Saturday 15^th May 2010

Editorial

After several months of exclusive and enticing contributions, ideas, hopes and visions, The Platform Blog project, in setting a vision for the coming decade in Britain, will now be drawing to a close. The fact that we have been able to extend the blog from its intended 6-week period to over 15 weeks is testimony to the success it has become.

As the Quran states, “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (within their own souls).”[Ar-Ra’d 13:11]. It is in this spirit that we set out to help shape a vision for Britain in the coming decade; a vision for progress where individuals from the grassroots level can be part of the united voice and action for progress.

By Zahra Latif

My Perspective on the General Elections

The General Elections on Thursday the 6th of May 2010 had one of the highest voter turnouts in many years. With more than 44 million people turning out to vote, albeit many left disappointed as they were unable to vote, it is clear in their continued political engagement that many British people still have some faith left in politics. Maybe it was the global recession, the MP expenses scandals, the wars abroad or even the popularity of Obama in America that generated great interest in British politics again. Whatever it was, people were getting excited about voting again and even the televised political debates achieved huge viewer ratings.

An Exclusive Interview with David Baddiel

David Baddiel discusses his latest entertaining and innovative work, THE INFIDEL, a comedy that explores the interactions of faith and culture in Britain.

David Baddiel is a comedian, novelist, columnist and screenwriter. He first found fame in the UK in the early 90s, for the BBC radio and TV series, THE MARY WHITEHOUSE EXPERIENCE.  Most recently, he created and hosted a Radio 4 comedy discussion programme, HERESY, and in November 2007, BBC1 screened his documentary, BADDIEL AND THE MISSING NAZI BILLIONS.

Why Theatre Still Matters

Luqman Ali explores the richness and relevance of theatre in Britain today and its resonances in the British Muslim community.

Luqman Ali is the Artistic Director and CEO of Khayaal Theatre Company, an award-winning theatre company which explores Muslim world culture through contemporary art forms. Luqman has a background in the Islamic sciences and the languages (Arabic, Persian and Urdu) of the Muslim world. He is African American of Fulani heritage, but has spent most of his life in the UK.

Dr Rabia Malik discusses the impact of mental illness within the British Muslim community.

Dr Rabia Malik is the chair of City Circle, a grassroots network of young Muslim professionals. She holds a doctorate in Social Psychology and is a practicing Systemic Psychotherapist in London.

By Uzma Hasan

My biggest fear growing up was assimilation. I was desperate not to assimilate, to be different, to stand out from the crowd; as a teen my hair was the shortest in the class, I’d be listening to Prince when everyone else was into Nirvana, and later on in life I prided myself in making sure every major life changing decision was predicated on following the road less travelled. So it didn’t come as much of a surprise to my parents – both doctors – when I told them I was going to make movies for a living!

I’ve just produced my first feature film, THE INFIDEL which is a culture clash comedy written by David Baddiel and starring Omid Djalili about a Muslim man who finds out that he was adopted and born Jewish!

By H M Zaheer

Why should we consider international development as an issue when voting in the 2010 General Election?

In a world of evolving social media, 24-7 news and unlimited communications, politicians are realising the importance of Generation Next.  This varied group of young people may not know it, but they make up a considerable size of the population and will play a decisive role in electing our next government.  The mainstream parties are aware of their importance and are actively seeking their electoral support, as this influential demographic contains British politics’ future movers and shakers.  For many young people, 2010 will be the first time that they will vote in a General Election.  They will consider an array of issues that will influence their ultimate choice at the polls.  The economy, education and health may be the first or only things that young people will consider when voting.  But there is one issue often than not that is neglected – international development.  Such is its neglect, even by the mainstream media, that the BBC doesn’t even list it under a separate tab for the parties and issues page of its online election coverage.  Must it be considered as a stand-alone topic? Or should it be relegated as a non-primary matter?  This article will briefly examine the aims of international development and the three main parties’ stances on it.

By L Amatullah

My experience of British Muslim activism in the university and community scene has caused me to observe that the diversity of Muslim demographics is not usually reflected in our various campaigns. In a world where conflict and oppression and the fight to end them are constant features in our lives, campaigns related to the Middle East are always much more prominent and prioritised.

Palestine, for example, has an especially undying place in all our hearts. It is the home of the third holiest site, where our Muslim brothers and sisters suffer relentlessly under Israeli aggression. It is therefore a campaign that I have been and continue to be wholeheartedly a part of. I have determinedly picketed, demonstrated, occupied lecture theatres, signed and promoted petitions and delivered speeches in protest of the suffering in the region.

By Milad Ahmed

In the future, what would I want? A world without the need for telephone helplines services providing listening ears and safe spaces for many members of our societies with no place/s to turn. As Head of Support Services of the Muslim Youth Helpline (MYH), Britain’s first and only telephone helpline service dedicated to Muslims, which may sound like a very peculiar wish, not to mention a “resignation letter”, for myself. So why make such a statement?

By Tafazal Mohammad

The past decade has seen a marked change in legislation for all those agencies concerned with the welfare of young people.  The tragic death of Victoria Climbié on the 25^th of February 2000, described as an entirely preventable tragedy at least twelve times by Lord Laming, was a particular turning point. Some of the highlighted factors contributing towards the ‘opportunities missed’ were: low standards of professional practice; accountability at various levels; lack of inter and intra-agency information sharing; and poor managerial support for front line workers. As a policy response, the Labour government published a Green Paper ‘Every Child Matters’ (ECM) in September 2003 for consultation, which subsequently prompted an unprecedented debate about the services for children, young people and families. The Government then published ECM; Next Steps and passed the Children Act 2004 providing the ‘backbone’ for reform focusing on needs and ECM; Change for Children was published in November 2004.