Muslim Civil Servants Not Welcome

“In front of us, they would refer to the immigrants that they’d arrested as ‘chinkees’, ‘niggers’ etc. They’d call black people ’spear-chuckers’ and ’savages’…”

Jamil Ahmed, was employed by the Home Office from 1992 until 2007. Whilst a senior immigration officer, he launched a race discrimination case against the Immigration and Nationality Department in 2004 and was subsequently sacked by the Home Office over fabricated claims of ‘gross misconduct’. In this exclusive interview with al-istiqamah.com, Mr Ahmed sets the record straight regarding his case and describes the institutionalised racism experienced by him and other non-white civil servants.

Read the full article at al-istiqamah.com

Al-Istiqamah Vol 4 Issue 1 Now Live

Assalamu Alaykum and welcome to the latest issue of al-istiqamah.

The press has recently been awash with reports of British Muslims – from prisoners to police officers – purportedly demanding preferential treatment whilst complaining of discrimination. Our exclusive interview with Jamil Ahmed, a former Senior Immigration Officer exposes the climate of institutional racism that exists in the UK yet is vehemently (and conveniently) downplayed by the mainstream media.

Dhul Hijjah is fast approaching. The Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah details the significance of these 10 days and the recommended deeds to be during them. One of the most beautiful aspects of Hajj is how race and social barriers are removed. Dressed in two unstitched cloths, a millionaire might make tawaf (circumbulation) alongside a beggar. It was through witnessing the unity and brotherhood shared by Muslims of every colour at Hajj that ash-shaheed Malcolm X (RH) renounced his former racist belief that the white man is a devil. We have reproduced the letter that Malcolm X wrote to his assistants in Harlem about his change of heart.

The rites of Hajj are a re-enactment of various events in the life of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). The sacrifice is performed on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah. This is the day of Eid ul Adha. The Story of Ibrahim’s Sacrifice asks the reader to reflect upon what would be the hardest thing for them to give up for the sake of Allah.

Finally, Abu Eesa Niamatullah’s article ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?‘ explores the various pitfalls to avoid before and after marriage. Written with his characteristic wit and eye-catching title, it is a must read for single and married Muslims alike.

We hope that you all get the most out of the ten blessed days of Dhul Hijjah.

Was-salam

al-istiqamah.com.

Desperate for ANY Results: Feds Arrest US Citizen on Two-Year-Old Charges

Written by Ahmad AlFarsi (MuslimMatters.org)

Just a few days ago, I was online checking my e-mail, when I received some incredibly upsetting news. A friend of mine from Boston, Br. Tariq Mehanna (Tariq misspelled as Tarek), had just been arrested by the FBI. At first, I was reluctant to write-up anything about this, so as not to expose the brother’s privacy, however, since the media has already made his case and name public, the least we should do is publicly defend and support him.

Regarding Br. Tariq himself, I have known him to be one of the most gracious, kind, caring, thoughtful, and respectable people I have ever known. For the two years that I knew him in Boston, I have seen him go above and beyond what most others would do to help others in need. Those who know him personally know exactly what I am talking about. I am sure any of his peers, Muslim or non-Muslim, would testify to his excellent character, masha’Allah. I remember many times that he would be giving halaqaat (Islamic lectures) in the local masjid on an Islamic text he was studying. And he helped many many other Muslims in the community come to the straight path, walhamdulillaah, where those brothers were previously not very into the deen. I’d also like to emphasize that he does not and never has supported nor been involved with terrorism, in any way whatsoever. As such, I am completely perplexed as to why the FBI would be scrutinizing such an upright individual in the first place…

Read the full account at Muslim Matters