Muslim Council of Cambridgeshire
Muslim Council was established in 2009 as an umbrella organisation of all Muslim organisations and groups in Cambridgeshire. It is a non-political, non-sectarian, social, welfare, cultural and educational organisation of local residents.
The associate membership of the Council is open to all irrespective of faith, race, gender, age or views. Anyone willing to support Aims and Objectives of the Muslim Council is welcome to join us. We already have a large number of associate members from different backgrounds, faiths and even from no-faith.
Background
The Muslim population in Cambridgeshire has seen a large growth in the last two decades. It is estimated that in Cambridge City alone there are more than 7000 Muslims, consequently a number of Muslim organisations have come into existence.
Muslim Council was constituted as an umbrella organisation, primarily to facilitate more than 35 different Muslim ethnic and communal groups in Cambridgeshire to interact and forge unanimity regarding several issues of extreme importance. Moreover there are a large number on Non-Muslim residents in Cambridgeshire who value local Muslim population and are willing to work with them to provide help and support to sort out their issues like discrimination, social isolation and women welfare etc. There was no such platform before that could have brought Muslims and Non-Muslims under one umbrella to celebrate the most diverse culture of Cambridge.
The fastest growing Muslim population in Cambridgeshire has a formidable presence and without proper organisation, that conglomeration of culturally diverse groups is likely to dissipate into insignificance. If they are organised and imbued with mutual bonhomie, they can prove to be a viable social capital for the United Kingdom. Many of them have been living here from quite some time but socially speaking, a number of Muslims still exists on the margins of the society. Moreover, the challenges that they confront with respect to integration into British society, socio-cultural alienation or the dearth of proper religious orientation can be met in the light of British tradition epitomised in the constitution. The current economic recession has put Muslims further in a tight spot. In such circumstances need for such an organization like Muslim Council becomes even exigent.
The most important of the objectives that Muslim Council has set for itself is the promotion of Community Cohesion, Integration, Understanding and Tolerance in the "Big Society". The spate of violence in the name of religion that has plagued the comity of nations is a phenomenon that is to be deliberated upon by the Muslims themselves and look for the appropriate prognosis. In order to make it possible Muslim Council will be holding inter-faith dialogue and cultural events, which would help in fostering inter-communal harmony and acceptability for religious difference. For the prevention of violence and extremism in the society, the stress would be laid to the foundational religious texts and their proper exegesis. Similarly lectures and seminars will be arranged and Muslims will be encouraged to come and benefit from the talks of the scholarly persons.
Aims and Objectives
The aims and objectives of the Cambridge Muslim Council include:
- To promote friendship, goodwill and understanding among all communities of Cambridgeshire
- To raise understanding and awareness about the local Muslim culture and values among its members and general public
- To raise awareness amongst its members and general public against extremism and violence
- To arrange social, cultural, traditional and sport activities for its members including children, young people, men, women and elderly
- To arrange welfare and charity based activities
- To promote community cohesion, integration, understanding and tolerance
- To celebrate cultural and historic events important to its members
- To establish goodwill and working relationships between the Council and other local bodies including local government, public departments and other ethnic and cultural associations