Tonight show is a very
best of Islam, very best of
our city and also the very best of British
Ummah.
Says Mayor of London Rt
Hon Sadiq Khan
Dr. Mozammel Haque
Tonight shows is a very
best of Islam, very best of our city and also the very best of British Ummah,
said Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, as Guest of Honour, at the 17th
Muslim News Award for Excellence, held at London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor
Square, London, on Monday, 8th of April, 2019.
It is the best antidote,
best uplift
The Mayor of London Rt.
Hon. Sadiq Khan, as Guest of Honour, addressed the event by saying, brothers
and sisters, respected elders and respected youngsters, “I begin with greetings
of peace used by millions of Muslims
around the world for hundred of years Assalamualaikum”
This was the 17th
Muslim News Award for Excellence event. Speaking about this event, Rt. Hon.
Sadiq Khan said, “Can I say the reason why this event is so important? This event
in particular important because it is the best antidote, it is the best uplift
we need after the rest of the year when we see some of the negative stories
about Muslims here and around the world.”
Copyright of @The Muslim News
“The wonderful thing
about tonight is not simply about inspiring Muslims but it also inspiring Brits
from all corners of our country and anybody who worries about those who follow
the faith of Islam, can be successful, can take with them a programme and read
somebody’s citation for the brilliant men and women who are nominated for the
award tonight truly is inspirational,” he said.
Fulfilment of our
Potentials
Mayor of London
mentioned, “One other thing which we should remind ourselves that of course, it
is possible to pick up a mainstream newspaper and to be depressed about the
plight of British Muslims in this country but I have firm belief that there are
many cities and many countries around the world we can be Muslims and go about
our business and have the opportunities to fulfil our potentials. And the
wonderful thing about this award is whether it is education or the media, whether
it is sports or science, whether it is law or politics, there is good example
of Muslims fulfilling their potentials.”
The Mayor of London
expressed his thanks and gratefulness “to all those people who have been my role
models over the last thirty years who allowed me to stand over their shoulders
to turn my potentials fulfilled. I am greatly grateful to them,” he said and
added, “Tonight every single one person who is nominated inspired new
generation of British Muslims to fulfil their potentials.”
Anti-Muslim Hatred and
Islamophobia
That’s why; this night
is no doubt a night for celebration. But Ahmed Versi in his welcoming speech
said to reflect. Referring to Ahmed Versi’s speech, Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan said,
“Of course this is the night to celebrate but as brother Ahmed Versi reminded
us this is also the night to reflect on some of the consequences of anti-Muslim
hatred and Islamophobia.”
Christchurch Mosque
Attacks
The Mayor of London
referred to the Christchurch Mosque Attacks in New Zealand and said, “It was
just three and a half weeks ago that 50 human beings; 50 men, women and
children, were targeted in two places of worship; for no other reason, those
two places of worship were Masjid and those 50 men, women and children belong
to the faith of Islam; and that actually one of the ultimate consequences when
people belonging to a faith are dehumanised and demonised. And that is one of
the consequences when mainstream politicians think it is okay to use language
which, I call, casual racism demonise and dehumanise those who belong to a certain
faith.”
“Now it is time for all
of us to call out all those politicians, to those mainstream politicians who
use Islamophobic language, who use anti-Muslim hatred, to stir up hatred; play
on people’s faiths to win votes. We say tonight enough,” he said.
Stand
shoulder to shoulder with Jewish cousins
Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan
mentioned, “There was a former British Prime Minister, a friend of the Muslim
News Award, Gordon Brown and Gordon Brown said that the necessity to take
action spring from an understanding that discrimination starts against one
minority does not end with one minority. That’s why, us, Muslims, need to stand
shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish cousins when comes the issue of
anti-Semitism.”
Attached photo Mayor of London Rt Hon Sadiq Khan [Centre] at light moment with Editor of The Muslim News, Ahmed J Versi [Right] and Business Owner/Philanthropist/Axian Group/The Imaan Trust [Left] at the Seventeenth The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2019 event in London. [Photographer: Abdul Datoo/The Muslim News]
Copyright of @The Muslim News
Copyright of @The Muslim News
“Muslims, Jews, Hindus,
Sikhs, Buddhists, and those who belong to an organised faiths and those who
don’t, stand in together; because Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hatred is a
mainstream issue,” mentioned the Mayor of London.
An unsung hero: Miqdad
Versi
While speaking about
Islamophobia, Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan referred to one person who is not in the list
of award shortlist. He said, “There is one person I will namesake tonight he is
not nominated for an award. He is an unsung hero; he has spent so much time so
much efforts calling out those who use Islamophobic language and behave in Islamophobic
way.” He mentioned Mr Miqdad Versi for the great works he does.
“Miqdad is an example of
an unsung hero who goes about their business calling out what is wrong. All of
us who understand the teachings of the Qur’an; understand the teachings of the
Prophet (peace be upon him); understand that injustice anywhere is an injustice
that would affect us all,” mentioned Sadiq Khan and added, “Have a great great
evening tonight. Enjoy what is a wonderful antidote to some of the miserable
negativity that takes place during the course of this year.”
The final thing which
the Mayor of London mentioned is “The people you are seeing tonight;
celebrating tonight, are inspiring Muslims; they are inspiring Brits. Each of
the person that they have nominated for education, arts that I am going to give
an award tonight, sports, science; one of my role models is here from Scotland
here tonight. These peoples are role models and leaders on their own right who
happen to be Muslims.”
Diversity is strength to
be celebrated
Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan
concluded his speech by saying, “One of the great things of the City of London is:
it does not simply tolerate difference; we respected, we celebrated and we
embraced it. Diversity is strength to be celebrated, not a weakness to be not
to be waived. Tonight show is a very best of Islam, very best of our city and
also the very best of British Ummah.”
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