A new group calling itself 'Progressive British Muslims' was launched on 10 November 2005 at the House of Commons. The group has been formed in response to statements from the mainstream media that they are not able to represent articulate, progressively minded Muslims in the media because they don't know how to find them. The total British Muslim population is about 1.6 million with Muslims amongst the most disadvantaged members of the British population. The founders of PBM comprise doctors, lawyers, journalists, civil servants and other professionals, based in London.

Farmida Bi, a partner in a City law firm and one of the founders of the group, said "After the bombings on July 7th, it is imperative that those of us who are comfortable with our combined identities as Britons and Muslims speak up. For too long we have done what most other British people do - got on with our lives and not participated in the political debate-which has allowed all Muslims to be identified simply by reference to our faith. For many of us, being a Muslim is a part of our private cultural identity but it does not determine our political thinking. We live in Britain because we value its traditions of secularism and tolerance."

Dr Shaaz Mahboob, a strategy consultant in the NHS and one of PBM's spokesmen, said "I believe that the majority of Muslims in Britain do not practise their religion as strictly and rigorously as the so-called representative Muslims groups has led us to believe or has been portrayed by the Media. It's about time that the true image of ordinary British Muslims is projected and the key issues faced by them in everyday life are identified and addressed.

The celebration of diverse cultures must continue to take place in today's Britain but concerted efforts towards achieving integration with other cultures are also vitally important. It is important to identify and recognise the differences between the religious practices as prescribed by Islam and the various customs followed as part of specific ethnic cultural heritages brought to Britain by our forefathers, both of which have been labelled as Islamic culture and seem to have become inseparable."

ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE BRITISH MUSLIMS (PBM) GROUP

PBM is a group of London based professionals who have decided to establish a platform to provide a voice for progressive British Muslims who feel unrepresented by the existing faith-based Muslim groups. We each have a cultural identity as Muslims that is important to us. We believe there is no single definitive version of Islam and that each individual must decide how best to live his or her life.

We do not purport to represent any particular group(s) of British Muslims. We speak only for ourselves but believe, based on our personal experiences, that we reflect the views of significant numbers of Muslims in Britain.

The purpose of the group is to articulate the views of those Muslims, who consider themselves to be British, integrated into mainstream society and who have a cultural identity as Muslims, in the mainstream media who feel unrepresented by the existing faith based organisations.

We will not attack or denigrate other Muslim groups although we will promote our values in a positive and vigorous manner. We will not decide what is or is not Islamic. We are not Muslim scholars and do not feel qualified (or, believe it is appropriate) to judge others.

THE AIMS OF PBM

To advocate:

• equality in the Muslim community, especially between men and women, but also address equality issues based on sexual preference and disability
• Muslim integration into mainstream British society whilst maintaining an Islamic identity
• freedom of speech
• respect for all faiths
• human rights and democracy

For further information visit www.pbm.org.uk

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