Muslim children in the UK should primarily identify as Muslim rather than as British, a candidate hoping to lead the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has said.
Dr Mohammed Wajid Akhter, who is contesting Dr Muhammad Adrees to lead the religious representative body, said adherence to Islam is an “act of revolutionary defiance… at odds with the prevailing culture” in freshly-unearthed comments from 2022.
Meanwhile, Dr Adrees hailed late Iranian dictator Ruhollah Khomenei and the Iranian Revolution after a 2017 visit to capital Tehran.
Dr Adrees had praised “the Iranian Revolution, when the great leader led the nation to its destiny” – despite the country facing claims of carrying out blasphemy executions in the same year he visited.
A new report by think tank Policy Exchange has labelled the pair’s comments “deeply disturbing” – while a Muslim former MP has warned how it is “no accident” that the MCB “keeps getting it wrong”.
Dr Mohammed Wajid Akhter (right) is contesting Dr Muhammad Adrees (left) to lead the MCB
MUSLIM COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND/MUSLIM COUNCIL OF BRITAIN/ST GEORGE’S, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Dr Adrees hailed late Iranian dictator Ruhollah Khomenei (pictured) and the Iranian Revolution after a 2017 visit to capital Tehran
GETTY
Dr Akhter had said in 2022: “Most people teach their children to be their nationality or ethnicity first, but this gives such a limited and limiting view of yourself and others that this can lead children to be shallow
“It is literally how the evils of nationalism, racism and fascism are born… Choosing faith as a primary identity for your children (and of course yourself!) allows a solid foundation upon which to approach the world. Note that I say ‘primary’ as opposed to ‘only’… Teach them to be Muslim primarily.”
He added: “[Children] are bombarded by examples of how the Western world is cool… Make your children realise that they are heirs to an ancient and proud nation so they can hold their head up high.”
While in a 2012 article, the doctor told Muslims not to take part in New Year’s celebrations because it “usually involves un-Islamic practices” such as “mixed gender events where people… dance and sing songs, etc.”
READ NEXT:
Khalid Mahmood has warned that the pair’s views are ‘deeply disturbing’
PA
“It is necessarily an Islam-free zone, not least because it has no basis or relationship to Islam,” he wrote.
While in speeches as recently as 2023, Dr Akhter said Muslims should “organise” and “unite” into a “powerful community” which would “change from the hand that is begging to the hand that is giving”.
Khalid Mahmood, a senior fellow at Policy Exchange and Britain’s longest-serving Muslim MP (2001-2024), said: “The views exposed by Policy Exchange are deeply disturbing.
“That the MCB keeps getting it wrong is no accident. It is a design fault rooted in its ideology. The Government rightly refuses to engage with the MCB.”
The council had been embraced by Labour as an ally in 2005 – but Governments were then forced to distance themselves after a senior member of the body backed proscribed Palestinian terror group Hamas in 2009.
Governments were then forced to distance themselves from the MCB after a senior member of the body backed proscribed Palestinian terror group Hamas in 2009 (file photo)
REUTERS
In response to the report, the MCB claimed Policy Exchange had “a long history of hostility towards British Muslims” – which the think tank denied.
The council added: “As for the specific allegations, we trust our affiliates will scrutinise candidates thoroughly in the weeks ahead at our hustings events and through the democratic process.”
Akhter said: “I am standing for secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain because I love my community and my country.
“British Muslims have made, and will continue to make, a positive contribution to our society. My vision is to strengthen unity among all Britons, fostering mutual respect, shared values and opportunities for everyone to thrive.
“Any attempt to misrepresent my views or intentions is not only deeply misleading but entirely unfounded.”
