DAR AL HARB - U.K.: A NEW MOSLEM COUNCIL FORMED TO HELP WITH "INTEGRATION"

New council to help community links
MORE than 500 Muslims from around the county attended the official launch of the Northamptonshire Muslim Council, a new body set up to offer support and promote integration within the community.

The launch, which took place yesterday, included speeches from police representatives, doctors and Yvonne Ridley, the former journalist who converted to Islam after being taken hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan five years ago.

Leading members of Northamptonshire's Muslim community have been working towards the creation of the council for about two years, and hope it will offer vital support to its members, with the key objectives of involving young people and women. Councillors will work closely with police, councils and community groups with the aim of better representing the county's 14,000 Muslims.Chairman Yousuf Miah said: "So many people attended the launch, from so many different backgrounds and diverse sections of society. With the creation of the council we will be able to look forward and find ways of making sure Muslims in Northamptonshire can be fully integrated into the community.

"These are difficult times for us all and we need to make it clear that the actions of a few misguided young people do not represent Islam." Assistant Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police, Derek Talbot, welcomed the creation of the council.

He said: "I first mentioned to colleagues the possibilities of a group such as this, specifically for Muslims, more than 18 months ago and look forward to working with its members. I hope we can work together towards tackling hate crimes, because I believe nobody should be targeted simply because they are different." Guest speaker Dr Bengusu Bassoy, a doctor at Kettering General Hospital, said it was important for the council to promote positive achievements by Muslims in Northamptonshire, adding: "We must try and break down barriers in the community and highlight the fact that Muslims are making great achievements in all walks of life."

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1) New council to help community links