London, Oct 20, IRNA ,
Muslim youths held the first of a new series of monthly dialogue meetings this week with political leaders in the British parliament.
The initiative was launched by the Muslim News with the support Labour Muslim MP, Sadiq Khan, who was promoted to the first ranks of government as a Treasury Whip by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in June.
“The purpose of the discussions is to encourage the young Muslims to engage in dialogue with the politicians,” Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi said.
Khan, who is also a human rights lawyer, said Wednesday’s meeting, which was attended over 120 people from diverse Muslim backgrounds, was the “beginning of a mature dialogue between the British Muslims and the country’s leading politicians and policy makers.”
Political leaders at the first meeting included Home Office Minister Tony McNulty, the Conservative Shadow Attorney General, and Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat’s Shadow Home Secretary, who is tipped to replace Sir Menzies Campbell as the party’s new leader.
Initial discussions focused on Britain’s controversial anti-terrorism laws, its impact on the Muslim communities, police stop and search powers, radicalization and the increase in holding suspects in detention without any charge.
The initiative comes after the British government curtailed regular meetings with the leaders of the mainstream Muslim Council of Britain two years ago, because of disagreements over the UK’s approach in tackling the so-called “war on terrorism”.