Iqbal Sacranie: Difference between revisions

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Sir Iqbal Sacranie (born 1952) served as General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) until June 2006.

He was awarded a knighthood in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours List for "services to the Muslim community, to Charities and to Community Relations" [1]

Muslim Council of Britain

During Sacranie tenure as General Secretary of the MCB, he carefully steered it through some delicate issues, including the September 11th attacks on New York, various issues resulting from the War on Terror and regional issues with the United Kingdom. Although the MCB technically only represents less than 60% of the UK's Muslim population, it took a political and moarle lead during these crises and debates which much of the British public could at least understand, if not agree with.

Sacranie lead these issues with a calming influence, but it should also be noted that the MCB have also faced criticism for their position at times. In 1989 Sacranie spoke of Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses: Death, perhaps, is a bit too easy for him .. his mind must be tormented for the rest of his life unless he asks for forgiveness to Almighty Allah [2]Sacranie has also compared Hamas suicide bombers to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandi [3]. The MCB also boycotted a 2005 Holocaust remembrance ceremony in London commemorating the 60th anniversary liberation of Auschwitz

Comments on homosexuality

On January 3 2006, Sacranie told BBC Radio 4's PM programme he believes homosexuality is "not acceptable", and denounced same-sex civil partnerships as "harmful". He said that bringing in 'gay marriage' did "not augur well" for building the foundations of society. In response, Peter Tatchell of gay rights group OutRage! said: "It is tragic for one minority to attack another minority."

On January 11 2006, the Metropolitan Police Service said that they were examining Sacranie's comments to see if they constituted an offence under the Public Order Act, following a complaint from a member of the public, prompting discussion about Freedom of Speech and the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill in the British media. On January 23, a Met Police spokesman confirmed that no further action would be taken, following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. This was appaprently due to the position Sacranie would take on the stand under oath, where by the Koran forbids such activity. The CPS concluded that the damage was limited in perspective to, and far less than a debate on homosexuality and the Koran, let alone the role of religeon would bring to British society.

External links

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 {{POV}}
-Sir '''Iqbal Sacranie''' (born [[1952]]) served as General Secretary of the [[Muslim Council of Britain]] (MCB) until June 2006.
+'''Sir Iqbal Sacranie''' (born [[1952]]) served as General Secretary of the [[Muslim Council of Britain]] (MCB) until June [[2006]].
-He was awarded a [[knighthood]] in the 2005 [[Queen's Birthday Honours List]] for "services to the Muslim community, to Charities and to Community Relations" [http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/download.asp?docid=857057].
+He was awarded a [[knighthood]] in the 2005 [[Queen's Birthday Honours List]] for "services to the Muslim community, to Charities and to Community Relations" [http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/download.asp?docid=857057]
+==Muslim Council of Britain==
-Sacranie and the MCB have also faced criticism for their actions. In [[1989]] he spoke of [[Salman Rushdie]], author of [[The Satanic Verses]], "Death, perhaps, is a bit too easy for him .. his mind must be tormented for the rest of his life unless he asks for forgiveness to Almighty Allah." [http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1412567,00.html].  Sacranie has also compared Hamas suicide bombers to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandi [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/21/nbung21.xml].
+During Sacranie tenure as General Secretary of the MCB, he carefully steered it through some delicate issues, including the September 11th attacks on [[New York]], various issues resulting from the War on Terror and regional issues with the United Kingdom. Although the MCB technically only represents less than 60% of the UK's Muslim population, it took a political and moarle lead during these crises and debates which much of the British public could at least understand, if not agree with.
+Sacranie lead these issues with a calming influence, but it should also be noted that the MCB have also faced criticism for their position at times. In [[1989]] Sacranie spoke of [[Salman Rushdie]], author of [[The Satanic Verses]]: ''Death, perhaps, is a bit too easy for him .. his mind must be tormented for the rest of his life unless he asks for forgiveness to Almighty Allah'' [http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1412567,00.html]Sacranie has also compared Hamas suicide bombers to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandi [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/21/nbung21.xml]. The MCB also boycotted a 2005 [[Holocaust]] remembrance ceremony in London commemorating the 60th anniversary liberation of [[Auschwitz]] {{main|Muslim Council of Britain alleged boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day}}
-The MCB also boycotted a 2005 [[Holocaust]] remembrance ceremony in London commemorating the 60th anniversary liberation of [[Auschwitz]].
-{{main|Muslim Council of Britain alleged boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day}}
-==== Comments on homosexuality ====
+===Comments on homosexuality===
 On [[January 3]] [[2006]], Sacranie told [[BBC Radio 4]]'s [[PM (radio programme)|PM]] programme he believes homosexuality is "not acceptable", and denounced same-sex civil partnerships as "harmful". He said that bringing in 'gay marriage' did "not augur well" for building the foundations of society. In response, Peter Tatchell of gay rights group [[OutRage!]] said: "It is tragic for one minority to attack another minority."
-On [[January 11]] [[2006]], the [[Metropolitan Police Service]] said that they were examining Sacranie's comments to see if they constituted an offence under the [[Public Order Act]], following a complaint from a member of the public, prompting discussion about [[Freedom of Speech]] and the [[Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006|Racial and Religious Hatred Bill]] in the British media. On [[January 23]], a Met Police spokesman confirmed that no further action would be taken, following advice from the [[Crown Prosecution Service]].
+On [[January 11]] [[2006]], the [[Metropolitan Police Service]] said that they were examining Sacranie's comments to see if they constituted an offence under the [[Public Order Act]], following a complaint from a member of the public, prompting discussion about [[Freedom of Speech]] and the [[Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006|Racial and Religious Hatred Bill]] in the British media. On [[January 23]], a Met Police spokesman confirmed that no further action would be taken, following advice from the [[Crown Prosecution Service]]. This was appaprently due to the position Sacranie would take on the stand under oath, where by the Koran forbids such activity. The CPS concluded that the damage was limited in perspective to, and far less than a debate on homosexuality and the Koran, let alone the role of religeon would bring to British society.
 == See also ==
 *[[Islam in the United Kingdom]]
 *[[Muslim Council of Britain alleged boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day|Muslim Council of Britain's alleged boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day]]
 *[[Festival of Muslim Cultures]]
 == External links ==
 *[http://www.mcb.org.uk/ Official website of the MCB]