BAFF

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has published a special report highlighting the long-standing and continued support for the Armed Forces. Remembering the Brave: The Muslim Contribution to Britain’s Armed Forces outlines how Muslims have made a historic contribution to the defence of this nation. The document also covers the current contribution of British Muslims to the UK military. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the MCB website.

MCB Report Demonstrates long-standing British Muslim Support for Armed Forces

(MCB, 5 Nov 2009) Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) today publishes a special report highlighting the long-standing and continued support for the Armed Forces. Remembering the Brave: The Muslim Contribution to Britain’s Armed Forces outlines how Muslims have made a historic contribution to the defence of this nation. The document also covers the current contribution of British Muslims to the UK military.

Highlighting past polling data, the document suggests that British Muslims tend to take the sophisticated enough stand to support our troops while dissenting from the government’s decision to send those troops to controversial conflicts. An ICM-run survey in June of 500 British Muslims over the age of 16, found that 78% said they opposed Taliban attacks against UK and NATO soldiers in Afghanistan and three-quarters of those surveyed said it was wrong for the West to intervene militarily in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In this publication, the MCB acknowledges that the operations which the Armed Forces are engaged in today are deeply controversial. But that is not simply a concern amongst Muslims; it is shared by other British people also.

Marking the launch of the report, the Muslim Council of Britain's Secretary General Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said: "Many Muslims will be joining fellow Britons this Sunday to remember those who made deep sacrifices for this country. This special report is a timely reminder to the Muslim community and to the general public that the Muslim contribution to the defence of this nation runs deep and it will continue".

[ENDS]

Notes to Editors

1. The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body with around 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.

2. The MCB's special report, Remembering the Brave: The Muslim Contribution to Britain’s Armed Forces, can be downloaded at:

Remembering the Brave.