British Muslims for Secular Democracy

British Muslims for Secular Democracy

Founder(s)	Nasreen Rehman and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Founded	2007
Website	http://www.bmsd.org.uk/

British Muslims for Secular Democracy is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting secularism in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 2006 by Nasreen Rehman and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. The group believes the diversity of views among British Muslims is not adequately represented to wider British society and that their image is distorted. The organisation says it aims to:

• Challenge those who have a vested interest in promoting the 'clash of civilizations' narrative. They claim that these include some Muslim leaders and prominent white commentators.

• Highlight the rights of Muslims who are marginalised because of their inability to cope with or succeed within the system.

• Encourage British Muslim men and women to recognise the contributions they have made to Britain.

• Examine the role of political parties that pander to "community leaders"

• Enable Muslims to become more aware of their autonomous rights and question Muslim leaders who set themselves up as 'representatives' or ‘experts’.

• Work with other global progressive Muslims opposing Saudi influenced Salafism and its offshoots.

• Challenge the ill-informed and politicised nature of the state's intervention in the organisation of religious life in this country and the influence faith based groups now have on public policies.

• Object to government policies that curtail civil liberties using the prevailing sense of fear of terrorism.

• Work with young Muslims and try to win over their hearts and minds, so they espouse the quiet and compassionate Islam practised by Muslims through generations.

Trustees

• Nasreen Rehman (Chair)

• Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

• Mona Bauwens (Vice Chair)

• Yousif Naser

• Basheira Rosser-Owen

• Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui

• Dr Taj Hargey

• Andy Gregg

Staff

• Tehmina Kazi, Director (since May 2009)

• Dr Wannette Tuinstra, Human Rights Outreach Officer (since October 2010)

External links

• British Muslims for Secular Democracy
• Representing ourselves better
• Scratching secularism's surface
• What I have in common with Jemima
• Muslims launch new organisation to challenge perceptions
• Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: What he wishes on us is an abomination
• CNS News