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Issue 189, Friday 21 January 2005 - 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1425

14 Muslims recognised in New Years Honours

By Elham Asaad Buaras

14 Muslims have been awarded in the New Years Honours, six fewer than last year. Two have been awarded an OBE, 9 are to receive MBEs and 3 are recipients of diplomatic and overseas services awards (one CBE, one OBE, and one Commonwealth award). A total of 10 Hindus and Sikhs are recognised (one CBE, three OBE and five MBE, one Overseas MBE), yet notably no Muslim, Hindu or Sikh is to be knighted. However, 22 members of the Jewish community were awarded (two received knighthood, six CBE, six OBE, six MBE and two Companion of Order of Bath. (Muslim population, 1.8 million, Hindu/Sikh 1.18 million, Jewish 260,000).
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) London West, Director, Nazir Afzal, has been awarded an OBE for his work with the CPS and his involvement with the local community.
Afzal joined the CPS in 1991 and has successfully prosecuted many high profile cases. He is heavily involved in community work having raised money for children’s charities in the UK and schools in Northern Pakistan. On receiving the OBE, Afzal told The Muslim News, “I am immensely honoured to be awarded the OBE but humble enough to know that it is the efforts of hundreds of people that are recognised by this award. All of my staff have made it possible. I am nothing without the extraordinary support of my family, friends and colleagues over the years”.
Founder of the Union of Muslim Organisations (UMO), Dr Syed Abdul-Aziz Pasha, was also awarded an OBE for services to race relations. The UMO is designed to unite Muslims living in the UK and to disseminate knowledge about Islam to non-Muslims.
Dr Pasha founded the organisation in 1970, when it had 38 member organisations. It now boasts 215 member organisations and 80-donor members.
“I am glade that the UMO’s contribution towards improving relations between faith and race groups has been recognised. The award is for the Muslim community as the UMO represents the whole Muslim community,” said Pasha.
One of two Muslim women to be awarded is 62-year-old Zakia Masud Ahmed from Cardiff in South Wales. She has been awarded an MBE for her services to the community. She has lived in Wales for over 30 years and is married with four children.
This award is in recognition of her commitment to Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) issues in Wales over the last 15 years.
Over the years she established and chaired the Pakistan Women’s Association for Wales and the Asian Cultural Association. She was President of the Pakistan Educational and Cultural Association and Founder of the BME Forum of Consultants with SNAP (Special Needs Advisory Project) Cymru.
Speaking to The Muslim News, Ahmed said, “I am thrilled and honoured that my work has been recognised in this way. The award is not just for me but it is in recognition of the positive contribution Muslim women have made to this society. These women strive to improve their lives both for themselves and for future generations.”
Malik Mohammed Salim, 63, was awarded an MBE for services to inter-faith relations and to the community in Leicester.
Salim was Leicester City Labour Councillor for 14 years and has been Vice Chairman of the Islamic Centre Leicester, largest Islamic organisation in the Midlands for over 35 years.
The father of 5 told The Muslim News the award surprised him and that he was “only doing my job.” “I don’t know who nominated me. I have been working for trade unions for over 40 years and I have been involved in grass roots developments,” said Salim.
Special Adviser to the Muslim Council of Britain Secretary General on Business and Economic Affairs, Mohamed Iqbal Asaria, has been awarded a Diplomatic Services and Overseas CBE for Services to International Development.
Asaria, an economist by training, has had several years experience in this field. For many years he was an associate of the Third World Network (TWN). In this capacity he served on the Non Aligned Movements, Expert Group on Debt. He was also the TWN’s representative on the World Bank NGO Committee. He served as the Chair of the World Bank NGO Committee for three years. Asaria told The Muslim News, “I feel that the award is actually to the Muslim community in Britain which is making an increasingly valuable contribution to life and people in Britain. We pray to Allah to grant us the means to strive for the common good of mankind.”
Full Muslim honours list:
Order of the British Empire (OBE): Afzal, Nazir, Sector dir, Crown Prosecution Service. Pasha, Dr Syed Abdul-Aziz, Founder, Union of Muslim Organisations. For serv Race Relations. Order of the British Empire (MBE): Ahmed, Zakia Masud, Black and Minority Ethnic Development Worker, Special Needs Advisory Project, for services the community in Wales. Akram, Mohammad, Senior Policy Adviser, Finance, Dept of Trade and Industry. Anwar, Anjum, for service the community in Lancashire. Hamid, Nishat, for services Healthcare in Bristol and Jill Pre-School, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Islam, Syed Azizul, for services community Relations in South London. Khan, Nazim, for services the community in Peterborough, Cambshire. Raja, Rahmat Ali, for services the community in Pendle, Lancashire. Rishi, Maroof, foster carer, for services to children in Birmingham. Salim, Malik Mohammed, for services inter-faith relations and to the community in Leicester. Diplomatic Services & Overseas List (CBE): Asaria, Mohamed Iqbal, for services to international development. OBE: Mahmood, Waseem, services to the development of the media in post conflict countries. Commonwealth Awards, Order of Saint Michael and St George (CMG): Alghanim, Kutaybe Yusuf, services to the economic development of St Kits and Nevis.