14 February 2004	Saturday	22 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Muslim women have been allowed to wear scarf as part of their uniform in the police and armed forces in Britain to encourage their participation in the public sphere.

This was stated by British women rights activist Shireen Khan while speaking on an interactive discussion forum, "Mutualities: Islam in Britain", organized by Strengthening Participatory Organization here on Thursday.

Ms Khan is a Muslim convert, married to a Pakistani, and she is presently conducting a tour of British Muslims of Pakistani origin to create a better understanding of how they live their lives in an essentially western society.

She said Muslim girls could dress in school uniforms which conform to their sense of modesty as the British were more accommodating compared to the French, who laid greater stress on a homogeneous society and were against the religious display of affiliations in educational institutions.

"British society is truly multicultural and we rejoice in our diversity," she added. Muslim advisers are appointed to every government department and there are more public facilities for offering prayers and sacrifices. Muslim schools have been granted public funding, thereby awarding them mainstream status.

To address complaints of violence against women, Muslim women refuge houses have been set up. "Discrimination is just a bad drop in an ocean of good," she said.

She was of the view that there was greater tolerance and acceptability from individuals, but the media was propagating stereotypes, so more British Muslims of Pakistani origin should become mainstream journalists to project a realistic image of their community.

General Secretary of the Union of Muslim Students Shargil Ahmed said Muslims need to be more proactive in their approach and engage in dialogue with non-Muslim organizations and the media as issues crop up and ease themselves out of their permanently defensive position.

He said faith, and not national origin, was the foundation of identity for the younger generations of migrants and they like to be identified as British Muslims.

"The majority of my peers choose a middle ground: they select components of Pakistani, Arab and British cultures, while retaining their essentially Muslim identity."

Imam Dr Abdul Jalil Sajid, the present Imam of Brighton Islamic Mission, said he was involved in dialogue with the British government for the revival of Muslim Family Laws which were drafted during the British Raj and their annexation to the common law to settle legal disputes involving Muslim citizens.

This would greatly facilitate them and save millions of pounds sterling in legal aid. In answer to a question on why Muslims are under-represented in juries, Ms Khan said it was because they had chosen to keep themselves aloof from civil duties.

For selection on the jury, their names must be recorded on electoral lists whereas a staggering number of Muslims had never registered themselves, but this attitude was undergoing a change.