An icon, a stalwart and a revolutionary, Baroness Thatcher turned Britain’s fortunes around at a moment when we needed her most.
As a working-class Muslim girl from West Yorkshire, she became my political inspiration – my idol.
The daughter of a grocer showed that anything was possible. Her story of social mobility struck a real chord with so many of Britain’s ethnic minority communities.
The odds were always stacked against Margaret Hilda Roberts. But she showed that hard work, determination and steadfastness trump circumstances.
Her biggest influence was her father, Alfred Roberts. “I owe everything to my father,” she once said. “He brought me up to believe all the things I do believe.”
It was his traditional, British values – of freedom and fairness, hard work and common sense, responsibility and the importance of family – upon which the conviction of this self-proclaimed ‘conviction politician’ was based.
But Mrs Thatcher, as she was then, didn’t just show people they could get on in life; she enabled them to do so.
Think of the number of British Asians that have been able to buy their own homes, set up their own businesses – as my father did – and build a better life for themselves, thanks to her policies.
She truly recognised the unique contribution Britain’s disapora communities. As she said when she opened the Ismaeli Centre in 1985: “Britain is now, more than ever, a multicultural society.
“We need not be afraid that these new influences will somehow threaten the ‘British way of life’: on the contrary, a new resilience derived from diversity can only strengthen Britain.”
I often cite these words today when I argue that our secret weapon in the global race – in which we are pitted against the world’s rapidly expanding economies – are the races from around the globe which make up our diverse nation.
The growing resilience Britain derives from its diversity – in business, in the arts, in public services, in technology – is something of which I know Mrs Thatcher would be proud.
Of course there are many, many reasons why her decade-defining career will be celebrated, not least for the dignity in which she held herself on the international scene.
Many people talk about the Falklands, but for me another key moment was her foresight on the Balkans conflict.
I hope she will be particularly remembered for her brave and bold stance on the events of Bosnia in the 1990s.
As early as 1992 she was crying out for international action, arguing that a massacre of the Bosniaks in the besieged territories was only a matter of time.
In her article for the New York Times – entitled ‘Stop the Excuses. Help Bosnia Now’ – she argued: ‘Hesitation has already proved costly. The matter is urgent. There are perhaps a few weeks left for a serious initiative before it is too late and a Serb victory is accomplished, with terrible long-term consequences.’
Sadly, with the horrific events in the town of Srebrenica in 1995, when 8,000 men and boys were murdered by Bosnian Serbs, she was proved correct. It was yet another moment in which she was right.
Last year, when we celebrated the contribution of British Ugandan Asians, 40 years after their expulsion, I remember hearing about the photograph of the then Prime Minister, Edward Heath, hanging proudly above these families’ fireplaces.
For me, and for many British Asians, the image of Mrs Thatcher will also take pride of place.
With a career as long, as impactful and as world-changing as that of Baroness Thatcher, there is a danger that we might overlook many of her important achievements.
For instance, in the days following her very sad passing, little has been said of her attitude towards Britain becoming an increasingly diverse place. She set out her stall about the changing face of the UK when she opened the Ismaeli Centre back in 1985.
“Britain is now, more than ever, a multicultural society,” she said. “We need not be afraid that these new influences will somehow threaten the ‘British way of life’: on the contrary, a new resilience derived from diversity can only strengthen Britain.”
In those words she asserted that a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-faith Britain would be a stronger Britain. They are words I quote very often when arguing that in the global race – in which we are pitted against the world’s rapidly expanding economies – we have a secret weapon: the races from around the globe which make up our diverse nation.
Mrs Thatcher, as she was then, backed up this belief by creating opportunity for people, regardless of their background. Her policies unleashed people’s enterprise and independence – be it by allowing them to buy their council house or enabling them to start their own business, as my father did.
Through her own story – the journey from living above her family shop to Number 10 Downing Street – she demonstrated that one’s past should never determine their future. It was something that really resonated with me as a young Muslim girl growing up in West Yorkshire, and inspired me to go into politics.
Many years later, when Mrs Thatcher was no longer Prime Minister, another of her actions really struck a chord with me: her stance on the conflict in Bosnia. As early as 1992, she was crying out for international action. She clearly argued that a massacre of the Bosniaks in the besieged territories was only a matter of time.
It is quite remarkable now to read her article for the New York Times from that time – entitled ‘Stop the Excuses. Help Bosnia Now’ – in which she argued: ‘Hesitation has already proved costly. The matter is urgent. There are perhaps a few weeks left for a serious initiative before it is too late and a Serb victory is accomplished, with terrible long-term consequences.’ With the hindsight we have now, knowing the horrific events that swept across the town of Srebrenica in 1995, in which 8,000 Bosniaks men and boys were murdered, we know just how prescient those words were.
So as we reflect upon the career of our the first woman to lead our country – our greatest peacetime Prime Minister – it is important to remember those points in her career which might otherwise be forgotten.
The government is “finally dealing” with Islamophobia in the UK, the minister for faith and communities has said in a personal film made for the BBC.
Baroness Warsi visited the Altrincham Islamic Cultural Centre and heard from trustee Amjad Latif about relations with the local community, and attacks on people and buildings.
The former Conservative Party chairman looked at problems relating to attacks and discrimination against ethnic communities, and recalled her description of the ‘dinner table test’.
She also spoke to Dr Matthew Goodwin of the University of Nottingham.
To watch her piece go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22264706
By Murtaza Ali Shah and Asif Dar
LONDON: A senior UK minister has said that dual national Pakistanis must be allowed to vote in Pakistani elections on 11th May but the Supreme Court of Pakistan has done the right thing by barring dual nationals from standing for public offices in Pakistan.
Speaking to Pakistani audience at the Jang Forum in London, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the Foreign Office and Faith & Communities Minister, said the UK government supported the efforts of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). “In a short span of time, the ECP has done a good job.”
She said that fact that Pakistan’s last government was able to fulfil five years in office showed that democratic process in Pakistan was maturing and was moving towards stability. She said the UK believed that Pakistan Army had not interfered in Pakistan’s democratic process and was keen to see democracy taking roots.
She told audience that Britain will soon become the largest aid provider to Pakistan and will do so for the right reasons. “But the money we are giving to Pakistan belongs to poor people in this country, the taxpayers. It’s our right to ask Pakistan why the rich class doesn’t pay taxes, why is there no effective system in place to collect taxes.”
Answering a question about incident of sectarian terrorism in Pakistan, Warsi said that it was not right to hide behind politically correct positions. “The violence in Pakistan is not sectarian. It’s aimed at Shia Muslims and let’s be clear about that.” When asked if Britain sometime was diplomatic about violence in Pakistan, Warsi, who has responsibility for Pakistan, stated that Britain was upfront about it and was helping Pakistan to curtail the level of violence that has been going on. She said that Labour government failed top recognise Islamophobic attacks on Muslims but the current coalition government was doing its best to ensure that Muslims are not targeted because of their faith and appearance. She, however, revealed that over 60 percent religious motivated attacks in UK are against Muslims and it’s very worrying. She said the government was supporting a project which was measuring anti-Muslim hatred incidents and planned to outlaw faith related hate crimes against Muslims.
She said that Lady Margaret Thatcher had provided inspiration to many Pakistani women who took pride that Britain was ruled by a woman who believed in hard work and enterprise. She said the former prime minister inspired her to join politics and demand equality.
Warsi said more than 1.3 million Pakistanis in Britain faced several issues in Pakistan and would like permanent steps taken by Pakistani leadership for the resolution of these issues. She commended Punjab government’s efforts under Shahbaz Sharif who had set up the Chief Minster’s Punjab Task Force for Overseas Pakistanis, headed by Zubair Gull. “I will take up this issue with the next government. I am a witness to the fact that Punjab govt’s Overseas Office has helped British Pakistanis. This office must be made permanent but non-partisan. More than 1.3m British Pakistanis provide free public relations service to Pakistan.” Warsi said there existed a huge gulf between Pakistani and British politicians. “Unlike politicians in Pakistan, we enter into politics to take issues forward, not plunder and mint money, politics for us is about stress, serving community. It’s a demanding job and politics for us is about accountability.”
She said Pakistani communities must take notice of where their youth was headed to. She said some Pakistani boys in Bradford and Birmingham drove expensive cars but they don’t have jobs. We must ask where’s the money coming for them to support their lifestyle?”
A government minister has spoken out against “antisemitism in the Muslim community” in Britain.
Baroness Warsi, the Minister for Faith and Communities, said that anti-Zionism was often a mask for anti-Jewish hatred.
“I am aware that anti-Israeli sentiment can sometimes be a cover for antisemitism. As the Community Security Trust will tell you, antisemitic attacks spiral in the UK when there is increased unrest in the Middle East.”
But she insisted that it was “absurd” to suggest that criticisms of Israeli policy would “automatically equal to criticisms of Jews”.
Baroness Warsi, who is a Muslim, admitted that the relationship between the Muslim and Jewish communities was “not an easy subject to tackle.”
But she believed that British Muslims should “celebrate” the success of Anglo-Jewry “I would go as far as saying, indeed, emulate it “.
The minister also said Muslims and Jews should unite against the threat posed by far-right movements such as the English Defence League, a nationalist group whose supporters display Israeli flags during anti-Islamist protests.
“There will always be those who use the underlying resentment in the Middle East to play out their own political agendas,” she said.
“I know that, like me, the British Jewish community is disgusted by the use of the Israeli flag at English Defence League rallies.
“We need to be robust when extremists hijack our faith. An attack on one faith, is an attack on all faiths.”
Baroness Warsi was speaking at the launch of an exhibition celebrating Righteous Muslims who saved Jews during the Holocaust attended by around 50 people
Jonathan Arkush, vice president of the Board, said he thought the minister’s remarks “were highly significant.
“They were remarkably frank because she, as a Muslim and a government minister, was accepting that there is some way to go in combating antisemitism in the Muslim community,” he said.
“Baroness Warsi had one ask of the Jewish community – and that is to stand out against the attempts of far right wing bodies. The EDL’s pathetic attempts to gain Jewish support have come a cropper. They’ve totally failed and will continue to fail.”
Laura Marks, the senior vice president of the Board, added: “We hear so much about communities fighting each other, but we need each other in so many ways.
“Our religious practices – whether circumcision or ritual slaughter or even faith schools – need defending. We face challenges when our own community prejudices stand in the way of our strong community ties.”
Commander Mak Chishty, a Muslim police officer, called for more interfaith initiatives to “combat Islamaphobic and antisemitism. They bring communities together and let them know about the historic relationship that does exist”.
The Righteous Muslim Exhibition features the photos and stories of 70 people who were named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.
The exhibition, in central London, will be open to organisations, including schools, by appointment for the six weeks.
By Kounteya Sinha
LONDON: UK has decided to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the 1.2 million men from the Indian Army who fought for Britain in the First World War during a visit to the battlefields of France and Belgium.
Kicking off the campaign, Britain’s Faith and Communities minister Baroness Warsi visited the grave of Indian soldier Khudadad Khan – the first Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross (the highest military honour) in Belgium.
She stopped at the village of Hollebeke where she laid a wreath at a memorial to Sikh soldiers. This was where Indian soldiers saw some of their first action in the early months of the war.
Baroness Warsi said “Our boys weren’t just Tommies, they were Tariqs and Tajinders too. A picture of a soldier in a turban is not what we immediately associate with the Great War. And yet so many men from so far away came to Europe to fight for the freedoms we enjoy today. Their legacy is our liberty, and every single one of us owes them a debt of gratitude.”
“It was particularly poignant to see the endless names – of Khans and Singhs, Alis and Atwals – listed on the memorials. It was also fascinating to hear how arrangements for religious and cultural observances, such as Ramadan and wearing turbans, were part of their lives, even on the frontline. I will make it my mission to ensure that the centenary is a chance for everyone to learn about the contribution of the Commonwealth soldiers.”
As part of the government’s programme to commemorate the forthcoming centenary of the 1914-1918 conflict, she went to the Western Front, where 140,000 men from the Indian army fought alongside Britain.
During the First World War, 1.2 million soldiers from undivided India served with the Allies, 74,000 of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.
Baroness Warsi’s first stop was the Neuve-Chapelle Indian Memorial in France, which honours the 4,742 Indian soldiers on the Western Front who have no known grave.
Neuve-Chappelle was the battle, in March 1915, where the Indian troops corps fought their first major battle as a unit, suffering heavy casualties.
At Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, the second largest site in Belgium, she saw the grave of a Hindu fallen soldier alongside comrades from the Chinese Labour Corps.
Baroness Warsi also visited Grootebeek British Cemetery, which includes graves of soldiers who came from her parents’ village in Gujar Khan, Pakistan.
She met the owner of the nearby farm, who recounted his father’s experiences when the barn was turned into a hospital for wounded Indian soldiers.
Her visit ended at the Menin Gate in Ypres, which includes the names of the 54,000 of the fallen who have no known graves – including 414 Indians.
Baroness Warsi also had the chance to read accounts of the letters of soldiers as she visited the areas where they had served.
One, a Sikh sepoy, convalescing in England, wrote to his brother: “With a shout to our Guru we hurl ourselves forward. The enemies bullets scorch our heroes, while machine guns and cannons spread their shot about us.”
Another, a Muslim soldier who wrote from France to his brother in India, said “What better occasion can I find that this to prove the loyalty of my family to the British Government? The flag of victory will be in the hands of our British Government. Be not at all distressed. Without death there is no victory, but I am alive and very well, and I tell you truly that will return alive to India.”
Britain’s Minister for Faith was in Rome this week representing the UK government at the new Pope’s inauguration at the Vatican.
Baroness Warsi, who is also a Senior Foreign Office Minister, was at the installation of Pope Francis alongside the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester on March 19.
In a packed St Peter’s Square, the delegation took their place alongside the world’s dignitaries to watch Pope Francis formally become head of the Catholic Church – which has 1.2 billion followers worldwide, including 6 million people in the UK.
Baroness Warsi said:
“It was a true privilege to be part of such a historic event and to witness up-close this very spiritual moment.
“I was heartened to be surrounded by so many people, of so many different faiths. It goes to show the importance the Catholic Church and their new Pope place on their relationship with other faiths. As I looked out into the crowd, I saw flags from so many nations – showing the true global reach of the church.
“Pope Francis already showed how down to earth he was in his first few days as pontiff. He cemented his reputation as a pope of the people at his inaugural Mass when he mingled with the crowds. His homily, calling upon everyone to protect the poor, provided a universal message, to people of all faiths and none.”
STUDENTS at a Crosland Moor school were inspired by a talk from Baroness Warsi of Dewsbury, Britain’s first female Muslim Cabinet minister.
Dewsbury-born Baroness Warsi, who asked students to call her by her first name Sayeeda, spoke to year 11 students at Moor End Academy.
Her visit was part of the Speakers for Schools initiative.
Former solicitor Baroness Warsi, who became a life peer in 2007, served in Prime Minister David Cameron’s Cabinet as minister without portfolio from May 2010 to September last year.
In a speech full of down-to-earth honesty and humour, Baroness Warsi spoke about her ‘journey’ from growing up in Dewsbury and studying at Birkdale High School and Dewsbury College to an ill-fated bid to become Tory MP for Dewsbury in 2005 and her eventual elevation to the House of Lords and the Cabinet.
Baroness Warsi also spoke about the barriers she had faced and overcome.
After her speech, students spent half-an-hour questioning the Baroness, showing a surprising level of knowledge about politics.
Sylvia Greaves, year 11 learning leader, said the visit was perfectly timed as students had been looking at how people communicated.
She added: “Year 11 students were able to observe at close quarters someone who is a skilled speaker.
“Baroness Warsi deployed both wit and candour and I personally found her story fascinating and was very glad she came, and so were year 11, who surprised themselves by becoming more engaged in the extended question and answer session than they had anticipated.”
Baroness Warsi’s visit was made possible by Speakers for Schools, an organisation set up by the BBC’s Robert Peston, through which state schools may apply to have an inspirational speaker visit their school, free of charge.
Any school is able to apply and application forms can be found at http://www.speakers4schools.org
By Robin de Peyer
The minister for faith and communities joined mothers from the Marion Richardson school in Stepney who are taking part in a Church Urban Fund project at the Departure Arts Café in Commercial Road, Limehouse on Monday.
The project is the 400th to be awarded the ‘Near Neighbours Grant’.
Tory life peer Baroness Warsi said: “Reaching the 400th grant is a real milestone and it shows that, by using faith networks’ existing infrastructure, we can make a real impact in communities.
“It was fantastic to hear first-hand how these small grants are making such a big difference to the lives of local people and I’m sure they will have a lasting effect on everyone involved.”
The Church Urban Fund project aims to bring together a group of mothers from backgrounds ranging from Bengali to Russian.
British Minister for Faith and Communities Baroness Warsi says Pope Francis’ simplicity resonates with people, especially during the current global financial crisis. The Baroness was part of the official UK government delegation that attended the Pope’s inauguration Mass and spoke afterwards to Vatican Radio’s Susy Hodges about her impressions. The Baroness described the inauguration Mass as a “moving ceremony”, saying “it felt so personal and intimate, despite the importance of the occasion. She also said that as a non-Christian, it was “fascinating” for her to see “so many people of different faiths” attending the Mass.Asked for her impressions about Pope Francis’ pontificate so far, Baroness Warsi singled out “his concept of humility, of simplicity and of going back to values” saying she believes in this time of financial crisis, this concept “resonates with peoples’ lives right now.”
Baroness Warsi also spoke very warmly about the current relationship between Britain and the Holy See, saying in her view it is “the strongest it’s been for a very, very long time.”
Sayeeda Hussain Warsi, Baroness Warsi PC is a British solicitor and politician of Pakistani origin who was created a life peer in 2007. From May 2010 to September 2012 she was the Co-Chairman, along with Lord Feldman, of the Conservative Party, and a Minister without Portfolio in David Cameron’s Cabinet. She was the third Muslim minister and the first female Muslim to serve as a minister in the United Kingdom, although she never won an election. On 4 September 2012, she was appointed Senior Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Minister for Faith and Communities.
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