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Leader of the Opposition & Leader of the Labour Party meets with the UK's Muslim Community Organisations
Thursday evening, the 17th of January 2013, saw the first time that the Rt Hon Ed Miliband, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party attended an 'engagement' meeting with the Muslim community.
Over 500 hundred people including women's groups and youth groups from around the country converged at The Islamic Cultural Centre & The London Central Mosque - London.
Accompanying Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP was the Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Justice Secretary the Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan MP.
A whole host of questions were asked from members of the Muslim community especially from women's organisations and youth groups.
The meeting was an opportunity for the Muslim community to air its aspirations and concerns to Rt Hon Ed Miliband
Over 500 Muslims representing over 300 Muslim organisations attended the event.
182 Mosques were represented from across the whole of United Kingdom.
20 MPs from the Labour Party including The Right Honourable Keith Vaz MP and Dame Margaret Mary Beckett DBE MP attended.
Director of the Islamic Cultural Centre Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan said: "We are honoured to host such an important and historic event. We invited key delegates from each mainstream Muslim community organisation in the UK.
This is a great opportunity for the communities' key stakeholders to engage with the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party about important issues which affects all the communities within the UK."
Issues raised at the meeting included Islamaphobia, Legislation for incitement of religious hatred, Counter terrorism legislation, Muslim representation in Parliament, Foreign Policy and ways of increasing Community Engagement
The Rt Hon Ed Milliband said "Thank you to everyone who came to the London Central Mosque. It was fantastic that so many people had travelled from all parts of the country to be there. It was a great opportunity to hear from so many voices in the Muslim community, from school children to community leaders.
As we continue to support communities and build relationships, evenings like this will continue to provide an important means of discussion and engagement."
Rt Hon Sadiq Khan said: "I want to thank the Islamic Cultural Centre and all the organisations and volunteers who helped arrange this landmark event.
This is the first time a Leader of a mainstream Political Party in the UK has engaged in such an open and transparent fashion. I am really pleased that Labour Leader Ed Miliband has begun the New Year with an important visit to the Islamic Cultural Centre & London Central Mosque."
For many years the Muslim community has tried to positively engage with politicians and the Rt Hon Ed Miliband promised that he will engage with the Muslim community more regularly. His attendance, words and promises were very appreciated by those that attended and any future meeting will certainly be a welcome event.
Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan The Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre presented Rt Hon Ed Milliband with a number of publications and information regarding both The Islamic Cultural Centre and the Islamic faith.
Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan also gifted a copy of the Islamic Quarterly, a publication which the Islamic Cultural Centre has been producing since 1954
(photo above - from left to right. His Excellency Abdulrahman Ghanem Almutaiwee Ambassador for United Arab Emirates, Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP, Rt Hon Ed Milliband MP, Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, Director General The Islamic Cultural Centre - London).
After the Public meeting, a private stakeholders engagement meeting also took place in the ICC board room.
