AFGHAN ASYLUM SEEKER RELEASED

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Afghan asylum seeker released

by Adrian Troughton

An Afghan asylum seeker who was due to be deported has been released from detention.

Campaigners yesterday said they were delighted after Abdul Ghafar Rajabali arrived back in Leicester.

The 23-year-old, who feared he would be killed if sent back to Afghanistan, was taken to a detention centre near Gatwick airport 10 days ago.

However, the Home Office yesterday confirmed he had been released temporarily and that his case was being reviewed.

Pam Inder, chairman of the Leicester City of Sanctuary group, which has been working with Mr Rajabali, said all Mr Rajabali’s supporters were “very happy”.

She said: “We understand it is only a temporary release but it is always better not to be in prison than be in prison.

“Abdul’s position is still very precarious. At least he knows he is with friends.

“I have spoken to him on the phone and will see him in the next few days.”

Mr Rajabali’s parents and family were murdered when he was a baby.

He entered Britain illegally as a traumatised 16-year-old in August 2006, after fleeing to escape being forced to fight for the Taliban.

He applied for asylum but was turned down and started living rough in Leicester.

Mr Rajabali was detained on May 10 by the Border Agency. He was released on Wednesday night and arrived back in Leicester early yesterday morning.

Ms Inder said Mr Rajabali has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from people in Leicester.

She said: “He was very emotional when I spoke to him and he said he was very grateful for all the support from everyone in Leicester.

“As I understand it, he will have to have an interview with Home Office officials in the next few days and could even be re-detained.

“I must stress that this is not a solution to this matter and that it could rumble on for years before we get a final decision on whether Abdul can stay in this country.”

Leicester City of Sanctuary has helped Mr Rajabali in his dealings with the Border Agency. The group started an e-petition calling on Home Secretary Teresa May to stop his deportation, which has so far been backed by more than 3,500 people.

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth, who took up Mr Rajabali’s case with the Home Office, welcomed the news he had been released from detention.

He said: “I am pleased that Mr Rajabali has been released from the detention centre and is back in Leicester with friends and supporters.

“We shall carry on supporting him in his fight to stay in the UK.”

A Home Office spokesman confirmed Mr Rajabali had been released on Wednesday.

He said: “Mr Rajabali was released from detention after providing further information in relation to his case, which is now being considered.”

FIRST PERSON: RESPONSIBILITY THAT EACH OF US MUST SHOULDER

Suleman Nagdi has written the First Person column in today's Leicester Mercury:

Responsibility that each of us must shoulder

Society should come together and oust radical extremists - wherever they are, says Suleman Nagdi

The cold-blooded murder of Drummer Lee Rigby has once again cast a spotlight on radicalisation and raised questions about its causes. The notion of individuals driven by a particular cause to commit acts of murder and destruction is abhorrent to the majority, but what leads these individuals to shun society and and develop this hatred for their fellow human beings?

There is no faith which condones extremist violence, even though faith is quite often used as a mask to further the extremists' geo-political aims.

The radicalised can also include far right extremists, animal rights activists and separatist movements - ultimately, anyone who sees their cause as a justification for their extremist behaviour.

Unfortunately, we all too often associate radicalisation with Islam. But extremists comprise a very small minority and are predominantly detached from the mainstream Muslim majority.

The 2012 Home Affairs Select Committee report on the Roots of Radicalisation, chaired by Keith Vaz MP, identified a number of drivers for radicalisation which we are familiar with but also suggested that "radicalised individuals come from a wide range of backgrounds" and are "demographically unremarkable".

There can be many sources of radicalisation, including institutions. However, as the home affairs report identified, it is most likely to be the internet.

Disillusioned and disenfranchised individuals are more likely to be using private premises to access extremist sources from the internet.

We must adopt a unified approach to tackling extremism. It is a shared responsibility for all in society and not simply the responsibility of one group, faith or organisation.

This responsibility needs to be borne by our many institutions and centres.

We also need to teach our children the dangers of the internet and must monitor their use of internet sites as the shadowy sources of extremist hate and radicalism are only too easily a click or two away.

From an early age, we need to eradicate any opportunity for extremism to take root in the minds of our young people.

It is very difficult to identify an individual who is being radicalised and therefore we all need to remain conscious of our responsibilities.

There are organisations such as East Midlands Community Contact Unit, of which I am part, and the Channel project, which seeks to provide a multi-agency approach to helping vulnerable people who may be targets for radicalisation.

We need to ensure we don't criminalise these individuals and further disenfranchise them from society but rather look to bring them away from the causes of radicalisation.

Suleman Nagdi is chairman of Leicestershire Faith Forum [sic] and spokesman for the Federation of Muslim Organisations.

MERCURY OPINION: IGNORE THIS RABBLE & THEIR MARCH

This is from the Mercury Opinion column in today's Leicester Mercury:

Ignore this rabble and their march

The English Defence League are an organisation that we have no time for. They are an organisation that revels in causing divisions within our community. We frankly also have grave misgivings about those individuals that align themselves to this fringe group.

It is, therefore, with some trepidation that we report today that the EDL are apparently organising a march through Leicester city centre to the war memorial, in Victoria Park, to lay a wreath in memory of Drummer Lee Rigby, who was brutally murdered on the streets of Woolwich last week.

As everyone will remember, one previous demonstration by this rabble ended in violence that effectively closed our city centre on a busy Saturday.

On a second occasion, an excellent police operation kept disruption down to a minimum.

The soldier's death was indeed truly shocking and horrific, but it has nothing to do with this neo-political outfit.

The EDL, as they did on the night of Drummer Rigby's death, are simply seeking to exploit his murder for their own questionable ends.

We understand that this weekend's event is part of a series of marches and wreath-layings across the country.

It is expected to be small-scale and involve only local members and will not be the national EDL events, as was the case on previous occasions.

We would ask that opponents of the EDL, which should frankly be us all, ignore this event and that no-one mounts rival demonstrations.

Let the police do their job, marshal the event and get this group off our streets as quickly as possible.

Rival protests, however well meaning, simply play into the hands of these extremists and help them spread their intolerant and ill-founded message.

If the EDL had any credibility, they would simply go about their wreath-laying in private and mark Drummer Rigby's death in a dignified and solemn manner.

Instead, they choose to publicise their demonstration in the hope of promoting divisions within our community. We have a message for them – it won't work.

EDL IN LEICESTER TO PAY THEIR OWN TRIBUTE TO DRUMMER LEE RIGBY

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

EDL in Leicester to pay their own tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby

Members of the English Defence League say they are to gather in the city centre on Saturday as part of an event to pay their respects to murdered soldier Lee Rigby.

The EDL Leicester Division said it had asked supporters to meet in High Street, before heading to the Clock Tower, along Gallowtree Gate, Granby Street, London Road and into Victoria Park.

They plan to lay wreaths and flowers at the park's war memorial and hold a minute's silence for Drummer Rigby, who was killed last week in the street near Woolwich Barracks, in south-east London.

Although the police say they expect the gathering to be small and "peaceful and respectful", previous EDL events in Leicester city centre have sparked confrontations between its members and supporters of Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and local youths.

The Leicester UAF, on its website, has urged its followers to gather at the same time and place as the planned EDL event in what it describes as "a peaceful show of unity".

Leicestershire Police has appealed for people to respond reasonably to the event, which is likely to be one of many the EDL are planning this weekend in the wake of Drummer Rigby's death.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are aware the EDL intends to hold a small event to pay their respects to Drummer Lee Rigby in Leicester on Saturday, June 1.

"We ask for people to be reasonable in their response to this event which we expect to be peaceful and respectful."

The EDL's Leicester Division's Facebook page has asked participants not to drink, chant, sing or wear political or group colours during Saturday's gathering.

The UAF claim the EDL is using the soldier's death to stir up trouble and Islamophopia.

The police have not yet said if they will increase the number of officers in the city centre.

BLINK AND YOU'D MISS ME

The early evening edition of BBC East Midlands Today has a feature about the reaction of communities in the region to the Woolwich incident, one week on. It contains ten seconds of me from the footage filmed this morning by Luke Hanrahan in the Christians Aware office. It has me saying that nothing negative has happened in Leicester (probably the least interesting thing I said in the interview) which Political Editor John Hess contrasts with tensions in Nottingham.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Around 1100, I get a call from Luke Hanrahan, reporter at BBC East Midlands Today. He heard my spot on Jonathan Lampon's Radio Leicester breakfast show earlier today and asks if he can film some interview footage with me to be included in a short feature about East Midlands communities' reactions to the Woolwich incident, one week on.

A quick phone call to Cllr Manjula Sood, Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths, for the all-clear and half an hour later, Luke has set up his camera in the meeting room upstairs at Christians Aware, Saxby Street. We record a few minutes of me speaking about things in Leicester, some of which should be included in the early evening bulletin.

CATHEDRAL AM, MAY 2013

Canon Barry Naylor (left) & Riaz Ravat

It's a very short walk between BBC Radio Leicester and Leicester Cathedral, so hardly five minutes after my appearance on Jonathan Lampon's breakfast show, I'm sitting down to a breakfast of my own at Cathedral AM. Half a dozen attendees are seated already when I arrive. At least two of them tell me that they just heard me on the radio!

When I used to live this side of town I came to Cathedral AM often, but this is the first time I've made it in 18 months (literally; the last one was 30 November 2011).

Cathedral AM is an early morning networking event for people with particular interest in the city centre. From the start, the meetings have been hosted by Canon Barry Naylor and Julie Ann Heath. Breakfast is served from 0730 then there's a speaker from 0800. This morning it's Riaz Ravat, Deputy Director at St Philip's Centre for Study and Engagement in a Multi-Faith Society.

Just before leaving, I have a brief word with Jo Tallack, General Manager at Highcross. She asks me if we'll be coming back for our exhibition during Inter Faith Week in November. When I say yes, she asks me to send her the dates so she can put it in the diary.

IT IS TIME FOR ACTION BY MUSLIM LEADERS

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

It is time for action by Muslim leaders

I write in response to Suleman Nagdi's First Person article ("Religion can't be defence for brutal killings", May 24).

My response is not that of a politician, religious expert or supporter of any right-wing organisation. My response is that of a working class man appalled by the atrocity committed in Woolwich.

I support Mr Nagdi's response and the sentiments contained. I have no doubt Mr Nagdi's intentions are noble and that he wishes for peace and, as he puts it, that "the forces of hatred do not prevail".

Unfortunately, his sentiments are, I fear, not enough.

Until the attacks in London on July 7, 2005, the perceived threat to this country was from terrorists from outside the UK.

Since then, there has been a catalogue of arrests of individuals born and raised in the UK.

Irfan Naseer, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali were jailed in April for plotting terrorist bomb attacks.

Next month, six men will be sentenced for preparing acts of terrorism. Richard Dart, Jahangir Alom and Imran Mahmood are also awaiting sentencing for terror-related offences. All were born in the UK.

Mr Nagdi calls for "solidarity" and states Muslims "have been distressed by the fact they are being made to defend themselves".

I agree the actions of a small minority should not influence the majority and the residents of this country should be able to live in peace.

However, what Mr Nagdi has failed to address is the fear and distress many people in this country have as a result of the events and arrests I have referred to.

Muslim leaders need to show positive action to demonstrate they are doing all they can to combat the extremists that use the name of Allah.

I have seen no evidence of positive, tangible action by Muslim leaders.

Community work, recognition of diversity and inter-faith groups are noble and praiseworthy, but what of the people not included in these?

What of the ordinary people who are afraid?

For every Stephen Lennon there is an Anjem Choudary, for every Nick Clegg an Abu Qatada and for every terrorist there is a right-wing fanatic.

I encourage Mr Nagdi to show those in fear they have nothing to fear and those who doubt Islam that their doubts are unfounded.

In an article published by the BBC, Dr Usama Hasan said: "In our times, we need non-violent jihads; social struggles against all forms of inequality and oppression, and for justice and liberation."

Perhaps now is the time for Mr Nagdi and other Muslim leaders to embark upon their own non-violent jihad against those Muslims who use their faith to justify the murder of innocent people.

David Gibbs, Scraptoft

EDITORIAL APPEAL FOR CALM WELL RECEIVED

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Editorial appeal for calm well received

An open letter to Mercury editor Richard Bettsworth:

On behalf of the Federation of Muslim Organisations, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the editorial published on Friday, May 24.

The shocking events that unfolded in Woolwich last Wednesday, when Drummer Lee Rigby was brutally slaughtered in broad daylight in full view of passing members of the public, has been almost universally condemned, including by most of the Muslim community.

We live now in most troubled times where the actions of a few criminals can unfortunately have a detrimental effect on other members of a law-abiding community.

Regrettably, there have already been a number of incidents of hate crime, targeting the Muslim community, which have been reported.

This is a clearly unacceptable state of affairs and we as a society must not accept or tolerate hate crime carried out against any individual, group or organisation.

It is against this background, that your editorial is much welcomed.

Your emphasis on the fact that the horrifying events in Woolwich are not reflective of the behaviour of an entire community could not have been expressed better.

Moreover, your appeal for calm has been extremely well-received by the community, as well as other communities who have asked us to relay their thanks to you.

There was absolutely no obligation for you to write this editorial.

However, the fact you have gone out of your way to do so reflects your humanitarian concern for safer and stronger community cohesion, something which we in Leicester have prided ourselves in for many years now.

At a time when some sections of the media have come under attack for their sensationalist reporting, yours is an example of balanced and just reporting which needs to be recognised. You have clearly set yourselves out as an example for others in the media to follow.

Suleman Nagdi, Federation of Muslim Organisations.

"FORGIVE? FORGET? WHY I STILL TEACH THE HOLOCAUST"

At the University of Leicester's Chaplaincy Centre this lunchtime, for the summer term lecture sponsored by the World Faiths Advisory Group (WFAG).

The World Faiths Advisory Group exists to promote understanding and co-operation among faith groups on campus, by

• exploring spirituality in a multi-faith context
• welcoming students and staff of all faiths
• working towards equal opportunities in relation to all faith groups

This lecture is part of WFAG's programme of encouraging people of different faiths associated with the university to meet, mix and get to know each other better. Stephen Foster (Co-ordinating Chaplain) tells us that WFAG recently organized a "speed dating" event in this very room, involving representatives of several faith societies on campus (he apologises for using that term, but he can't think of a better one right now - and at least we all know what he means by that).

The title of today's lecture is "Forgive? Forget? Why I still teach the Holocaust". The speaker is Aubrey Newman, Emeritus Professor of History and Past Director of the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Leicester.

Prof. Newman speaks in the Octagon from 1300, following a light lunch, in front of an audience two dozen strong, with Bahá'í, Buddhist, Sikh and several denominations of Christian representation.

Prof. Newman asks us to consider his talk as an Apologia pro vita mea: a defence of one's life. Technically speaking, he is still an academic historian of the 18th century. Even at this late stage, he ponders whether he has taken the right path or should return to a biography of George III that has languished, two-thirds finished, in a drawer for many a year.

He was first invited to teach a special course on the Holocaust at the University of Leicester in the early 1980s. He muses that we'd be hard pressed to find someone who has spent so long teaching a subject which he abhors.

Two quotations feature prominently in the presentation:

"Those who do not know history's mistakes are bound to repeat them." (George Santayana, 1863-1952)

"You are not obligated to finish the work, neither are you free to give it up." (Rabbi Hillel, c.110 BCE - 10 CE)

Turning to the title of his talk, he asks: can he forgive? No. Can he forget? Definitely not.

The refusal to forgive does not denote any kind of vindictiveness on the part of the speaker. Prof. Newman doesn't accept the notion of vicarious forgiveness, any more than he accepts the notion of vicarious sin. As we are responsible for our own behaviour, so the only people who can forgive are those against whom the act has been perpetrated. Therefore the only people with the right to forgive the Holocaust are the victims themselves - and forgiveness cannot be obtained from the dead.

And as far as forgetting goes, it appears that much of Europe has forgotten the lessons of the Holocaust, if the rise of far right extremism is anything to go by.

During the Q&A I ask Prof. Newman a question. In his answer he refers to the Jewish community in Scotland with what sounds like first hand knowledge. After the meeting is over, I push him a little on this and he tells me that his family went up to Glasgow to escape the Blitz (arriving just in time to experience Glasgow's own), that he was educated at Queen's Park School and took his first degree at the University of Glasgow.