The Muslim News - 20 Muslims honoured by the Queen

Issue 243, Friday 31 July 2009 - 9 Sha'ban 1430

20 Muslims honoured by the Queen

By Elham Asaad Buaras

Twenty (2 CBEs, 4 OBEs, 11 MBEs, 1 BEM, and 1 QPM) Muslims were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year along with 15 members of the Hindu and Sikh communities (1 Knighthood, 1 MVO, 3 CBEs, 1 OBE, 10 MBEs and 1 BEM) and thirteen members of the Jewish community (1 Damehood , 3 CBEs, 4 OBEs, and 5 MBEs).

The majority of Muslims honoured gave their expertise to charities and the voluntary sector and six worked to advance social cohesion or Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) standard of living.

One of three Muslims to be made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) is Chair of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists UK, Dr Anas Al-Shaikh Ali. Ali gained his PhD on American studies and is a founding trustee of FAIR and Executive Director of Legacy Publishing. Ali, who is also an academic advisor to the International Institute of Islamic Though, told The Muslim News the award would work as “a motivational factor bringing additional impetus to continue the work of developing better understanding and trust as well as peaceful relationships between our different communities and societies.”

Fiyaz Mughal, Director of extremism tackling Faith Matters has been given an Order of the British Empire (OBE). Mughal has been appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government a member of the Local Delivery Advisory Group on preventing violent extremism. He has also been appointed as the advisor to Lib-Dem Leader Nick Clegg. Mughal, who has over 15 years experience in the voluntary sector, told The Muslim News the award “is testament to the various social champions that I have met within different communities.”

Met Police Authority‘s (MPA) Deputy Chair, Reshard Sheik Mahmad Auladin, is also to be made an OBE. Auladin served as a magistrate for 8 years, sits on the Enfield bench family courts and is a trustee of a Muslim educational charity in London. He was chair of the Enfield youth panel for 4 years and was a member on the Enfield Magistrates Court’s Committee for 5 years.

The former NHS worker told The Muslim News he was “delighted” and that “I don’t carry out my public service for any particular reason but to serve.”

Rokhsana Fiaz from Forest Gate, a stalwart of an equalities body, said she was “surprised” to be made an OBE. Fiaz is a founding director of the Change Institute, a research and consultancy body on issues of race, faith and identity.

She helped set the organisation up three years ago using her 15 years in policy development and communication campaigns, which included a broadcasting spell and her involvement in the Muslim community.

Fiaz, 38, told The Muslim News, “Being recommended was a surprise and receiving the honour a greater one. For me, the recognition of my efforts is as much about those colleagues, friends and family who have supported me in my endeavours and with whom I’ve worked with to improve the lives and experiences of Black and minority ethnic communities in the UK.”

Senior lecturer in engineering at Salford University Dr Haifa Takruri- Rizk has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her work inspiring women and BME people to take careers in science, engineering and technology. Rizk has dedicated 17 years promoting the sector to demographics usually underrepresented in the field. During her career she spearheaded initiatives which encouraged thousands of girls to study the sciences.

In a statement to The Muslim News Rizk said. “This means that my hard work and dedication is really valued.”

Jamila Aftab received an MBE in recognition of her 23 years of work with Bristol based Pakistani families. Aftab who is Pakistani arrived in the UK in 1972. By 1985 she noticed a lack of care facilities for young families and founded a centre which evolved to become the St Paul’s Asian Women’s Group. The organisation benefits some 250 families and offers sewing classes as well as play sessions for children. Despite her years of hard work Atfab said she initial “thought somebody was playing a prank.”

“It is an enormous sense of pride for us that from often isolated, housebound women with no English they have become confident enough to achieve this,” she told The Muslim News.

Sandwell Councillor Ahmadul Haque was one of those celebrating after receiving an MBE for service to the community. Haque, 77, has been chair of the Al Islah Community Trust since 1997 and ran the Tipton Muslim Association and the Bangladeshi Welfare Association before that. He has also been leading campaigner for the Ł22 million Tipton tunnel, currently being constructed.

Haque told The Muslim News, “Community work is a 24/7 job and even though I am retired now, there is still so much work to be done.”

Belmarsh prison’s Deputy Race Equality Officer, Mostapha Bouker, is to be made an MBE for his service. Morocco born Bouker has worked as a kitchen porter, chef, and bus driver. He could not speak English when he first arrived to the UK deeming his French and Arabic qualifications useless.

He told The Muslim News, “When I received the letter from the Cabinet Office asking me if I would like to accept the MBE…it took me all of one second to consider my answer and accept.” Bouker said being was sworn to secrecy until the official announcement was made which was one of “the hardest things I have ever had to do, because I wanted to do was tell the world.”

Iftakhar Hussain, 36, has also been awarded an MBE for his work to help better the lives of people in Hartlepool, Durham. The dad of three has made a significant contribution both to the quality of life for BME residents and to community cohesion. In 2001, he helped form the Hartlepool Asian Association, which manages the Salaam Resource Centre, provides support the diverse BME communities.

Hussain is also a diversity champion on the board of Housing Hartlepool and was involved in the campaign for a multi-cultural centre in Murray Street that gained planning approval earlier this year.

Northern Ireland Muslim Family Association Chair, Javaid Naveed, was also made an MBE for services to BMEs in Northern Ireland.

He told The Muslim News he is looking forward to meeting the Queen. “I had no idea that my work would be so much appreciated. As a good Muslim it is my duty to help people when ever I can and doing a lot voluntary work has helped me fulfill this duty. It gives me great happiness when I see that the help I gave has in return helped someone else whether the person is someone who has just arrived in the country or someone who is in authority.”

Winner of the 2007 Community Police Officer of the Year award, PC Mohammed Aziz is the only Muslim officer to be named in the Queens Police Medal. The West Yorkshire policeman is being recognized for his work on easing tensions in Saville Town, Dewsbury, post July 7 terror attacks.

Judges for this award considered personal skills, local initiatives to combat crime and relationships with the community. “Being a Muslim and an Asian myself, I feel that I have a good understanding of the culture and the religion in the community. That’s been more helpful than anything else. I know how they feel when they say it’s our culture and our religion that people are attacking. But from my perspective, I have to be professional about it all as well,” said Aziz.

Muslim recipients in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2009

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE): Dr Anas Al-Shaikh Ali, academic advisor, Intl Inst of Islamic Thought, for services to community relations. Shaukat Moledina, for services to social housing & to charity.

Order of the British Empire (OBE): Reshard Auladin, Deputy Chair, Met Police Authority, for services to police & to the admin of justice. Rokhsana Fiaz, Dir, Change Inst, for services to, BME. Dr Mohammed Hossain, Dir, Research & Intl Coop, national physical lab, for services to industry. Fiyaz Mughal, Dir, Faith Matters, for services to, the voluntary sector.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE); Jamila Aftab, for services to the community in Bristol. Ashuk Ahmed, for services to young people. Syeda Begum, fst Bengali & Somali people in Tower Hamlets. Mostapha Bouker Deputy Race Equality Officer, Prison Officer, HM Prison Belmarsh, Ministry of Justice. Ahmadul Haque, Chair, Al Islah Community Trust, for services to the community. Iftakhar Hussain, for services to Asian people in Hartlepool. Nurul Islam, for services to Bengali people. Ebrahim Kharodia, for services to, pharmacy in London & to charity in Malawi. Javaid Naveed, for services to BME in N Ireland. Dr Haifa Takruri-Rizk senior lecturer, Uni of Salford, for services to women, BME in science, engineering & tech education. Yusuf Saleh, admin officer, pension disability & carers’ service, Dept for Work & Pensions, for services to, public & voluntary service.

British Empire Medal (BEM); Anis Tiki, for services to the community.

Queens Police Medal (QPM); Mohammed Aziz, constable West Yorkshire Police.