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| Muslim youth leader says more must be done to fight grooming | Muslim youth leader says more must be done to fight grooming |
| (3 months later) | |
| One of the most high-profile Muslims to address the issue of grooming has said more still needs to be done to tackle the issue, as a sermon was delivered in 500 mosques across the UK denouncing the sexual abuse of children. | One of the most high-profile Muslims to address the issue of grooming has said more still needs to be done to tackle the issue, as a sermon was delivered in 500 mosques across the UK denouncing the sexual abuse of children. |
| Together Against Grooming (Tag) was organised in the wake of the convictions of Muslim men in British courts for a series of horrific cases, including in Derby, Rochdale, Telford, Bradford and Oxford, where on Thursday five men were jailed for life and two others received long sentences for the sexual abuse of girls. Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadan Foundation youth group, welcomed the sermon, which condemned "the disgraceful actions of those involved in these cases", but added: "We don't want it to be just one sermon. We want it to be activities and community groups coming together. They've got to take it to the next stage, more of a grassroots thing, engaging with young Pakistani lads, making them realise it [grooming] is wrong." | Together Against Grooming (Tag) was organised in the wake of the convictions of Muslim men in British courts for a series of horrific cases, including in Derby, Rochdale, Telford, Bradford and Oxford, where on Thursday five men were jailed for life and two others received long sentences for the sexual abuse of girls. Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadan Foundation youth group, welcomed the sermon, which condemned "the disgraceful actions of those involved in these cases", but added: "We don't want it to be just one sermon. We want it to be activities and community groups coming together. They've got to take it to the next stage, more of a grassroots thing, engaging with young Pakistani lads, making them realise it [grooming] is wrong." |
| Tag said the co-ordinated address before Friday prayers was the first time so many imams had delivered the same sermon, an indication of the concern in the Muslim community. But some feel that British Muslims are being unfairly stigmatised because of the crimes of a few, amid claims that gang grooming on streets and abuse of girls is disproportionately linked to Muslim Asian men. | Tag said the co-ordinated address before Friday prayers was the first time so many imams had delivered the same sermon, an indication of the concern in the Muslim community. But some feel that British Muslims are being unfairly stigmatised because of the crimes of a few, amid claims that gang grooming on streets and abuse of girls is disproportionately linked to Muslim Asian men. |
| At the UKIM West London Islamic Centre, in Ealing, Imam Inayatullah gave voice to some of those concerns. He adapted the distributed sermon, denouncing those guilty of the crimes as "evil" but adding his own criticism of the media. "When a Muslim does things, it's in the headlines," he said, chastising "double standards". | At the UKIM West London Islamic Centre, in Ealing, Imam Inayatullah gave voice to some of those concerns. He adapted the distributed sermon, denouncing those guilty of the crimes as "evil" but adding his own criticism of the media. "When a Muslim does things, it's in the headlines," he said, chastising "double standards". |
| He urged the government to tackle alcohol and drug abuse, which he blamed for the crimes. Among the worshippers in Ealing, there was unequivocal condemnation of grooming but, among some, also a feeling of persecution. "Whenever someone does something wrong, I completely agree it should be condemned but when a Muslim does something wrong, it's 'a Muslim did it'," said Zarrar Masud, a 23-year-old student. | He urged the government to tackle alcohol and drug abuse, which he blamed for the crimes. Among the worshippers in Ealing, there was unequivocal condemnation of grooming but, among some, also a feeling of persecution. "Whenever someone does something wrong, I completely agree it should be condemned but when a Muslim does something wrong, it's 'a Muslim did it'," said Zarrar Masud, a 23-year-old student. |
| Anton Parol, 27, an IT engineer, who converted to Islam seven years ago, said there was "a clear agenda to discriminate against Muslims in the media". "I 100% agree grooming is wrong," he said. "It's clearly an issue, which is affecting society which Islam speaks out about." But he questioned why the subject needed to be addressed at his place of worship. | Anton Parol, 27, an IT engineer, who converted to Islam seven years ago, said there was "a clear agenda to discriminate against Muslims in the media". "I 100% agree grooming is wrong," he said. "It's clearly an issue, which is affecting society which Islam speaks out about." But he questioned why the subject needed to be addressed at his place of worship. |
| "It's mainly happening up north … there's no issue with grooming in this masjid [mosque]." | "It's mainly happening up north … there's no issue with grooming in this masjid [mosque]." |
| Shafiq, who has received death threats for highlighting the issue, said he understood the concerns of worshippers, but insisted he was not pandering to Islamophobia: "The mosque is at the heart of the community. We've got to use every tool available. I think most people recognise not all Pakistanis are child abusers but we've got to confront the issue head-on." | Shafiq, who has received death threats for highlighting the issue, said he understood the concerns of worshippers, but insisted he was not pandering to Islamophobia: "The mosque is at the heart of the community. We've got to use every tool available. I think most people recognise not all Pakistanis are child abusers but we've got to confront the issue head-on." |
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