Rochdale's Question Time Event was greeted by over 200 eager members of the community on Saturday night including men and women, young and old, professionals and students, community leaders and Media who all attended for a real insight into the debate on "Extremism, Islam and the Muslim Community".
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The Event, which was heavily publicized and drew extra attention after Paul Rowen MP refused to come on the panel and debate the issues was warmly welcomed and fulfilled the purpose of engaging the Rochdale community in discussions on a grass-roots level with issues that were close to their hearts.
The oragniser, Majed Iqbal, who runs the Rochdale based Blog on community affairs "Majeds Blog" opened the event by explaining why Paul Rowen refused to engage in this debate and cited all the lies, false propaganda and baseless excuses that were used to justify his position.
Many participants from the audience displayed similar disgust in their comments aired on the day that how can the MP for the area refuse to dialogue on these issues alongside a panelist from the organization Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which is an active organization in the Rochdale community and has put forward credible views on the issues at hand.
The audience aired concerned views on the governments approach on tackling issues related to the Muslim community, especially with millions of pounds of funds being pored into the community. Women stood up firmly at the event and highlighted incidents at an event oragnised by Hazel Blears in Bolton where they expressed concern on government approach towards Muslim women issues. She explained that these comments were interpreted as being extreme. The lady in the audience in the Rochdale event asked "Just because we may disagree, does that make us extreme?"
Ali khan, from Hizb-ut-Tahrir went on to tackle a multitude of comments and questions ranging from liberal values and Islamic values, Materialism, the concept of Britishness, engagement with wider society and talking about these issues, Mosques and Imams and what the ideas the Youth need to be active in airing in the current climate.
The packed out hall was booming with discussion and debate clearly highlighting a discord to what some community leaders claim to represent as being the "Official view" of Muslims in Rochdale. The event was apt in picturing how the Muslim community indeed has thoughtful views on the current climate and that the threats and fear created by opportunistic Politicians, including local ones, as well as government were not strong enough to silence the real debates which people are actively engaged in at a grass-roots level.
Unfortunately, some self-styled leaders of the Muslim Community in Rochdale, who visit the Government quarters allegedly on behalf of representing Rochdale and National Muslims were absent from the debate despite repeated reminders and visits.
So let the Muslim community decide and find out themselves who their voice is and let not opportunists in our midst who have pandered to wider agendas steer the debate off course.
It's a real shame I missed this but inshallah I hope to attend any future events. Do you have a selection or even a full transcript/audio of the Q+A session?
ReplyDeletesalam,the debate alhamdulillah was very good but i was left disgusted by the fact Mr.Rowen who is the elected MP was not even there to hear the grievances of the community that elected him,so much for taking your issues to councillors,MPs etc .......
ReplyDeleteVery interesting event, shows who is truly representing the Muslim community and is willing to give them the chance to air their views. The government and those who are afraid of debate can continue to hide behind labels and name-calling but those with an open mind will never be held back from sincere discussions. I respect Hizb ut-Tahrir for coming out openly and facing the questions after so much negative propaganda, seems like after all they do truly speak for many in the community.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent event !
ReplyDeleteWhoever is convinced of the idea's they hold and feel they are the correct one's then they will not hesitate or be fearful of being challenged. All credit to the guy from Hizb ut tahrir who rose to that challenge and hit the nail on the head.
Ironically the person who is supposed to be our representative in this community did'nt even bother to turn up. Shame on you Paul Rowen!!!....I can only conclude that he obiously does'nt care about the muslim community in Rochdale and could'nt cope with being challenged intellectually.
This event has highlighted to us as a community, who truly is representing our views....and it's definatley not Councillor Paul Rowen !!
I hope this is one of many debate's to take place because we cannot be made to be silent.
The event was very intresting , but i was very disappointed that our so called representative Paul Rowen did not turn up. This has just proved that this local MP is not intrested in the concerns of the muslim community and the issues that we are facing.
ReplyDeleteAlhamdulillah- well organised event.
ReplyDeleteThis event clearly proves that Muslims do not lack the ability to discuss and confront challenging issues, unlike Mr Rowen. I think mr Rowen's refusal debate shows that these people are "all talk but no action" and also realised that he would be exposed intellectully by Muslims. These MPs hide behind the powerful media and government policy and you will never find them openly taking on the public.
May Allah reward you for this wonderful work.
This was an excellent event. Its a shame that more non Muslims didnt attend. It shows that the local Muslims are more open to debate than the wider public, which is not what you would think when you listen to the politicians. Talking of politicians where was that MP????
ReplyDeleteIT was an impressive event. Please do organise more and make sure that local politicians come so that we the public can account them. They seem to be aloof from the common man and only talk to media to send out sound bites. It seems they are frightened to have a real debate LIVE.
ReplyDeleteI love open debate and discussion, I regularly watch Question Time on tv and was really looking forward to the same format being brought to our door step...with the title of the event it promised to be hitting on issues directly effecting me and my community...and it did! I've heard negative things said about hizb ut tahrir, but the member on the panel had real direction for us as a community...it was refreshing to hear someone who looked far deeper than the symptoms of the problems, but he exposed the route and the solution....excellent stuff!!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatly it ended up being a 'one man show' due to our locally elected representative not having the clout to come and have an open and honest dialog, tut, tut! Shame, shame, shame on you paul rowen!!
Can't wait for the next one : )
My message to Paul,
ReplyDeleteHey Paul, funny you come round without fail when its close to election time; u walk up the street with a bright smile on ur face, patting kids on their heads as u pass, knock on my door and even throw in an attempted 'salaam' then u try to convince me why I should vote for you and how you'll listen to and represent my concerns.
Oh! and you never forget celebrations, my recycling bag always has the pleasure of swallowing yet another Eid Greetings card from you; but when it mattered most to me that u be there, where were you???
My message to other visitors to this blog,
I intend to, and encourage u to contact paul in writing and ask for an explanation for his disappearing act. He can be found with his head stuck in the sand at:-142A Drake Street, Rochdale, OL16 1PS, or fone him on 712186 or mailto:paul@paulrowen.co.uk
I think it will be interesting for the feedback we get to be posted on here for all to see?
Just what is it that Mr. Rowen fears about hizb ut tahrir?? He has a preconception which I'd also describe as a misconception about hizb ut tahrir and refuses to partake in any discussion with the group. With such attitudes as this how is the muslim community supposed to make progress and tackle these important issues that face us as muslims living in britain?? Mr. Rowen should know that the debate was not about hizb ut tahrir but about the muslims in Rochdale, a chance for us to air our concerns and questions to him and for there to be an honest and open discussion. For this reason he should have attended. Since we are living in a so called democracy it would have only been fair for him to attend and for us to actually speak to the politician first hand.. an opportunity that doesn't come along too often.
ReplyDeleteTime and time again we here about the muslim community being isolationist, that they live in their ghettos, they fail to integrate and dont get on with wider society. What makes this worse is that it is the same politicians that refuse to dialogue and debate that have the audacity to make such comments!!
ReplyDeletePoliticians talk about the battle to win hearts and minds but these merely empty slogans used for public support and winning elections. On saturday it seemed that Paul Rowen definitely lost the battle of both hearts and minds as he didnt have the interests of the community at heart and refusal to attend showed he has no mind and no ability to have a REAL debate!!