The survey published in last week’s Asian Voice, titled “Survey reveals worrying prospects for Britain’s Muslim community” makes a grim reading. It should be timely reminder for lackadaisical Muslim community to prioritise real issues that is dragging this once thriving, hardworking, law abiding community down, putting it on slippery road to permanent decline, losing ground to other thriving ethnic minorities.
Muslims are well down on education, especially with degrees, employment on professional front, home ownership but high on unemployment, prison population and household without earners. Even this figure does not paint true picture, as most educated professional, thriving Muslims come from their own fringe communities like Daudi Bhoras, Ismalis, Ahmedias, Kokni, Shia Ithna-Asheris and Sufi Muslims.
Now their bright youngsters with university education prospects are pertinaciously radicalized, lured away to conflict zones in the Middle East thus depriving community of their future professionals, creating negative impressions in general public, especially among indigenous British people who unfairly view all Muslims as trouble makers.
It is time for them to go back to basics, stop being fossilized, not to be forlorn, remind themselves why they came here decades ago, what were their priorities then and try to integrate first with other ethnic minorities, then with the main stream but without losing sight of their principles and values. If we Hindus can succeed, so can they with determination, dedication and common sense.
Bhupendra M Gandhi
By email
