Musharraf Hussain al-Azhari
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Musharraf Hussain al-Azhari is the director of the Nottingham based Karimia Institute and an advisor to the Quilliam Foundation [1]and an advisor to the government on Mosques.[2]
His organisation, the Karimia Institute, states that it is focused on encouraging and promoting ‘moral, social and spiritual development through worship, education and recreation’.[3] Karimia Institute has recently commenced a series of preventing violent extremism workshops aimed at boys aged from 10-14.[4] The actual funding for the PVE workshops, has come through the Challenge and Innovation Fund of the PVE Project through the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law, [5] which is itself, in receipt of £37,594.00 of Prevent funding.[6]
Funding under Preventing Violent Extremism
Al-Azhari's Karimia Institute received £50,000 of PVE Funding from 2009-2010 [7] and £50,000 of PVE Funding from 2010-2011 under the Community Leadership Fund[8] Accompanied by this funding, Karimia Institute also received an additional £15,634 under the Challenge and Innovation Fund and Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund. It is believed that the Karimia Institute is also in receipt of additional funding, through the Centre for Citizenship and the Law, which is receiving £37,594 through the PVE funding streams, [9] because it is invovled in joint de-radicalisation projects for 10-14 year olds.[10]
British Soldiers Attend Mosque
In March 2010, it was reported by the BBC that uniformed British Soldiers from the Mercian Regiment - returning from "their tour of duty fighting the Taliban" - attended the Bobbersmill Mosque (officially known as As-Shifa Mosque) which Musharraf Hussain al-Azhari is the Imam of.[11] Commenting on the visit, Musharraf Hussain Al-Azhari stated that: "most Muslims appreciated the troops' role" and stated that "...the vast majority of Muslims value and see how important the role that our army is performing in some parts of the world...".[12]
Private Jason Gale, stated: "it's quite an honour, the fact that the Muslim community want soldiers to come in."[13]
In a video clip of Major Paddy Ginn's comments, hosted on the BBC News' article, he described the purpose of his visit as a way of learning about the Muslim Community in Nottingham, but also "to relate that experience [of fighting the Taliban, alongside the Afghan National Security Forces] to our community, in our recruiting area and also for the soldiers to see that the type of religious beliefs they saw over in Afghanistan, relate directly back to what goes on in their home areas".[14]
References
- ↑ Screengrab of Quilliam Foundation Advisors page for information of Imam Dr Musharraf al-Azhari. Captured on 20/02/10 using ‘Way back machine’ on www.archive.org.
- ↑ Riazat Butt Preachers from Overseas May Bring Problems, The Guardian, 17 April 2008, accessed 18.03.10
- ↑ About Us:, Karimia Institute, accessed 20 February 2010
- ↑ Stopping Young Muslims turn to Extremism Nottingham Evening Post, 17 February 2010, accessed 20.02.10
- ↑ Stopping Young Muslims turn to Extremism Nottingham Evening Post, 17 February 2010, accessed 17.03.10
- ↑ Kieran Williams, Information Governance Officer Re: Your request for information Ref: IGO/10-0674 Letter to Rizwaan Sabir, from Nottingham City Council 17.03.10, Uploaded on 17.03.10
- ↑ Hansard Column 836W House of Commons, 3 November 2009 - accessed 20.11.09
- ↑ Hansard Column 836W House of Commons, 3 November 2009 - accessed 20.11.09
- ↑ Kieran Williams, Information Governance Officer Re: Your request for information Ref: IGO/10-0674 Letter to Rizwaan Sabir, from Nottingham City Council 17.03.10, Uploaded on 17.03.10 - The £15,634 figure relates to the Bobbersmill Community Centre and Radio Dawn, both of which are directly part of the Karimia Institute.
- ↑ Stopping Young Muslims turn to Extremism Nottingham Evening Post, 17 February 2010, accessed 20.02.10
- ↑ Mercian troops visit mosque in Nottingham BBC News, 17 March 2010, accessed - 17.03.10
- ↑ Mercian troops visit mosque in Nottingham BBC News, 17 March 2010, accessed - 17.03.10
- ↑ Mercian troops visit mosque in Nottingham BBC News, 17 March 2010, accessed - 17.03.10
- ↑ Mercian troops visit mosque in Nottingham BBC News, 17 March 2010, accessed - 17.03.10
