Reopening of Mosques for Congregational Prayers-update

Reopening of Mosques for Congregational

Prayers – Update

Dr Mozammel Haque

“Our Mosques will consider reopening for congregational prayers from 25^th July with a phased re-opening of some mosques from July 13th for limited prayers. This trial will provide valuable experience to help ensure that our communities will be kept safe” – That was the view of the Coordination Committee for Mosques and Islamic Centres, London which met on 7^th July at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London.

The followings are the Statement issued by The Coordination Committee for Mosques and Islamic Centres, London posted on 9^th July 2020 at the ICC web.

"The Coordination Committee for Mosques and Islamic Centres, London met to review the current situation on whether it would now be safe to reopen our mosques. Medical evidence on the current risks was presented at the meeting alongside feedback on the experience of other mosques who have reopened. 

Dr Muhammmed Umar Ebrahimsa, specialist in Infectious Diseases and General Medicine advised: 

"Data released prior to July 4 2020 by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), suggests that we remain on the cusp of an increase in the number of infections in the London region; with an R of 0.8-1.1 or a growth rate of infections of between -4 and +2%. On 4 July itself, the government put in place a further reduction of social distancing and allowed the reopening of most of businesses and venues. The impact of these changes in activity on the number of infections is likely to become apparent 2-3 weeks {i.e.by July 25th}. following their introduction." 

"In view of the vulnerabilities of the community and the possibility of increasing infection in the London region and uncertainty of the impact of recent changes on the community; I would recommend re-evaluating the recommencement of congregational prayers in mosques from July 25th. Simultaneously a trial gradual recommencement of limited congregational prayers in a select number of mosques, could enable us to assess what the impact of further reopening might be."

The value and importance of the preservation of life has been a fundamental consideration for the Committee, with importance given to the heightened risk to our BAME communities. The decision to reopen cannot exclude the medical evidence, the moral obligation and the trust given to us by our congregations. 

Therefore, the Committee's view is that our Mosques will consider reopening for congregational prayers from July 25th July with with a phased re-opening of some mosques from July 13th for limited prayers. This trial will provide valuable experience to help ensure that our communities will be kept safe. 

The Committee also agreed to keep this decision under review, to ensure that the safety of the community is always foremost. 

The above collective decisions are based on the very important role mosques have in our lives, the sentiments of the communities, and the latest medical advice. We ask everyone to continue to cooperate and support our mosques to ensure maximum safety for all. 

May Allah keep us all safe 

Coordination Committee for Mosques and Islamic Centres, London 

The Islamic Cultural Centre & London Central Mosque

UKIM West London Islamic Centre

East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre

Finsbury Park Mosque

Al Manaar - Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre

Al Muntada Al Islami & WLICC

Muslim Welfare House

Mayfair Islamic Centre

Masjid Al Tawhid

Al-Nagashi Mosque & Centre

9July 2020 / 18 Dhu'l Qa'da' 1441 AH 

[END] 

Click here to download the statement in PDF Format >> 

[Appendix]

Briefing for The Coordination Committee for Mosques and Islamic Centres, London. 

7/7/2020 

To date more than 60,000 persons are likely to have died as a result of COVID 19 in the UK alone, more than one tenth of global coronavirus deaths. The daily death rate from COVID 19 continues to remain around 150 deaths a day since the middle of June 2020, in excess of the death rate at the time that the lockdown commenced in the UK on 23 March 2020. 

The virus responsible for causing COVID 19, SARS coronavirus 2, can cause an infection in affected individuals up to 2 weeks after their exposure to the virus. Most persons, who develop a severe infection, seek medical care 4-5 days after their symptoms start. So the deaths that we witness today are the result of infections occurring during the lockdown period, in the context of enforced significant social distancing. 

Data released prior to July 4 2020 by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), suggests that we remain on the cusp of an increase in the number of infections in the London region; with an R of 0.8-1.1 or a growth rate of infections of between -4 and +2%. On 4 July itself, the government put in place a further reduction of social distancing and allowed the reopening of the majority of businesses and venues. The impact of these changes in activity on the number of infections is likely to become apparent 2-3 weeks following their introduction. 

One of the greatest challenges posed by this virus has been the range of illness that it causes, from a complete absence of symptoms to severe multiple organ failure. A recent survey of over 20,000 households by the Office for National Statistics, suggests that 80% of individuals who tested positive for the presence of SARS coronavirus 2 did not have symptoms at the time they were tested. This would mean that temperature or symptom screening would not identify them. COVID 19 continues to be mainly spread by close contact with individuals with the infection (symptomatic or asymptomatic); and with the environment that they are in. So the most effective route of reducing the risk of transmission occurring within mosques is to avoid individuals (symptomatic or asymptomatic) with COVID 19 coming into the mosque. If they unknowingly enter the mosque, the risk of transmission can be reduced through mask wearing, social distancing, hand sanitisation, avoiding crowding and ensuring spaces are well ventilated. 

As a result the risk of transmission occurring within mosques is linked to both the preparedness of mosques and the levels of circulating infection in the community. This is of concern to the Muslim community given the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on the community and the high representation of the community in jobs associated with a high mortality from COVID19. Any potential change in the rates of infection after 4 July may, also, disproportionately affect the Muslim community. 

In view of the vulnerabilities of the community and the possibility of increasing infection in the London region and uncertainty of the impact of recent changes on the community; I would recommend reevaluating the recommencement of congregational prayers in mosques from July 25th .

Simultaneously a trial gradual recommencement of limited congregational prayers in a select number of mosques, could enable us to assess what the impact of further reopening might be. 

Muhammmed Umar Ebrahimsa 
Specialist Registrar Infectious Diseases and General Medicine 

Abusing Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang China

Human Rights Abuses of Uyghur

Muslims in Xinjiang China

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and First Secretary of State, Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab, MP introduced Statement on Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime in the House of Commons on Monday, 6^th of June 2020. Discussions took place afterwards and parliamentarian from cross-party lines raised the concerns on the human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang China and Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar.

While introducing the Statement, Dominic Raab, said, “On human rights, where we will defend media freedoms and protect freedom of religious belief; and, with the measures we are enacting and announcing today, hold to account the perpetrators of the worst human rights abuses.”

Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab explained, “if you’re a kleptocrat or an organised criminal, you will not be able to launder your blood money in this country. Today this Government and this House send a very clear message, on behalf of the British people: those with blood on their hands, the thugs of despots, the henchmen of dictators, will not be free to waltz into this country, to buy up property on the Kings Road, do their Christmas shopping in Knightsbridge or siphon dirty money through British banks or other financial institutions.”

“We are imposing sanctions on individuals involved in some of the most notorious human rights violations in recent years,” he said.

Lisa Nandy (Wigan) (Lab)

Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy said, “we are grateful to the Foreign Secretary for including the Rohingya in Myanmar in today’s announcement. I hope that he will use his new remit to consider why the UK investment arm, CDC, continues to invest in those who are complicit in silencing people who speak out against human rights abuses in Myanmar.”

Tom Tugendhat (Tonbridge and Malling) (Con)

During discussion, Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling, raised the issue of human rights violations in Xinjiang. He said, “There has been a remarkable silence on human rights violations in China. As yet, there is no announcement on any sanctions against those who are either exploiting or abusing the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, or repressing democracy activists in Hong Kong. I wonder whether that is merely because this is the first stage of sanctions and the Foreign Office has not quite yet caught up with it, or whether it is a policy change. I also pay tribute to the few words the Foreign Secretary said about co-operation with others. As he knows, sanctions work best when they work with others. Working with our European and CANZUK friends is an important aspect of that.”

Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab replied, “He asked about China, and recently the Human Rights Council led a statement with 27 countries on the human rights situation in Xinjiang, as well as in Hong Kong. Of course, as with China and many other countries, people will wish to come up with further suggestions going forward, and we will consider those carefully, based on the evidence. If my hon. Friend will forgive me, I will not pre-empt what the next wave of designations will be, but I assure him that we are already working on them.”

Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green) (Con)

Sir Iain Duncan Smith Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green mentioned about “an exposé from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China regarding the involvement of Chinese officials and Government in the Uyghur suppression, sterilisation and forced encampment, and it ended with their involvement in the stripping away of the rights and freedoms of the people in Hong Kong, all the way up to the top.”

Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)

Labour MP for Rhondda, Chris Bryant, raised the issue of Utghur Muslims. He said, “Uyghur Muslims, gay Chechnyans, Russian journalists, Colombian campesinos and the Rohingya all have human rights. Corruption nearly always goes hand in fisted glove with human rights abuse and nearly always the first step is the repression of democracy—the preventing of people from enjoying their freedom of assembly and their freedom of speech. That is why I strongly urge the Foreign Secretary to look at another clause that would include the repression of democracy and the rights of assembly and of freedom of speech, and therefore look very carefully at whether Carrie Lam should not be on the list.”

Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab) [V]

Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, Afzal Khan, raised the issue of Israeli Annexation. He said, “Israeli annexations are a violation of international law and jeopardise any chance of a two-state solution. I would like to believe that a two-state solution is not a lost cause, but that is only possible if we speak up. I urge the Government to take action and condemn violations such as the recent bulldozing of a historic Muslim cemetery in Jaffa. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that such contempt for international law warrants sanctions? If not, could he please explain his reasoning?”

Dominic Raab

First Secretary of State Dominic Raab replied, “We certainly oppose not just the settlement building but other violations of international humanitarian law. The hon. Gentleman may have seen the letter that the Prime Minister recently published in the Israeli press, which made it clear that we are not giving up on a two-state solution. We oppose annexation and we want both parties to come to the table and negotiate a lasting settlement.”

Imran Ahmad Khan (Wakefield) (Con) [V]

Conservative MP for Wakefield, Imran Ahmad khan, spoke about the Uyghur Muslims. He said, “As he knows, hundreds of thousands of Uighurs, other Muslims and Christians continue to be imprisoned in inhuman Chinese camps, which are a revolting violation of the universal rights held sacred by freedom-loving people everywhere, namely the freedom to live, work and worship as desired.”

He also mentioned, “In 2019, 23 countries, including the UK, US and Japan, signed a letter addressed to the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly Third Committee urging communist China to close its camps. It saddens me that, as we condemn slavery and other beastly historical crimes, horrific exploitative labour continues—“

Dominic Raab

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Dominic Raab , replied, “I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the passionate way in which made his case. I reassure him that, if he looks at the statement that the UK reassure him that, if he looks at the statement that the UK led on with 27 other countries on the Human Rights Council, we have condemned the human rights abuses that he refers to against the Uighurs and in relation to Hong Kong. That is the first time the issue has been on the agenda at the Human Rights Council. We will continue to keep up that work and shine a light on what, I agree, are appalling human rights abuses.”

Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)

DUP for Strangford, Jim Shannon, raised the human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims. He said, “ we must question any sanctions policy that does not target the Chinese officials responsible for the mistreatment of the Uighurs in Xinjiang, where more than a million are in concentration camps. In addition, an independent tribunal in Xinjiang concluded that forced organ harvesting is undoubtedly taking place with the knowledge and support of the Chinese Communist party. Will the Secretary of State join his US counterparts and act against human rights abusers in China?”

Dominic Raab

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Dominic Raab replied, “Sometimes, in the most authoritarian countries, evidence is difficult to come by, almost by definition, but I hope he will see from the designations that we make today that when we have the evidence and the crimes are clear, we are willing to act.”

Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) (Lab) [V]

Labour MP for Bolton South East, Yasmin Qureshi, through Virtual, raised the issue of Rohingya in Myanmar. She said, “I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement today, but why is the Commonwealth Development Corporation continuing to invest millions of pounds in a company called Frontier, a telecommunications and internet company that has been obeying what the Myanmar Government have been telling it, which is to suppress the transmission of evidence of human rights abuses and atrocities being committed against the Rohingya?”

Friday Sermons Masjid Congregation Hajj

Friday Jumah Khutbah at Masjid al-Haram

on Masjid, Congregational Prayer and Hajj

Dr Mozammel Haque

Imam of Masjid al-Haram and scholar Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, gave this Jumah Khutbah (Friday Sermons) on 26^th of June 2020. In his Friday sermon, he emphasized the importance of Mosques, Congregational prayers and Hajj. At the beginning of the Khutbah, he first narrated the value and importance of Mosques in Muslim life, then he explained the congregational prayers. The Hajj is very near. Speaking about the fifth pillar of Islam, he explained Hajj of this year vis-à-vis the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking about nourishment and sustenance, the Imam of Masjid al-Haram said, “I testify that there is no god but Allah Subhanahu wa Taala Him Alone which is away from all hardships. He gave us all nourishment and sustenance and I testify that Prophet Muhammad Sallallu wa Sallam is His Messenger and peace and blessings of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala upon him and his companions and those who followed his footsteps until the Day of Resurrection.”

Allah’s Bounties and Blessings

Talking about Allah’s bounties and blessings, Sheikh Dr. Saleh said, “There is no peace of mind like having a good hope. Allah has wisdom. The Creator is always kind, and always will be with love. He does good to the people. There are lots of bounties and blessings. But people were unaware of them. They will only realise them when harm touches them. So many blessings that people have but they are unaware or they are heedless of those bounties of that they had.”

Speaking about Mosque and congregational prayers, Imam of the Masjid al-Haram mentioned, “Like performing Jumah in congregation, people will be happy when they will be returned back to their mosques. I ask Almighty Allah to take away this pandemic from us. He hears and He answers all our prayers, our calls and duas. Mosque will speak about their news, about those people who do wadu, ablution and clean themselves; actually those who are making Sujud and remembering Allah; they will be there. You are remembering about the Day of Resurrection, and they fear none other than Allah; they are performing Salah and they are giving charity and they fear the day when the hearts of mankind will turn over. Whenever they were tired of going to the mosque, going back and forth to the mosque, they are competing in coming early to the prayers and they will be one of the servants whom Allah will put them under HIS Shades when there will be no shade except HIS Shade.”

“Those people will be always in the Masjid, with the Mosque; even whenever he leaves mosque his heart will always be there. This will happen to those people who control themselves, control their desires. Those people who love Allah will be attached to the Masjid. Our good is to Allah, our Creator, those people who are attached to the Masjids, to the mosque we are hoping that those people are the one whom Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and His Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said that they are attached to the Masjids and they love Allah Subhanahu wa Taala,” mentioned Sheikh Dr. Saleh al-Humaid.

Mosque and Congregational Prayers

Speaking about those who are attached to Mosque and pray in congregation, Imam of the Masjid al-Haram mentioned, “Masjid is attached to yourself, to be in the congregation, scholars said. Scholars said that those who are attached to the Masjids means their seriousness and the importance of one being attached to the love of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. They will always be living among the people who perform the Salah and as long as he is sitting and waiting he is receiving awards from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. Can I guide you to something, ask Prophet peace be upon him. Can I guide you to something that will wipe your sins? When going to the mosque regularly and also waiting for the prayer many times will always wipe your sins than those people attached to the markets.”

“Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said give glad tidings to those people who go to the Masjid and they will have a complete light on the Day of Resurrection. Tawaqqalillah. Those people who go to the Masajid they are going to pray Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. Abu Hurairah R. A. said no man will be a person who always be in the Masjid except Allah Subhanahu wa Taala will make him happy. The minimum advice to men will be happy for him going back to Allah Subhanahu wa Taala.”

He also said, “Angels are always praying for those people who are sitting down in the Masjid and waiting for the Salah. Mosque has a great position in Islam. Prophet peace be upon him was travelling; when he returned from travel, he used to go to the House of Allah, the Mosque will be the first place where his feet will stop in or somebody will travel and then he thanked Allah Subhanahu wa Taala for whatever he has done for him.”

Gatherings, Congregation and Movement

Speaking about gatherings or movement, the Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “If the gatherings of the leaders for the movement in the places of gatherings, this religion has brought for us to cause a system in the land of the House of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. That is to make one line straight and also to avoid being smelling very bad and affecting other people and then you should avoid any argument or any shouting or raising voices inside the mosques.”

“This movement and this connection will always keep up to date and advises that have been given to all directions by the leaders to those people who believe in Allah and on the Day of Resurrection. Allah benefits those with His Guidance and the Guidance of the Prophet peace be upon him. I ask Allah to forgive me and you and all the entire believers, men and women. He is the Most Merciful, Most kind,” the Imam completed the first part of the Khutbah.

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram started the second part of the Khutbah by saying, “I testify that Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings of Allah will be on him and his family and companions. Then he said, “In any society that is developed there is not any development equal to Islamic civilisation. There is not any that we have in our Masajids. This is a civilisation that we can be proud of that Allah has given us.”

Two Holy Mosques

Speaking about the Two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Humaid said, “Let us come to the Two Holy Mosques. Those Two Mosques – no prayer has been stopped in them. They are the leaders of all the Mosques of the Muslims. The Direction of prayer is their direction of prayer for all Muslims – whether alive or dead.  Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. . This blessed land is the land of the Two Holy Mosques. The leaders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia understand the value and importance of these Two Holy Mosques and they spend all their efforts for these Two Holy Mosques. There are two issues – importance and the issue of security.”

Place of Amaan, Peace and Tranquillity

Speaking about the first, peace and tranquillity towards humanity, Imam of the Masjid Al-Haram mentioned, “The first is directed towards peace and tranquillity, for humanity, that is the most important matter, it is the humanity. It is a place of salam – peace. The place of Prophet Ibrahim Alais Salam; whoever enters this land he becomes secure and tranquil  and the one who enters the land they should become secure and tranquil. That means anyone who enters they should be given protection and security. The second point is the House is clean for those people who are coming to worship and making Tawaf and praying in there. The combination of security and cleanliness is the most important.”

“This country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has looked after the Two Holy Mosques; has been looking after those people who are living in the land, and those people who are coming as visitors; those coming to do Umrah and Hajj – the two is a huge work to look after them by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques so that the people can be able to perform their obligations and their rites over there in peace,” mentioned Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Humaid..

Hajj and Coronavirus Pandemic

Speaking about the forthcoming Hajj and Coronavirus, the Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “The administration of these places is known of their wisdom in doing this. This country has taken wise rules and regulations. This pandemic has given   the country Saudi Arabia wise decision to suspend the Umrah. When the Hajj comes this pandemic is still continuing and there is increment of people getting ill. They have taken in the highest of regulation. The country has taken rules that there is no Hajj for foreigners but for those people living in the Kingdom that they would do Hajj. There is wisdom for this. It is because you have to protect human life.”

Regulations to Protect Human Life

Referring to Shariah, quoting the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Tradition, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin al-Humaid said, “Allah SWT told the believers: don’t put your hands on things that destroy you and don’t kill yourself. Saudi Arabia is taking the responsibility to protect the Muslims. Prophet peace be upon him said:  run away from the person who has transmitted illness like you are running away from a lion. Also the Prophet peace be upon him said: if there is a pandemic in any land, then if you are inside in don’t go out of it and if you are outside of it, then don’t go inside it. Reducing the congregation will also have, will definitely have, the reduction in pandemic.”

Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “This course has been taken, they are not permanent; they are temporary; until one day pandemic go away, inshaAllah. Ameen. Allahuma Ameen. I pray to Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to take away this so that Makkah will be ready to receive over 30 million people for Umrah, the kingdom giving them the best service; that is the plan of the Government of Saudi Arabia, its King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman in serving the Muslims and those people who come for Hajj and Umrah.”

.

NHS frontline workers Protect reward and give pay

We must not forget the frontline NHS workers

Pay rise, Procure PPE and Protect Care Homes

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Give pay rise of the frontline NHS and Care Home workers; protect social care and care homes, procure PPE and recognise and reward the unsung heroes of Frontline NHS and care homes workers – these are the voices and concerns raised in the debate on Health and Social Care Workers: Recognise and Reward in the House of Commons on Thursday, 25^th of June 2020. Parliamentarians raised the following issues and concerns and suggested their opinions and viewpoints. 

People in NHS and care System are properly

rewarded, properly recognised and protected

Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab)

Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Rushanara Ali said, “It has been said many times, but we should never tire of saying that our NHS and care workers are true heroes and that we are incredibly grateful for their skill, dedication, selflessness and sacrifice. We came out on Thursday evenings to applaud them; now it is time to build a system that rewards them with more than applause. That is why it is important that the Government put their money where their mouth is and start to recognise them, as hundreds of thousands of people in each of these petitions have called for.”

She also mentioned, “After a decade of austerity, the NHS and social care system is on its knees. The Government were already missing A&E targets as far back as 2015. We know that the NHS has vacancies of 100,000 and that NHS trusts are £1.23 billion in deficit, which needs to be addressed quickly so that they can get on with the job of protecting us. Then there is the mental health crisis.”

Speaking about the economy of NHS and care system, MP Rushanara Ali said, “Across the NHS and care system, there is the scourge of low pay. Unison predicts that we will need another 1 million extra careworkers by 2025. It is vital that we learn the lessons now and ensure that we have a resilient, well-resourced, effective NHS, where people are properly rewarded and have their skills and expertise recognised, rather than being treated shoddily, which is what we have seen.”

Bethnal Green MP Ali also said, “We also need the Government to ensure that junior doctors are properly rewarded. The Government’s behaviour in recent years has been appalling, yet the doctors, nurses and carers have been the people on the frontline, saving people’s lives and protecting us. We also know that black, Asian and minority ethnic NHS and care workers have had the highest death rate, yet the Government have been inadequate in protecting them. To be frank, the Government have treated them like cannon fodder and the fact that they do not have proper recommendations for those workers is scandalous. They need to get a grip before more lives are lost.”

Rushanara Ali MP also said, “If the Minister for Care thinks that health and care workers should be protected, she should act instead of saying appalling things about them. I hope she will apologise for the remarks she made recently about care staff. The point is that we need to ensure that, when the crisis eases, this Government do not forget the sacrifice and commitments that people in the NHS and care system have made, and that they act to ensure those people are properly rewarded, properly recognised and protected.”

Give Support of Pay Rise to NHS Healthcare workers

Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)

Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, Abena Oppong-Asare, started her speech with pay increase and concluded with pay rise for the NHS Healthcare workers. Labour MP Abena spoke about pay increase. She said, “I speak today in favour of a pay increase for NHS healthcare workers. More than 500 constituents have signed the petition calling on the Government to recognise the hard work and sacrifice of healthcare workers with a pay increase. I completely agree that those working in the health and social care sector deserve a pay increase, not only as a recognition of their hard work during the crisis, but as a necessary step towards ensuring their future wellbeing.”

“For years, this Government have stood by as our NHS and care staff have given their all to provide a great healthcare service while their families fall further into poverty. In 2018, we saw a rise in the number of nurses using food banks, with one study finding that 38% of nurses struggle to buy food and that 50.5% had considered quitting their profession because of financial difficulties. More than half of all care workers are paid less than the real living wage and these workers are four times more likely to be on a zero-hours contract than the average worker.,” she said.

Abena Oppong-Asare MP for Erith and Thamesmead also mentioned, “This pay rise is not just about rewarding people for their hard work; it is about recognising the real and negative impact that low pay has had on our health and social care workers. Some 15% of workers in low-quality, low-paid jobs say that they have poor-quality health, which compares with a figure of 7% for those in good working environments. Covid-19 has thrived on inequality, with people in the poorest parts of England twice as likely to die from covid-19. Perhaps there is some correlation between that fact and the fact that our poorly paid social care workers are almost twice as likely to die from covid-19. Ensuring that health and social care staff work in a high-quality and well-paid environment benefits us all.”

Abena Oppong-Asare MP for Erith and Thamesmead concluded, “Today, I am asking the Government to show all the hard-working NHS and social care staff in Erith and Thamesmead, and across the UK, the support they deserve and to give them this much-needed pay rise.

Unsung Heroes of Our NHS

Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd) (Lab)

Labour MP for Pontypridd, Alex Davies-Jones said, “I rise to speak on behalf of the 434 residents in the Pontypridd constituency who have signed the petitions relating to the recognition and reward of health and social care workers. It is clear that the creation of the NHS is undoubtedly the Labour party’s greatest ever achievement and one which I will always personally champion. I hope colleagues on all Benches will indulge me as I also use today’s debate to celebrate the 20th birthday of NHS Direct Wales, which is taking place this week.”

Speaking about the unsung heroes of the NHS, Pontypridd MP Alex mentioned, “It is all too easy to reduce the NHS workforce to doctors and nurses, but given that there are around 400 different job roles in our NHS, it is important that all NHS staff are given the credit they deserve for their incredible work all year round. Among many others, the porters, cleaners, caterers, healthcare assistants, allied health professionals and the many invaluable volunteers who give up their free time truly are the unsung heroes of our NHS. The coronavirus pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to truly show our thanks and appreciation. Call me old-fashioned, but I am not sure that a handclap or a medal quite cuts it. I wonder whether the Minister would be satisfied with a handclap or a pat on the back instead of receiving her additional ministerial salary—something tells me the answer is no.

Alex Davies-Jones said, “Thanks to the Welsh Labour Government, social care and domiciliary care workers in Wales, including agency workers, and support staff in care homes such as kitchen workers and cleaners will soon receive a diolch or thank-you payment of up to £500—a payment that will be available to 64,600 care home workers and domiciliary care workers throughout Wales. That comes after the Welsh Labour Government have already pledged to commit an incredible £40 million of extra funding for adult social care services, to help meet the extra costs associated with the response to the pandemic.”

“Clearly, that payment is a reward in recognition of the unprecedented circumstances and strain that have been placed on all our NHS staff across the Union, from Pontypridd in south Wales to Perth in Scotland. It is even clearer to me that this payment should be exempt from income tax and national insurance contributions—something that the Welsh Labour First Minister and colleagues in the House have been calling for,” said Alex MP for Pontypridd and added, “So far, Her Majesty’s Treasury has point-blank refused—talk about a kick in the teeth for workers who have literally put their lives on the line to keep us all safe. NHS workers in Pontypridd and throughout Wales deserve better.”

Pathetic Pictures of Care Homes

Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)

SNP for North Ayrshire and Arran, Patricia Gibson said, “As of 1 April, the Scottish Government gave an immediate 3.3% pay rise to social care workers and are in the process of establishing a top-up fund for social care workers who contract covid-19 in the course of their duties. Does the hon. Lady agree that that kind of action should be replicated across the UK?”

“Our care homes and their elderly and vulnerable residents have painfully borne the brunt of this crisis. More than 16,000 people have died from covid-19 in care homes, almost a third of all fatalities. Far from the Government wrapping a protective ring around care homes, in the early days of this crisis they were left exposed, without adequate PPE or testing for staff despite their desperate pleas. The human cost of this failure is harrowing,” mentioned Patricia Gibson.

Talking about the pathetic picture of the care homes, she mentioned, “The crisis has well and truly exposed how neglected our care system has become. Too many staff are low paid and on insecure contracts; too many have had to make choices between risking people’s lives, including their own, or going without pay. Many carers do not receive even the national minimum wage because they are not paid for travel or sleep time.”

Frontline Service Award

Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)

Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham said, “We should have a frontline service award of a daily allowance during this crisis, but beyond that, this is not the time for a pay freeze. Negotiations on public sector pay must reflect the service and sacrifice that many on the frontline have made for us and our loved ones.”

“In social care, many do not work in the public sector. Two million people in care jobs are largely on the minimum wage. Half are on zero-hours contracts, yet they are undertaking highly skilled work, taking care of the most vulnerable and providing intimate care. They are often not paid benefits or for travel time, which can be significant in London. It is possible to earn more money stacking shelves in Tesco,” mentioned Munira Wilson and added, “It is important to recognise that they have very few career prospects and little training. The pay differential between careworkers with less than a year of experience and those with more than 20 years’ experience has now reduced to just 15p an hour. That is because of the funding crisis in social care, which is keeping those wages down. The case for ensuring that our careworkers are at the very least paid the real living wage is overwhelming and a moral imperative.”

“In the longer term, to tackle the workforce crisis and put social care on an equal footing with the NHS, pay scales must be reviewed and ideally aligned with the NHS, but that obviously needs to go hand in hand with tackling the long-term funding crisis in social care. Those reforms are well overdue,” said Liberal Democrats for Twickenham, Munira Wilson..

Munira Wilson MP  mentioned, “We know there is a huge number of migrant workers in social care and in the NHS. The figure is one in seven in the NHS and one in six in the care workforce. We on the Liberal Democrat Benches have argued through the crisis that the cruel policy of no recourse to public funds must be suspended. That is particularly relevant for those on the frontline who may be reticent to take time off or self-isolate because they are only eligible for statutory sick pay, which, frankly, is not enough to live on.”

Munira Wilson pleaded for those workers to grant them indefinite leave to remain and said, “ A number of other benefits are not available to them, but, most importantly, when people have put their lives on the line for us and our loved ones, we must recognise those workers by granting them indefinite leave to remain. A visa extension is not enough. It is not enough to just take their service and say, “Bye bye. Thank you very much.” We have a moral responsibility to allow them to stay.”

Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab)

Labour MP for Gower Tonia Antoniazzi commended the Welsh Labour Government who recognised the efforts of care workers in Wales during covid by paying them £500 more? Many people could benefit from that. She calling for the Government not to make them pay tax on that £500?

Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab)

Given the shortage of PPE and with the risk of a possible second wave of covid later in the year, Rushanara Ali said, “the Government need to step up and make sure that care workers get not only the support and resources they need, but proper PPE in preparation for what could be a very difficult winter?”

Lord Sheikh on Treatment of Muslims in Judiciary

Lord Sheikh on Treatment of Muslims

in the Judiciary System

Dr. Mozammel Haque

“My Lords, 41% of children in prisons are from the BAME community, and a large number of them are Muslims. About 15% of prisoners are Muslims, and in London, the figure is 27%. Some of those Muslims have been victimised by the staff,” said the Conservative Peer Lord Sheikh through virtual on the debate on Lammy Review in the House of Lords on 30 June, 2020 through virual.

Lord Griffiths of Burry Port (Lab) [V]

Earlier, Labour Peer, Lord Griffiths of Burry Port, said, “My Lords, we have heard ample reference to the fact that a number of aspects of the way racial minorities are treated in the justice system has simply got worse since the Lammy report, which is difficult to square with the assurance given by the Minister that so much is being done. Let me quote someone from the Government Benches: Mr Sajid Javid argues that it is time to shine a light on injustice, but that that is not enough. He says:

“We need an action plan … The Racial Disparity Audit found the data. The commission must deliver the solutions.”

The Runnymede Trust added that the Government are “knee-deep in evidence”.

Lord Griffiths asked, “Can the Minister give us the assurance that a sense of urgency is being injected into this whole process? We have heard the same allegations over and over again since Scarman in 1981.

Lord Keen of Elie [V]

Lord Keen of Elie replied through virtual, “My Lords, we are committed to improving the collection and publication of data, and to using the data to identify and tackle disparities across the criminal justice system. We have been working very closely with the Race Disparity Unit since its formation in 2016, and we continue to add and update metrics on the ethnicity facts and figures website as part of our commitment to transparency.”

Lord Sheikh (Con) [V]

Conservative Peer Lord Sheikh of Cornhill speaking about the treatment of the Muslim prisoners in the judiciary system said, “My Lords, 41% of children in prisons are from the BAME community, and a large number of them are Muslims. About 15% of prisoners are Muslims, and in London, the figure is 27%. Some of those Muslims have been victimised by the staff. The custodial sentences imposed on those from BAME communities can be up to 10 years longer than those applied to white people—several lawyers have said this to me.”

Speaking about the appalling lack of diversity in the judiciary system, Lord Sheikh said, “There is an appalling lack of diversity in our judiciary, from the magistrates’ courts to the Supreme Court. Only 7% of judges are from BAME communities, and the figure for magistrates is 12%. Stop and search in BAME communities has risen by 69% for the last five years. I have been stopped by police for allegedly using a phone, which was not so. A sergeant then turned up and said that if there was any difference of opinion between me and his officer, he would believe the officer. I was appalled by the closing of ranks. I believe that I was picked upon because I was driving a Bentley coupé with a personalised number plate. Can the Minister comment on my points?

Lord Keen of Elie [V]

Lord Keen of Elie replied through virtual, “My Lords, we are of course concerned about ensuring visible diversity across the entire justice system. That is particularly challenging in the judiciary and magistracy, and we have introduced an education programme for those from backgrounds not properly represented to undertake training in order that they can apply. Further across the criminal justice system, I note that we have made progress. For example, with the Parole Board, there was grave underrepresentation of BAME members, but we reported in February this year that 53 independent members would join the board, 48% of whom are from a BAME background.”

Rushanara Ali BAME Covid-19 Review

Rushanara Ali on BAME Covid-19 Review

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Rt. Hon. Rushanara Ali Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow in reply to my email said,  “The disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups is just one example of the discrimination and structural injustice we face as a society.”

She Also mentioned, “The Government’s recent report into the impact of Covid-19 and BAME communities concluded what we already know - that health inequalities amplify the risk of Covid-19, meaning that those living in the poorest parts of our country, as well as those from BAME backgrounds, have a higher risk of death during this pandemic.”

“It found that people of Bangladeshi background face the greatest danger of dying from the disease, and are twice as likely to die from it compared to those from white British backgrounds. Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Caribbean and Other Black ethnicities had between 10 and 50% greater risk of dying,” said Rushanara Ali MP for Bethnal Green and Bow.

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Speaking about Tower Hamlets, she mentioned, “Here in Tower Hamlets, we have one of the largest ethnic minority populations in the UK which means that many families have been badly affected by this virus. Locally, we are doing everything we can together in partnership with the council, hospitals, GP surgeries, charities, community volunteers, mosques, churches, synagogues, and other faith organisations to protect people and save lives. Unfortunately, this is an uphill struggle. Tower Hamlets has the 4th worst age-standardised death rate in the country.”

Referring to Health Service Journal, Rushanara Ali, MP, said, “The Health Service Journal reported that the Government removed a key section from this report, which included responses from thousands of organisations and individuals who supplied evidence. I joined colleagues to call on the Government to publish all sections of this vital report, this should not have been delayed.” 

“The findings from the report are crucial, yet, the Government has failed to set out the actions it will take to tackle these disparities. I have called on the Government to act immediately to protect BAME communities and other vulnerable groups in response to the virus and to tackle the wider inequalities in our society that caused this injustice,” said Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow.

Rushanara Ali also mentioned that she has given a speech on the Covid-19 impact on BAME communities which can be seen in youTube.  She was also interviewed on BBC Radio 4 PM programme.