Kashmir Discussed at the UN Security Council

Kashmir discussed at the UN Security Council

Dr. Mozammel Haque

After the revocation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution by the Indian Hindu Nationalist Government on 5^th of August 2019, there was condemnation, protests and demonstrations all over the world including Indian parliament. British Parliamentarians condemned the revocation of Article 370 by the Indian Government and wrote to the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Similarly, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir wrote a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations on this matter. There were demonstrations and protests in front of Indian High Commission in London. China has brought the matter to the UN Security Council to discuss the case.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General World Kashmir Awareness Forum, has written about this topic on 27 August 2019 as follows:

Kashmir discussed at the UN Security Council after 50 years

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai

August 27, 2019.

“The position of the United Nations on this region (Kashmir) is governed by the Charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council resolutions.” Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, August 8, 2019.

India, disregarding what Secretary General said and ignoring all norms of international law and the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir abrogated Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution and thereby bringing a constitutional end to the special status of the State.

We believe that abrogation of article 370 and 35 A is an act of aggression and assault on the rights of the people of the State.  Such attempts are in open contravention of UN resolution #122 adopted on January 24, 1957; # 123 adopted on February 21, 1957 and # 126 adopted on December 2, 1957. These resolutions prohibit any unilateral action to change the disputed nature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

It is to be noted that the United Nations Security Council Resolution # 122 “declares that the convening of a constituent assembly as recommended by the General council of the ‘All Jammu and Kashmir National Conference’ and any action that assembly may have taken or might attempt to take to determine the future shape and affiliation of the entire State or any part thereof, or any action by the parties concerned in support of any such action by the assembly, would not constitute a disposition of the State in accordance with the above principle.”

Today, Kashmir is in turmoil. The government of India has imposed curfew, banned all public meetings and placed the Kashmiri leadership under house arrest. All educational institutions have been closed.  Internet services snapped and all university examinations postponed. Barricades have been erected on all entry and exit points in Srinagar and other cities. 

“Imagine for a moment that nearly all residents of the US state of Virginia -- population roughly 8.5 million -- were blocked from communicating with each other or the outside world. Imagine that their movements within their neighborhoods were highly restricted due to military-enforced curfews and checkpoints. And imagine they could not access reliable information because, due to the clampdown, journalists were largely prevented from reporting or publishing the news. This may sound like the plot of a dystopian novel, but it is almost exactly what's happening in the Indian-administered Kashmir Valley right now.” CNN – Opinion, August 15, 2019.

It must be mentioned here that India presents a wholly false picture of the situation in Kashmir. One instance is revealing. When the whole world knows that Kashmir is caged and it is literally under siege, Rohit Kansal, the Principal Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir Government said that it was very peaceful in Kashmir. The irresponsibility of this kind of disinformation is borne out by the fact, reported in The New York Times, dated August 10, 2019, that, “Inside Kashmir, Cut Off From the World: ‘A Living Hell of Anger and Fear.” Amnesty International tweeted that “The unilateral decision by Government of India to revoke Jammu & Kashmir's special status without consulting J&K stakeholders, amidst a clampdown on civil liberties & communications blackout is likely to increase the risk of further human rights violations & inflame tensions.”

In the context of preventive diplomacy to find a peaceful solution of Kashmir problem, President Donald J. Trump expressed his readiness to extend every possible help to facilitate a search for a lasting solution to the “hot hot tinder box of Kashmir.” As was expected, India virtually rejected this offer. Indian foreign minister responded that they would like to resolve Kashmir dispute under Simla Agreement. The Indian contention that the conflict would be settled under Simla Agreement is designed to negate the jurisdiction of the United Nations over the dispute, on the one hand, and, on the other, to eliminate the party most directly concerned, i.e., the people of Kashmir.

The statement of the Secretary General made it abundantly clear that Simla Agreement does not and cannot supersede the UN resolutions. “The Secretary-General also recalls the 1972 Agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, also known as the Simla Agreement, which states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.”

Kashmir is one of the oldest unresolved conflicts on the agenda of the UN to which the Security Council devoted scores of meetings and on which it adopted more than a dozen substantive resolutions. Mere passage of time or the flight from realities, which is characteristic of Indian leadership, cannot alter this reality. The mere fact that the Security Council debated the Kashmir issue on August 16, 2019 for the first time within the past 50 years nullifies the India’s contention that Kashmir is its internal matter.

The Security Council meeting on ‘the situation in Kashmir’, held on August 16, 2019 was a closed-door meeting. However, Chinese Ambassador briefed the press soon after the Council meeting that, "The Kashmir issue should be resolved properly through peaceful means in accordance with the UN charter, the relevant Security Council resolutions, and bilateral agreements.” The Ambassador emphasized, “This represents the international community's consensus." He added that "China is deeply concerned about the current situation and opposes any unilateral action that complicates the situation and we call upon the relevant parties to exercise restraint.” What happened at the Security Council was also articulated by Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Mr. Singhvi is not only the leader of Indian National Congress; he is also the Spokesman of Indian National Congress. He said, I quote: “the United Nations Security Council meeting on Kashmir was a big diplomatic and strategic failure of the BJP government.”

Therefore, as an instance of impartial and humane opinion on the issue, we submit to the Secretary General of the United Nations – the custodian of human rights -- the following:

First, we are thankful to the President of the United Nations Security Council for bringing this matter to the attention of the Council. The members of the Council undoubtedly knew that leaving the problem unattended could lead to serious consequences not only in Subcontinent but also beyond.

Second, the Secretary General could appoint his special envoy, a person of an international standing, like Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner on Human Rights or Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway. Such an envoy could visit India & Pakistan and both sides of the Ceasefire Line in Jammu & Kashmir, assess the situation, and explore various possibilities of plan of action to set a stage for the settlement of the Kashmir dispute to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.

Third, special envoy could urge Government of India to pull out bulk of its 750,000 military and paramilitary forces from Kashmir to pave the way for normalcy in Kashmir.

Fourth the envoy could also impress upon the Government of India that the following measure are essential to create an atmosphere that is conducive for a dialogue:

i.               An immediate and complete cessation of military action against the people of Kashmir;

ii.              The complete withdrawal of India’s military presence from Kashmiri towns and villages;

iii.            The restoration of the rights of peaceful association, assembly and demonstration;

iv.            The unconditional release of all those imprisoned in connection with resistance and during the past two weeks of undeclared curfew;

v.              The encouragement by the Governments of India and Pakistan of a dialogue with the accredited leadership of the people of the State of Jammu & Kashmir to facilitate proposals for the final settlement of the dispute.

Dr. Fai is the Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum.

He can be reached at: 1-202-607-6435  or  gnfai2003@yahoo.com

British Parliamentarians Strongly Condemn Revocation of Article 370

British Parliamentarians Condemns Revocation

of Article 370  by the Indian Government

Dr. Mozammel Haque

India's Hindu-nationalist BJP government on Monday, 5^th of August 2019  revoked Article 370 of India's constitution, limiting the region's decision-making powers and eliminating its right to its own constitution. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi also downgraded Indian-administered Kashmir from statehood to two federally administered territories - Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh - ruled directly by New Delhi. 

Sixteen Members of British Parliament signed a letter to the British Prime Minister on the issue of revoking Article 370 of the Indian Constitution by the BJP Nationalist leader Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and urged him to put principle before Britains’s trade relationship and speak up for the Kashmiri people to whom we have a responsibility to help.

Meanwhile, a petition was filed with India's Supreme Court on Thursday by an activist challenging the curfew in Kashmir, which was imposed to suppress any unrest in response to the loss of autonomy.

British MP says Modi Doesn't deserve

UAE's highest Civilian Award

Labour Party parliamentarian Naz Shah has said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is involved in crimes against humanity and doesn’t deserve the highest civilian award that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government plans to give him.

It has been reported that the UAE will give the Order of Zayed, the highest civilian award of the country, to Modi when he visits the country next week.

Writing to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Force, the Labour MP from Bradford said that Prime Minister Modi is illegally removing the sovereignty of the Kashmiri people in Indian occupied Kashmir, through the forced removal of article 370 and 35A.

Naz Shah MP said in the letter to the UAE ruler: “It saddened me greatly, after returning from the holy pilgrimage of Hajj, to see the news that Modi, once recognised as the butcher of Gujarat being offered the UAE's highest civilian honour. A title in the name of your founding father Shaykh Zayed. Shaykh Zayed was a man of great honour; a figure who is remembered in the annals of history as exemplifying decent, charity, and support for oppressed peoples. May God have mercy upon his soul. To grant such recognition to an individual who is oppressing the Kashmiri people in the name of Shaykh Zayed, not only questions the value of this previously prestigious title, misrepresents his legacy but also forces the world to debate the nature or your moral conscious.

“I ask you to question this decision and reconsider giving such an award, not only because the majority of the Kashmiri people share the same faith as you, but because we have a duty as human beings to stand up against the disregard of human rights and evil.

“If your trade deals prevent you from making a stand, or even speaking up on behalf of the Kashmiri people – at the very least, as a representative of the people of UAE, remain silent and condemn the actions of Prime Minister Modi within your heart. For the people of Kashmir, I ask that you at least show this recognition, rather than celebrating and endorsing an oppressor, while the cries of the oppressed are blocked out.”

She wrote that Modi has made occupied Kashmir the most militarized region in the world. Modi has placed the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir into a complete lockdown for the last 15 days, with the shutdown of telecommunications, internet and other sources of communications. There have been reports of political leaders living under house arrest, political activists injured with pellet guns, curfews and a maze of razor wire that is locking the capital’s population into an open prison. After being on a 5-day fact-finding mission in Kashmir, Secretary of the All India Progressive Women’s Association, Kavita Krishnan, described occupied Kashmir as being under a military siege and stated, “Frankly, it looked like occupied Iraq or occupied Palestine.”

She told Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in the letter that the actions of the Indian government have thrown ordinary people’s lives into turmoil, subjecting them to unnecessary pain and distress in top of the years of human rights violations they has already endured.

Rt Hon. Emily Thornberry on Uyghur Muslims in China

Rt. Hon. Emily Thornberry MP

Uighur Muslims in China

Dr. Mozammel Haque

I have been writing on Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and I have attended many seminars and conferences in London on Uyghur Muslims. Leaders and shadow ministers of the Labour Party have expressed their concerns. In one of the conferences Rt. Hon. Emily Thornberry, Shadow Foreign Secretary, MP gave a lecture on the situation of Uyghur Muslims. I reported that and sent her a copy.

In reply to that, Rt. Hon. Thornberry, MP sent me the following letter. She said in her letter, “I have been completely appalled by the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China. It is chilling to read the reports of the persecution that is taking place and I agree with you entirely that the international community must come together to tell the Chinese authorities that it needs to stop.”

She also said, “We must support the calls from the UN for the Chinese authorities to shut down the so-called ‘re-education camps’ and our government needs to continue to use other inter-governmental forums to apply pressure on the Chinese to ensure that the religious, ethnic and cultural rights.”

“In the UK, I want to see the Home Office expediting asylum applications from Uighur Muslims and making sure that we do not deport any Uighur asylum seekers back to China. We also need to be urging any private companies operating in Xianjiang province to end any business operations that could be contributing to human rights abuses, said Shadow Foreign MP for Islington South and Finsbury.

She mentioned, “At this stage the government should be considering imposing individual sanctions on some of the individuals at the centre of this issue, such as State Secretary Chen. They also need to be looking serious at implementing further controls on the export of surveillance equipment to the Chinese authorities if there is a risk of it being used to monitor and oppress Uighur Muslims.”

As I mentioned earlier I have covered many events on Uyghur Muslims. Followings are some of the excerpts from those reports on Uyghur Muslims.

The Uyghur Situation in Xinjiang:

A Form of “Cultural Genocide”

“We must talk about the crisis Xinjiang in terms of possible “crimes against humanity” and – if not genocide, certainly a form of “cultural genocide.” It involves the elimination of culture, and a campaign of ‘Sinicisation’.” said Benedict Rogers, a member of the advisory board of the International Coalition to End Organ Trafficking in China (ETAC), and a trustee of the Phan Foundation and the Chin Human Rights Foundation, at an event “Understanding the Uyghur Situation in Xinjiang” at the Houses of Parliament.

Henry Jackson Society organised the event “Understanding the Uyghur Situation in Xinjiang” on 10^th of January 2019, at the Houses of Parliament. Lord Hannay of Chiswick hosted as well as chaired the discussion in which Benedict Rogers, Rossie Blau, Dr. Enver Tohti and Rahima Mahmut discussed the Uyghur situation in Xinjiang.

The President of the World Uyghur Congress, Mr. Dolkun Isa along with his delegation visited the Islamic Cultural Centre, London on Monday, the 21^st of January, 2019 and met Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, the Director General of the London Central Mosque Trusts and the Islamic Cultural Centre and his staff at the Board Room of the Centre. Dr. al-Dubayan introduced the Islamic Cultural Centre and gave a brief history, background of the foundation of the Centre as well as the activities of the Mosque and the Centre.

World Uyghur Congress President

Dolkun Isa

The President of the World Uyghur Congress Dolkun Isa introduced the situation of Uyghur in Eastern Turkestan. He said, “Xinjiang is autonomous, China does not call Eastern Turkestan. China calls Xinjiang; it is a Chinese name. Xin is new and jiang is border territory. It is a new territory for China. The territorial size is 1.6 million square kilometres (640,000 square miles); it is five times larger than Germany; may be, five or six times larger than the United Kingdom. Most of the places are mountain; only 4.6 per cent inhabitable; 94 per cent is mountainous; but it is rich territory; it is rich in resources, uranium, gold. This is the main reason for the Chinese government. Though the territory is rich, but we the Turkestani people are very poor, because we cannot use all the natural resources; never been benefitted by the Uyghur people. It is used by the Chinese government.”

Dolkun Isa, the President of the World Uyghur Congress, started. “Tragedy has brought the Uyghur and Rohingya people together today. Uyghurs and the Rohingyas have been attacked, assaulted, disappeared and forced to leave their lands. Millions of innocent people are suffering greatly at the hands of Chinese and Myanmar governments,” Isa said.

WUC President also mentioned, “Today millions of Uyghurs are arbitrarily detained in concentration camps by the Chinese authorities. All families are suffering being tortured and dying in the camps. Those of us living outside East Turkestan are deeply saddened and sorrowed by our inability to save them. We are in the 21^st century; communication is no issue at all today. It is a big and serious issue for Uyghurs to forget their family members.”

I am fortunate enough on Monday, the 11^th of February 2019 that I attended the Lords’ Chamber as guest of Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham and listened to the debates, Lord Ahmed asked the question on Uyghur Muslims Community in China. Followings are the question and reply on Uyghur Muslims in China at the House of Lords chamber on 11 February, 2019.

Closure of these concentration camps

And access for UN representatives

Lord Ahmed (Non-Afl) said, “I thank the Minister for his reply. As he has already confirmed, according to media and social media reports, concentration camps, mass surveillance, forced disappearances, torture and the banning of religious practices are all happening there. Will the Minister join me in condemning these gross violations of human rights by the Chinese authorities, and will he demand the closure of these concentration camps and access for UN representatives to confirm that the detainees have been released and the camps have been closed down?”

We are working on this, including with

the UN – replied Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon replied: “The noble Lord rightly raises important issues and concerns. Reports have also indicated that even basic expressions of religious symbolism, such as the growing of a beard or the wearing of a headscarf, are used as indicators to target particular communities. I assure the noble Lord that we are working on this, including with the UN, which he mentioned. We have clearly asked the Chinese authorities to implement the full recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and we have reminded them both bilaterally—as the Foreign Secretary did last year in his meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister—and in the Human Rights Council that our concerns about the camps and the reports from our diplomats in Beijing require action. On human rights more generally, I assure the noble Lord that I am specifically looking at the next meeting of the Human Rights Council in March to see how we cannot just lobby on this issue but build stronger alliances.

China’s Ethnic Cleansing of Uyghurs –

From Oppression To Genocide

“Uyghurs are helpless and on the edge of disappearing from this world. Humanity is crying out every minute in the hearts of Uyghurs. The world must save the Uyghurs before it is too late. Money cannot buy love of humanity! Uyghurs need your support!” said Aziz Isa Elkun, Secretary of Uyghur PEN Centre while presenting a paper at the Conference on China’s Brute Crackdown on Uyghur Muslims, organised by the Cordoba Foundation, London, on 15 February 2019 at the London Muslim Centre, London.

                                                                             

PalExpo 2019 - Biggest Palestine Event in Europe

PalExpo: Biggest Palestine 

Event in Europe

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Two days Conference on Palestine – the biggest event in Europe – took place at Olympia National, London, on Saturday and Sunday, 6^th & 7^th of July, 2019 respectively. A two-day family celebration of Palestinian culture, history and arts, PalExpo brings a range of immersive and innovative experiences to London.

Visitors took part in dozens of activities including Dabka workshops led by the Palestinian groups Fatafeet and Hakaya, attended a Palestinian wedding, Darbuka drumming workshops, admired bridal dresses collection from 1900, used a virtual reality spray to write on the apartheid wall, and listened to acclaimed poets, storytellers and musicians.

PalExpo aimed to raise awareness of the daily experiences Palestinians face under occupation through 20 exclusive interactive installations. One of the installations was the Gaza hospital, where visitors spoke to Palestinian doctors and learned about the struggles of providing and receiving medical care in Gaza. Another installation was the BDS bowling alley to encourage visitors to become familiar with Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) targets.

This year's event featured a wide range of high-profile speakers to share their expertise and experiences. They provided thought-provoking ideas and covered subjects from global justice, cultural boycott, apartheid, Deal of the Century and future of Palestine.

Speakers included South African MP and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Zwelivelile Mandela; former director of Al-Jazeera, Wadah Khanfar; journalist at Israel’s Haaretz, Gideon Levy; Palestinian activist, Issa Amro and Claire Anastas from Bethleham whose home is surround by apartheid wall.

“Attending PalExpo is not just about learning or entertainment but showing solidarity with Palestinians at this current, critical political juncture,” said Ismail Patel, Chair of PalExpo.

Welcoming the guests, speakers and visitors, Ismail Patel, Chair Friends of Al-Aqsa said, 

“We gather over the two days to celebrate Palestinian history, heritage and culture. Unfortunately, we cannot escape the dire conditions of Palestinians under occupation. The last year has seen an overt USA colonialist interference in the Palestinian cause. Trump unilaterally and against international law declared the Golan Heights as part of Israel, shifted USA embassy to Jerusalem and taken upon himself to decide the future of Palestinians, in their absentee, in his Deal of the Century.

“Trump mirrors the European colonialist approach of the last century were the voices of the rightful heir to the land is not only ignored but drowned out by Colonial ambitions. The unconditional USA support to Israel has directly led to greater human rights violations of the Palestinians. In this sense, Palestine is a metaphor of the continuation struggle against Eurocentric colonial projects.

Palestine Expo thus provides an opportunity to not only showcase Palestinian culture in all its diversity and richness, but also to discuss the question of Palestine with people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Palestine Expo, makes it clear that what is taking place in Palestine is registered globally. Palestine Expo in its way hopes to provide a counter discourse against hate, occupation and segregation. I thank you for joining us today and being part of those seeking justice and peace.”

Two-day Conference was part of the Palestine Expo festival. In this two-day conference there have been many different topics discussed by many scholars, academicians, political leaders, and speakers from all over the world.

The subjects were manifold. On the first day on Saturday, 6^th of July 2019, there were many topics discussed such as: Jerusalem: Vanishing City; Nation Law: Israeli Apartheid State; Gaza: The Great Return March; Deal or Disaster of the Century; Cultural Boycott; Understanding Israeli Apartheid, Britain, Zionism and Jewish Resistance to Israel; Understanding Islamophobia: A People’s Definition; Generation Palestine: Student Movement; Settlement and House Demolitions; Global Palestinisation; Media: Honest Reporting? Why are Anti-Palestinian Groups Attacking Aid work in Palestine? Academics for Palestine? Faith & Activism; Palestine: A Brief History; Trade under Fire; UK Parliament & Justice for Palestine? Change for Palestine: An International Perspective and BDS.

The above subjects were discussed and deliberated by the following scholars, academicians, political leaders and parliamentarians such as Laila Hassan; Salma Karni Ayyoub; Professor Joseph Massad; Chief Zwelivelile Mandela MP RSA;Ahdaf Soueif, Majd Masharawi, Professor Ilan Pappe; Yasmine Abouzanad; Gideon Levy, Wadah Khanfer, Yousef Jabareen MP Knesset; Remi Kanazi; Ronie Barkan; Mohammed Ahmed; Leah Levane; David Cronin; Dr. AbdooKarim Vakil; Professor Salman Sayyid; Julianna Mohamed Noor; Yasmine Abouzanad; Zamzam Ibrahim; Hatty Ruddick; Issa Amro; Daphina Baram; Dr. Ramzy Baroud; Faiz Ilyas; Aziz Isa Elkun; Dr. Goldie Osuri; Professor Hatem Bazian; Hamza Shaikh; John Altman, Rawen Damen; Saleem Kassam; Faiza Shaheen; Hilary Aked; Ibrahim Hewitt; Claire Smith; Professor Neve Gordon; Laila Hassan; Atif Choudhury; Samayyah Afzal; Adnan Rahman; Julie Ward MEP; Andrew Shaughter MP; Ahmed Mahbub;  and Yara Sharif.

The second day, on Sunday, the 7^th of July 2019 following subjects were discussed, deliberated and spoken. They were as follows: The Campaign to Stop Arming Israel; Gaza: The Siege; UK Parliament: A Moral Responsibility for Palestine? One State: The Future; Beyond PalExpo; Media: Marginalising Palestinian Voice; Al-Aqsa: Religious & Political Importance;; Decolonising Palestine Unliveable: The Future of Gaza Post-2020; Iteration of Racism: Islamophobia & Anti-Semitism; Global Justice Compromised; Critical Muslim Studies; Decolonising Muslims: From Islamic Studies to Critical Muslim Studies; From Balfour to Trump; Mental Health Trauma under Occupation; United Against Racism; In Conversation with Wadah Khanfar President Al-Sharq Forum and Unrecognised Palestinians in Israel.

Following were the speakers who talked discussed and spoke on the abovementioned subjects. They were as follows: Ben Jamal; Liz McKean; Huda Ammori; Dr. Swee Ang; Ahmad Abu Artemeh; Mickey Brady MP; Rev. Stephen Saxby; Gideon Levy; Huda Elmi; Ismail Patel; Tez Ilyas; Jehan Al-Farra; Myriam Francois; Sarah Al-Aride; Professor Rebecca GouldDr. Tajul Islam; Dr. Mustapha Sheik; Professor Hatem Bazeian; Chris Nineham; Osama Abu Irshad

In the Opening Session on 6^th of July following speakers spoke: Chief Zwelivelile Mandela MP Republic of South Africa, Ismail Patel, Yasmine Abouzanad; and Wadah Khanfer, and on the last day on Beyond PalExpo, following speakers spoke: Chief Zwelivelile Mandela MP Republic of South Africa, Ismail Patel, Yasmine Abouzanad; Tez Ilyas and Zamzam Ibrahim.

On the UK Parliament & Justice for Palestine following speakers spoke under the chairmanship of Ahmed Mahbub: Julie Ward MEP and Andrew Slaughter MP. Similarly on the second day on UK Parliament: A Moral Responsibility for Palestine, following speakers spoke under the chair of Ahmed Mahbub: Colin Monehen; Michey Brady MP and Rev Stephen Saxby.

Late Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn (1940-2019)

Obituary

Lord Adam Hafezjee Patel

of Blackburn (1940-2019)

Dr. Mozammel Haque

I was shocked and saddened to learn that Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn, the former Chairman of the British Hajj Delegation (2001-2010) has passed away on Wednesday, 29^th of May 2019, during the last ten days of the blessed month of Ramadan.

Lord Patel was one of my best friends. He was a humble, kind-hearted devoted to family human being. He was a devout religious person who wanted to cement bond of relationship among all the religious communities. He always took me to the prayer room in the House of Lords for afternoon (Asr) prayer and sometimes evening (Maghreb) prayer. Sometimes he invited me to his residence in Mile End, London.

Lord Adam Hafezjee Patel was appointed a member of the House of Lords on 1^st January 2000. He happened to be the only Muslim and of a non-European background among six others inducted to the Upper House of the British Parliament that year. Having a strong social service background, Lord Patel has many friends in both Houses of Parliament because of his affiliation with the Labour Party. I had the opportunity to meet and interview Lord Patel of Blackburn in the House of Lords, in London, in March 2000. He spoke at length about Muslim issues, in general, and the situation of the Muslim community in Britain, in particular.

I actually met him first in the House of Lords after his appointment as Peer of the House of Lords and interviewed him in 2000. When he was appointed Leader of the British Hajj Delegation in 2001, it became a routine affair for me to meet him regularly before and after the Hajj.

Since his appointment as head of the British Hajj Delegation in 2001, we were very close and every time during the launching of the British Hajj Delegation and after his return from the Hajj I used to meet him in the House of Lords and he discussed with me his experience during the Hajj. He took keen interest in the Hajj Delegation and wanted to serve and care for the welfare of the Hajjis in the Holy city of Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinah al-Munawwarah.

He was devoted to his family and loved his children and grandchildren. He was the most family devoted person.

May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala bless his soul and grant him the highest place in the Jannatul Firdaus and give patience and Sabr to his family and friends who lost their dear and near ones.

Lord Adam Patel: Life and activities

Adam Hafezjee Patel was born in Bharuch district, 250 miles from Bombay, in the state of Gujarat, India. He studied at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat. From where he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accountancy and Business Management. He came to England in 1965.  He worked with chartered accountants. He gave up the course after practising accountancy for four years and joined his relatives. Lord Adam said, he came to Blackburn in 1966 to serve his people. He said, “I thought that our people need some sort of voluntary organization and in order to have that, I must join a political party, as I had the aspiration to do something for the Muslim community.”

The political career of Lord Patel started in 1966 when he joined the Labour Party. He started taking active interest in its activities and took initiative in representation the needs of the Muslim community in the party forums. With this objective, he invited representative from the Conservative, Liberal and Labour parties and formed a community Relations Council with representatives from the three parties. This organization is now known as Racial Equality Council.

Britain, being a member of the Commonwealth, Lord Patel founded a Commonwealth Friendship Society which was active during the late sixties. He also served as a Treasurer and later as Chairman and presently life-term Vice President of the Community Relations Council, now called Blackburn Racial Equality Council. Lord Patel also served as the governor of Preston High School from 1968-1974.

Lord Patel, then, thought of forming an umbrella organization grouping all the mosques of Lancashire County, not only of Blackburn. There were mosques for the Muslim communities of the Indian, Bengali and Pakistani origin in Lancashire and there are Sunnis, Shias and followers of other sects living in Lancashire. Lord Patel met the various groups of Muslims and convinced those of the need of have one umbrella organization representing all Muslim interests. They agreed and established Lancashire Council of Mosques. Lord Patel was the founder-chairman and later president of the Council of Mosques.

Lord Patel was one of the five Counsellors of the MCB (Muslim Council of Britain), an organization representing Muslims, which was formed late 90’s.

In 1997, the British Government decided that the minority ethnic groups must have a voice in the decisions of the government. The Home Secretary appointed a Board of 25 members. They approached Lord Patel for inclusion in the Race Relations Board, on which he served as a member since 1997 elections.

Lord Patel told me earlier in one of my interviews, “To improve and uplift Muslims educationally, we started Lancashire Muslim Girls School and to have now drawn up plans to help our boys’ schools too. We shall impart our code of conduct to our children, and in fact, to all other children studying in these schools in such a way that they become a role-model for the society at large.”

Lord Patel was quite optimistic about the future of Muslim schools in Britain. Lord Patel also pleaded for the teaching of Islam in the evening or during the day and called for revolutionary changes in the methods the Muslims were following in teaching Islam. “Allah the Almighty has given us the Qur’an and Our Prophet (peace very upon him) himself practised the Islamic precepts first and then gave lessons to his companions to put them into practise. His Companions then taught other people. Whatever messages we received from Almighty Allah through our Prophet (peace be upon him) they were meant to be practised – they were not meant for just increasing our knowledge. We have got everything in our religion, every aspect of life is dealt with and not a single aspect is left untouched.”

Tributes to Lord Adam Patel

Tributes paid to Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 78. MP Keith Vaz described the Gujarati-born father of eight, who was made a life peer in 2000, as "Labour's northern rock".

Jack Straw

Lord Patel, known locally as Lord Adam, came to Blackburn in the 1960s to study accountancy at Blackburn College after graduating from the University of Baroda in Gujarat State, India. The town's former MP, Jack Straw, a former foreign secretary, said he had no hesitation in nominating him for a peerage, adding: "I'll never forget his joy, and that of his family, when he was formally ennobled in February 2000."

He said Lord Patel was "wise, very intelligent, replete with integrity, and completely committed to honouring his faith and to making Britain a better place for everyone".

Lord Patel served as director of the East Lancashire Training Enterprise Council, president of Lancashire Council of Mosques, vice-president of the Blackburn Community Relations Council and head of The British Hajj Delegation, which looked after the interests of Muslims going on pilgrimage to Makkah al-Mukarramah.

Keith Vaz, MP

MP Keith Vaz described the Gujarati-born father of eight, who was made a life peer in 2000, as "Labour's northern rock". Keith Vaz said: "Adam Patel's life embodies the very essence of the journey taken by so many British Asians since their arrival in the UK.  "He was Labour through and through but also kept his deep roots in the British Muslim community of the north-west even after he entered the House of Lords.

'Loyal and strong'

"His desire to help everyone who needed it frustrated his large family circle who had to cope with people visiting his home well after midnight.

"He was loyal, devoted to family, strong and dedicated to his causes."

Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham

Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham sent me his messages saying, “Lord Adam Patel was a loyal, committed and dedicated member of the Labour Party who was liked by many people in Parliament. He was proud of his identity as a British Indian Gujrati Muslim (his unique dress code in Parliament) and therefore spent a lot of time supporting his brothers’ charitable hospital. He was a calm, softly spoken wise man.”

Baroness Manzila Uddin

Baroness Manzila Uddin of Bethnal Green and Bow emailed me her tributes as follows: “The Hon Lord Patel was much respected member of the House. He was a gentle and calm person, even at the most chaotic period in the House. Most importantly and personally, he was my elder brother and treated me with utmost care and affection, particularly during testing times.

She also said, “He was a man of utmost integrity and personal honour and was devoted to the betterment of all people and his friendship group in the House reflected the diversity which he championed throughout his life, in the community and in Parliament, whilst maintaining deference for his faith and tradition.”

Baroness Uddin mentioned, “He was a Labour man and we worked together on numerous political issues in order to advance the causes of the Labour Government, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11 and 7/7 tragedy. He was steadfast in ensuring that national and local community organisations were able to participate and have a voice.”

She added, “Nominated by several of us and with support of the then Foreign Secretary Rt Hon Jack Straw, the Hon Lord Patel lead the UK Hajj Delegation to Makkah for over a decade and his leadership was invaluable for thousands of Hajjis and officials alike.”

Baronress Manzila Uddin made a special prayer for Lord Adam Patel. She said, “My condolences and duas go to Lady Patel and his loving family, I am proud to have been recipient of his care and affection for which I remain indebted. May Allah Bless our brother the highest place in Jannah, Ameen.”

Dr Iyad Ameen Madani

In memory of Lord Adam Patel, Dr Iyad Ameen Madani, the former Minister of Hajj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1999 – 2005) and former Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) (2012-2016), wrote on Thursday 30^th May 2019 (25^th of Ramadan 1440H) from Madinah Al Munawwarah: “I am saddened to hear of the passing away of Lord Patel, May Allah SWT bless his soul in this blissful month.”

Dr. Madani said, “As a Minister of Hajj in Saudi Arabia, I had the opportunity to work with Lord Patel who used to head the British Hajj Delegation for many years. He was always well informed, dedicated to the well being of his Hajjis, aware of the magnitude of organizing the mass movement of Hajjis and ready to share in finding solutions to logical needs.”

Dr. Madani also mentioned, “Beyond Hajj, the story of Lord Patel rise from an accountant to the House of Lords, was a story of discipline, hardwork and clear vision that resulted in his admirable accomplishments and success. A distinguished British citizen he was, but never shy to stress diversity, he kept to his traditional dress even in the House of Lords. He will be missed.”

Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan

Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, London emailed me the following message: “Lord Patel, or “Lord Adam” as he was widely known after his appointment to the House of Lords in 2000, became such an admired figure to the British community across the nation.

Among his major tasks:

·                                 Retired managing director of a clothing manufacturing company,

·                                 Director of the East Lancashire Training Enterprise Council, and Enterprise plc,

·                                 served as President of Lancashire Council of Mosques, Vice-President of the Blackburn Community Relations Council,

·                                 Counsellor of the Muslim Council of Britain and

·                                 Chairman of the British Hajj Delegation (2001-2010)

·                                 Establishing a powerful role between the Foreign Office and the Islamic Cultural Centre (London).

“Adam Hafejee Patel, Baron Patel of Blackburn, businessman and politician, born 7 June 1940; died 29 May 2019.

Dr. Al-Dubayan also mentioned, “Patel, who died aged 78, drew his strength from the combination of his status as a profoundly devout Muslim with his belief in civic responsibility.”

Sir Iqbal Sacranie

Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the founder and the former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), sent me through whatsup his messages on Late Lord Adam Patel today. He said, “The Late Lord Adam Patel was a wonderful & humble human being. MCB appointed him as one of the first members of the Board of Counsellors in view of his commitment to unity of Muslims in the UK. He was always very supportive of the positive integration of the Muslim community and fought ardently against discrimination and prejudice within the society.”

Sir Iqbal also mentioned, “He will always be remembered for his ever smiling face and passion for community cohesion.”

Julia Langdon, the Guardian

Julia Langdon wrote in The Guardian, “Adam Patel was regarded as having played a pivotal role in stabilising and integrating the Muslim community in Blackburn with the white population.

“He become a leading businessman, a pioneer in the development of successful community relations and a hugely respected character in the political and commercial life of what became his adopted home town.

Langdon also added, “Patel, who has died aged 78, drew his strength from the combination of his status as a profoundly devout Muslim with his belief in civic responsibility. A highly intelligent man who exuded a sense of wisdom, he had the instincts of a natural leader.”