Iain Duncan Smith, Chairman of the Centre for Social Justice, visits Lye Mosque
28th September 2009
The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP spoke at a reception to mark the occasion of Eid at Lye Mosque last week. The evening was hosted by Margot James, Conservative Candidate for Stourbridge. Iain Duncan Smith (IDS) and Margot were joined on the platform by David Kemp, Headmaster, and Mohammed Saeed, teacher and community liaison officer, both of Pedmore Technology Community College.
Mohammed Saeed welcomed attendees and spoke for the concerns of many present about the dangers of stereotyping young Muslim men as extremists and terrorists. Young Muslims needed a positive identity but since 9/11 and 7/7 it had been very hard for them to escape negative perceptions and suspicion.
Margot James congratulated members of the Mosque Committee and the Councillors present on the plans to develop the Al Ghausia Mosque. The plans had taken the views of concerned residents who live near to the Mosque in to account and the development would help to regenerate the area.
Margot applauded the good community relations that exist, on the whole, in Lye, but asked people to reflect on the fact that just twelve miles away in Birmingham and in other parts of the country the thug elements of British society were exploiting divisions. The British National Party, its intolerance and the violent behaviour of its supporters must be resisted, she said.
Margot added that “the celebration of Eid inspires new beginnings, it is a time when the Islamic values of tolerance, community and compassion are very much to the fore. It was these values that prompted me to invite IDS to be our guest of honour tonight”. After resigning the leadership of the Conservative Party in 2004 IDS had established the Centre for Social Justice, (CSJ) an independent think tank that seeks effective solutions to the poverty that blights parts of Britain.
IDS took to the floor and urged the Muslims in the audience to “go out and promote the virtues of Islam”, Muslims had been too defensive about what they stood for, he said. What was needed was the education of the public about the values of true Islam, which had as much to do with violence and extremism as had the terrorism of Irish Republicans with Christianity. IDS continued by applauding the restraint and reflection required during Ramadan, and the charity, learning and good works undertaken by so many Mosques up and down the country.
IDS talked about his work with the CSJ. The social problems of family breakdown, substance misuse and low educational attainment among marginalised groups were issues with which the audience at Lye Mosque readily identified. IDS said making work pay was a key plank of giving people self esteem. At the core of the CSJ’s recommendations, said IDS, were measures to help people into work in a way that would not see them lose all their benefits immediately on getting even part time employment. The other crucial measure was to support married and co-habiting couples. It was quite wrong that the tax and benefit system meant that very often couples were better off financially living apart than they were living together.
The evening was attended by members of the Mosque Committee, prominent local worshippers with their children, and Dudley Councillors Colin Wilson, Mohammed Hanif, Ian Kettle, Les Jones, Karen Shakespeare, Liz Walker and David Vickers.
