr Khurshid Ahmed, is to be made a CBE for his services to community relations in Birmingham and the Black Country. Dr Ahmed served as Chair of the audit committee, CRE envoy to the Muslim community and as Assistant Chief Executive at Birmingham City Council from 1984 to 1999. He is currently the Chair of the Dudley Community Partnership. He told The Muslim News he felt “humbled by the award…it is for the hard work and dedication of all my staff.” Mohammed Afzal Khan is to be a CBE for his service to Manchester’s community and interfaith relations. He told The Muslim News, “I enjoy serving the public and look forward to carry on serving the public for many years to come.” Khan worked as a youth worker before serving as a police constable with Greater Manchester Police. He began his legal career as a solicitor and is now a senior partner at a law firm. Khan has acted as lead member for Race Equality and has been involved in interfaith work for 20 years.
Prominent professor of Islamic studies at SOAS, Muhammad Abdel Haleem is one of seven Muslims to be made an OBE. The Editor of the Qur’anic Studies Journal has published 10 religious books and numerous journals. He told The Muslim News, his translation of the Qur’an is his “biggest achievement”. “It is a breakthrough in translation and I have done something important in making the Qur’an easier to understand. I have corrected some crucial terms to correct the image of Islam and to show that Islam is not a violent religion.”
Executive Director of the Al-Khoei Foundation, Sayyid Yousif al-Khoei was made an OBE for his services to community relations. Speaking to The Muslim News Al-Khoei said, “I welcome the fact that Muslims are beginning to be recognised in the mainstream; it’s in recognition of the good community work that Muslim do.” Al-Khoei takes a leading role in projecting his community’s perspectives to British Muslims and is also a co-founder of Dialogue, a current affairs Islamic monthly magazine. Al-Khoei is a founding trustee of several Muslim organisations.
An MBE went to Chair of the Action for Business group in Bradford, Shaukat Ahmed, for his services to Bradford’s community. He has worked to improve housing conditions, economic prosperity and the youth and educational development in inner-city communities. He told The Muslim News, “I am delighted and humbled. I think there are other deserving people, but it is good to get noticed.”
Shaista Gohir is to receive an MBE for her work in enhancing Muslim stakes in decision making processes. She set up Muslim Voice UK in 2005. Through her research Gohir makes Muslim views available to key decision makers, enabling academics and others to use the data for policy projects. Gohir who has recently been included in the Government’s National Muslim Women’s Advisory Group told The Muslim News, “I am pleased that the achievements of Muslim women are being acknowledged. I will be making an effort to highlight the work of other Muslim women.”
Zulfiqar Hussain MBE was awarded for his services to business and charity. Hussain, who came to England from Pakistan when he was 11 years old and could not speak a word of English, is now CEO of Global Synergy Solutions, specialists in mentoring and diversity. He has contributed to a range of diversity programmes across the sectors as a mentor. Hussain told The Muslim News he was “pleased that my efforts were recognised. My work will continue and having this award will help to publicise it.”
Among others awarded an MBE was Shahien Taj of All Wales Saheli Association, an agency that advances the needs of Asian and Muslim families, whose project led to the launch of the Henna Foundation, of which Taj is now the Executive Director. Speaking to The Muslim News Taj said the award is “in recognition of all the great women and men with whom I have the great pleasure of working with. None of what I have achieved could ever have been possible without my faith, God’s will and the unconditional love and support of my parents, children, siblings, family members and close friends.”
The arts world is represented by Saleem Arif Quadri, 59, who was made an MBE. The London-based artist-photographer told The Muslim News he was “privileged to receive such a prestigious award.” Quadri has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad and has vast experience of teaching and artist residences. Painting, photography, printmaking, manuscript books, ceramics and drawing are all mediums that he utilises. Speaking of his inspiration on photography Quadri said, “It was in 1970 when as one of the recipients of ‘Sculptor of the Year Award’, sponsored by the Telegraph Magazine, that I came to know of the late John Ansty (then Editor of Telegraph Magazine)….If my photography is valued today, I firmly believe this is due to his priceless support.”
Full Muslim honours list:
CBE: Dr Khurshid Ahmed, Chair, BMF, for services to community relations. Mohammed Afzal Khan, for services to communities/ interfaith relations/local govt. OBE: Muhammad Abdel Haleem, Prof. of Islamic Studies, SOAS, for services to Arabic culture & literature & to interfaith understanding. Fayyaz Afzal, for judiciary services & to voluntary services to disabled people. Riaz Ahmad, JP, for services to local govt., the administration of justice & to Oldham community. Iqbal Bhana, DL, for services to community relations in W Yorkshire. Sayyid Yousif Al-Khoei, for services to community relation. Dr Azra Meadows, for services to UK & Int. Community Relations. Dr Abdalla Yassin Mohamed, for services to Wales’s community relations. MBE: Shaukat Ahmed, Chair, Action for Business Ltd, for services to Bradford community. Parveiz Aslam, for services to Chesham community. Mahamad Gardi, interpreter & translator, MoD. Zahida Fazaley, witness care officer, CPS. Shaista Gohir, Dir., Muslim Voice UK & Dir., MWN UK, for services to Muslims & to community relations. Dr Meraj Uddin Hasan, Dir., S. Wales Managed Clinical Network in child adolescent psychiatry, for services to medicine & to South Wales community. Zulfiqar Hussain, CEO, Global Synergy Solutions, for services to business/charity. Iqubalhusein Ismail Makati, returns liaison officer, Home Office. Saleem Arif Quadri, for services to art. Farouk Saeed, D. Dir., Export Control Compliance & Regulations, Thales UK, for services to the defence industry. Shahien Taj, for services to diverse community engagement. Overseas List: MBE: Khalid Muhmood, for services to education in Vietnam. Army MBE: Khalid Iqbal Hussain, Royal Logistic Corp.