Iqbal Sacranie
Encyclopedia
Sir Iqbal Abdul Karim Mussain Sacranie, OBE (born Malawi
, 1952) served as General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain
(MCB) until June 2006. He arrived in UK in 1969. He was founding Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (established 1997), and served four further years as Secretary General from 2002 to 2004 and 2004 to 2006. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999.
on New York
and the beginning of the War on Terror
. After the Madrid bombings he said "The hearts of Muslims and all peoples of conscience go out to families of those whose loved ones have been murdered and those who have been wounded in these appalling atrocities. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Spanish people at this time of shock and grief."
In 2006, Muhammad Abdul Bari
was elected to replace Iqbal Sacranie as General Secretary of the MCB.
, Sacranie said in regard to Salman Rushdie that "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."
'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."
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, 1952) served as General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain
Muslim Council of Britain
The Muslim Council of Britain is a self-appointed umbrella body for national, regional, local and specialist organisations and institutions from different ethnic and sectarian backgrounds within British Islamic society. It was established in 1997 to help Muslims, to increase education about the...
(MCB) until June 2006. He arrived in UK in 1969. He was founding Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (established 1997), and served four further years as Secretary General from 2002 to 2004 and 2004 to 2006. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999.
Achievements
- In 1999 the Observer magazine produced a Power List of 300 most powerful people and he was numbered at 246. The Guardian newspaper named him in 2002 as ‘The most influential Muslim in the UK’. In 2005 the GQ magazine produced a list of 100 Most Powerful Men in Britain and he was ranked at number 10 as the voice of Muslims in Britain, who plays a vital role as mediator in multi-cultural Britain.
- Prime Minister Tony Blair awarded him OBE in 1999 Honours List and a recipient of Muslim News Award for Excellence - Good Citizenship. He was awarded a plaque for Commitment and Dedication to Community work by Memon Association UK, which was presented by HRH Prince of Wales in 2001. In March 2005 he was presented with the Life Time Achievement Award for community work presented by the World Memon Organisation in Bombay, India.
- He Chairs the Board of Trustees of Memon Association UK. He led the Committee in raising £1.2 million pounds primarily from the Memon and Muslim community to build a unique Sports and Community Centre in South London. HRH Prince of Wales officially opened it in February 2001. All communities in London use the Memon Centre. He inspired the community to donate and be self-reliant and not to be dependent on government and institutional support.
- He was elected Deputy President of World Memon Organisation (WMO) in 2002, which is an umbrella body of Memon organisations from different parts of the world. The WMO carries out charitable work for the upliftment of its community in number of countries particularly in India and Pakistan.
- He Chairs the Board of Trustees of Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre. Also chairs the Al-Rissala Education Trust, which runs independent primary and secondary schools.
- He was appointed Vice President of Family Welfare Association, a national charity in the UK that focuses on helping suffering children around the world. He is the chair of the board of trustees of [Muslim Aid], which is an international relief agency serving in more than 57 countries worldwide.
- Iqbal is a Patron of Abdulla Quillam Society in Liverpool, Chairs the MCB Charitable Foundation and is a member of Home Office Race and Equality Advisory Panel. He has served on the Advisory Council of the previous four Home Secretary’s advising the government on matters relating to equality and race relations.
- Iqbal has over the years served on number of other charitable and community organisations including British Heart Foundation, National Co-ordinating Committee of European Year Against Racism, National Consultation on Chaplaincy, Interfaith Network, Coroners Review Group, National Council for the Arts and the Prince’s Trust.
- He was awarded an OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1999 and a knighthoodKnight BachelorThe rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2005 Queen's Birthday HonoursQueen's Birthday HonoursThe Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
for "services to the Muslim community, to charities and to community relations."
Muslim Council of Britain
Sacranie was General Secretary of the MCB during the September 11th attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
on New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the beginning of the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. After the Madrid bombings he said "The hearts of Muslims and all peoples of conscience go out to families of those whose loved ones have been murdered and those who have been wounded in these appalling atrocities. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Spanish people at this time of shock and grief."
In 2006, Muhammad Abdul Bari
Muhammad Abdul Bari
Muhammad Abdul Bari, MBE FRSA , is the Chairman of the East London Mosque, and was the Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain from 2006 until 2010.-Life and career:...
was elected to replace Iqbal Sacranie as General Secretary of the MCB.
Comments on Salman Rushdie
During the Satanic Verses controversyThe Satanic Verses controversy
The Satanic Verses controversy was the heated and sometimes violent Muslim reaction to the publication of Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses. Many Muslims accused Rushdie of blasphemy or unbelief and in 1989 Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie...
, Sacranie said in regard to Salman Rushdie that "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."
Comments on homosexuality
On January 3, 2006, Sacranie told BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
'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
Peter Tatchell
Peter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
of gay rights group OutRage!
OutRage!
OutRage! is a British LGBT rights group that was formed to fight for equal rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in comparison to heterosexual people. It is a group which has at times been criticised for outing individuals who wanted to keep their homosexuality secret and for being...
said: "It is tragic for one minority to attack another minority."