Mohammad Naseem
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Naseem, born in 1924, is a former GP
and the chairman of the Birmingham Mosque Trust (Birmingham Central Mosque
), one of the largest and most prominent Islamic places of worship in the United Kingdom
.
Born in Amritsar
in British India, Naseem was educated mainly in Pakistan
and then in England
where he trained to become and served as a General Practitioner
for many years and also specialised in the medical procedure of circumcision
, particularly for the British
Muslim
community.
He is executive member of, and home affairs spokesman for, the Islamic Party of Britain
.
Naseem was the main practitioner of male circumcision in the region and was based in Aston
in Birmingham
in the West Midlands
.
and supported a project that had begun in the late 1950s but only got underway in the 1960s. There was great confusion at the time and many of those involved had a design for an Islamic institution but disorganisation created a lack of funds and resources to complete the grand and innovative project. Amidst debate and argument, Naseem is said to have joined the members of a loosely formed group and helped to settle disagreements by way of compromise and organisation.
The mosque project was listed as a registered charity and as a limited company
and it was decided that elections would be conducted to select an official committee
to run the new trust. Naseem was elected chairman and has remained chairman ever since, following an annual vote at the trust's Annual General Meeting
.
, as the only female spokesperson for a British mosque. The mosque has also been the only one in the world to open condolence tributes for non-Muslims after initiating books following the Madrid train bombings and the death of Iraqi hostage Ken Bigley. This has, however, come under criticism from many more conservative Muslims.
More recently, Mr Naseem also became the first British mosque official to openly ban extremist group Al Muhajiroun from the mosque grounds and from conducting activities inside the mosque itself . Islamist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir was also banned from conducting activities inside the mosque.
The mosque was accused by some Muslims of imitating the activities of a state-run church but continued with changes including having businesses Asda
and Selfridges
sponsor and support Ramadhan and Eid
activities at the mosque. It is believed many of these innovations were influenced by the presence of Adam Yosef
, who served the trust as PR and media officer between 2003 and 2004, during which time many of the widely reported initiatives took place.
were widely criticized by politicians including MPs Khalid Mahmood
and Shadow Home Secretary
David Davis
. He was also criticized by Mohammed Zaki Badawi
, chairman of the Council of Mosques and Imams. He was condemned further after he compared Prime Minister
Tony Blair
to Adolf Hitler
in the same week and has generated national debate over the role of mosque representatives in Britain. When a videotape emerged featuring suspected bomber Mohammed Sidique Khan apparently explaining why he intended to attack British civilians, Naseem said that he suspected the videotape had been doctored:
Despite the views, the chairman still maintains a positive and progressive relationship with the West Midlands Police
, political officials, and interfaith
leaders.
He also said that Britain is becoming a police state
. Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw responded to Naseem's comments by saying that, "Despite certain labels given to those men by the media, what we are dealing with here in its purest sense is criminality," and Naseem is "wrong".
in the 2005 General Elections, when he challenged the Labour Party
seat of Khalid Mahmood
MP
in Birmingham Perry Barr. He gained over 2,000 votes (5.6%); Labour retained the seat.
Naseem is actively involved in Britain's post-9/11 anti-war
movement led by the Stop the War Coalition
.
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
and the chairman of the Birmingham Mosque Trust (Birmingham Central Mosque
Birmingham Central Mosque
Birmingham Central Mosque, is a mosque in the Highgate area of Birmingham, England, run by the Birmingham Mosque Trust. It is one of the largest Muslim centres in Europe....
), one of the largest and most prominent Islamic places of worship in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Born in Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
in British India, Naseem was educated mainly in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and then in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he trained to become and served as a General Practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
for many years and also specialised in the medical procedure of circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
, particularly for the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community.
He is executive member of, and home affairs spokesman for, the Islamic Party of Britain
Islamic Party of Britain
The Islamic Party of Britain is a defunct political party in the United Kingdom that was active from its formation in 1989 until 2006. The IPB was Islamist, opposed to both capitalism and communism. David Musa Pidcock, a convert to Islam, founded and led the party.They had limited electoral success...
.
Naseem was the main practitioner of male circumcision in the region and was based in Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
.
History
In the 1970s, Naseem became involved in the establishment of a major mosque and Islamic centre in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and supported a project that had begun in the late 1950s but only got underway in the 1960s. There was great confusion at the time and many of those involved had a design for an Islamic institution but disorganisation created a lack of funds and resources to complete the grand and innovative project. Amidst debate and argument, Naseem is said to have joined the members of a loosely formed group and helped to settle disagreements by way of compromise and organisation.
The mosque project was listed as a registered charity and as a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
and it was decided that elections would be conducted to select an official committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
to run the new trust. Naseem was elected chairman and has remained chairman ever since, following an annual vote at the trust's Annual General Meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
.
Leadership
Naseem has become a familiar face with the Midlands' Muslims and wider faith communities, representing the voice of the region's Islamic community. He appointed the first Muslim female, Wageha Syeda, onto a Shariah Council and Salma YaqoobSalma Yaqoob
Salma Yaqoob is the leader, and former vice-chair, of the Respect Party and a former Birmingham City Councillor. She is also the head of the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition and a spokesperson for Birmingham Central Mosque....
, as the only female spokesperson for a British mosque. The mosque has also been the only one in the world to open condolence tributes for non-Muslims after initiating books following the Madrid train bombings and the death of Iraqi hostage Ken Bigley. This has, however, come under criticism from many more conservative Muslims.
More recently, Mr Naseem also became the first British mosque official to openly ban extremist group Al Muhajiroun from the mosque grounds and from conducting activities inside the mosque itself . Islamist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir was also banned from conducting activities inside the mosque.
The mosque was accused by some Muslims of imitating the activities of a state-run church but continued with changes including having businesses Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
and Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
sponsor and support Ramadhan and Eid
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
activities at the mosque. It is believed many of these innovations were influenced by the presence of Adam Yosef
Adam Yosef
Adam Yosef is a British multimedia journalist and community activist.-Activism:Between 2003 and 2004, Yosef was employed by the Birmingham Mosque Trust as a Press & Public Relations representative...
, who served the trust as PR and media officer between 2003 and 2004, during which time many of the widely reported initiatives took place.
Comments on the London bombings
Following the 7 July London bombings, comments made by Naseem criticizing the security services and Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
were widely criticized by politicians including MPs Khalid Mahmood
Khalid Mahmood
Khalid Mahmood is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr since 2001.-Political career:...
and Shadow Home Secretary
Shadow Home Secretary
In British politics, the Shadow Home Secretary is the person within the shadow cabinet who 'shadows' the Home Secretary; this effectively means scrutinising government policy on home affairs including policing, national security, immigration, the criminal justice system, the prison service, and...
David Davis
David Davis
David Davis may refer to:*David Davis , Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Council*David Davis , British Conservative Member of Parliament, Conservative leadership candidate in 2001 and 2005*David Davis , head of the BBC's Children's Hour*David Davis ,...
. He was also criticized by Mohammed Zaki Badawi
Zaki Badawi
Sheikh Mohammed Aboulkhair Zaki Badawi ,KBE, GCFO was a prominent Egyptian Islamic scholar, community activist, and promoter of interfaith-dialogue. He was the principal of the Muslim College in London, which he founded in 1986...
, chairman of the Council of Mosques and Imams. He was condemned further after he compared Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
in the same week and has generated national debate over the role of mosque representatives in Britain. When a videotape emerged featuring suspected bomber Mohammed Sidique Khan apparently explaining why he intended to attack British civilians, Naseem said that he suspected the videotape had been doctored:
We are in the 21st century. The cows can be made to look as dancing, the horses can speak like humans, so these things can be doctored or can be produced.
Despite the views, the chairman still maintains a positive and progressive relationship with the West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England.Covering an area with nearly 2.6 million inhabitants, which includes the cities of Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and also the Black Country; the force is made up...
, political officials, and interfaith
Interfaith
The term interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels...
leaders.
Comments on Birmingham terrorist raids
In February 2007 British police in Birmingham arrested nine suspected terrorists. A few days later Naseem said:Muslims are persecuted unjustly. The German people were told Jews were a threat. The same is happening here. This is a persecuting course of action that the government has taken. They have invented this perception of a threat. To justify that, they have to maintain incidents to prove something is going on.
He also said that Britain is becoming a police state
Police state
A police state is one in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population...
. Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw responded to Naseem's comments by saying that, "Despite certain labels given to those men by the media, what we are dealing with here in its purest sense is criminality," and Naseem is "wrong".
Politics
Naseem has also stood as a candidate for RESPECT The Unity CoalitionRESPECT The Unity Coalition
Respect is a socialist political party in England and Wales founded in 2004. Its name is a contrived acronym standing for Respect, Equality, Socialism, Peace, Environmentalism, Community and Trade Unionism.-Policies:...
in the 2005 General Elections, when he challenged the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
seat of Khalid Mahmood
Khalid Mahmood
Khalid Mahmood is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr since 2001.-Political career:...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in Birmingham Perry Barr. He gained over 2,000 votes (5.6%); Labour retained the seat.
Naseem is actively involved in Britain's post-9/11 anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
movement led by the Stop the War Coalition
Stop the War Coalition
The Stop the War Coalition is a United Kingdom group set up on 21 September 2001 that campaigns against what it believes are unjust wars....
.
External links
- Dr Naseem - Have your say - BBC Online, 2005
- The Only Masjid Leader Brave Enough To Stand Up To Blair - MPAC UK, 2005
- If you give an inch - The Telegraph, July 2005
- Measures 'comparable with Hitler' - Yahoo! News (Link dead as of 05:28, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
- Top Muslim brands Blair a liar - IC Birmingham, July 2005
- Calls for mosque chairman to quit - BBC News, July 2005
- Quiet suburb finds itself in the front line of hunt for bombers - The Scotsman, July 2005
- Bigley book of condolence stolen - BBC News, October 2004
- Muslim leader condemns execution - BBC News, October 2004
- icBirmingham - Selfridges and Asda join Ramadhan celebration - IC Birmingham, October 2004
- Terror leaflets found at mosque -Sunday Mercury, August 2004
- Madrid condolence book stolen - BBC News, March 2004
- Ask Dr Naseem - BBC Panorama, October 2001