Do We Need a Shia UK Parliament?
A progressive community will always sets up institutes that help the community to plan for the future. So why don’t we do this by creating a Shia UK Parliament? A recent media campaign exposing sexual bullying of ‘children on children’ in schools is an example of a shortfall in guidance for parents. This is one area where policy decisions are needed by communities like ours so that there is information & guidance for parents on how to respond to social realities that affect people’s lives. A platform to debate, discuss and inform a policy document to all Shia Centres would benefit families across the board. A base for intellectuals, social scientists, researchers, parents lobby and children can be provided by the Shia Uk Parliament. And the parliament would not be exclusively for Shias to become members as we are an inclusive faith. Furthermore, the mix of Shia communities that exists in Birmingham we are ideally placed to house such a parliament.
The Shia UK Parliament in Birmingham can draw from all the interconnected Shia communities in the city like Khoja, Pakistani, Irani, Iraqi, Afghani, West Indian etc. The cultural mix can be our cultural capital in Birmingham and we can bolster this mix by having honorary positions for Sunnis and non-Muslim experts. This will be in-line with what the Prophet taught about one humanity solving it’s issues on a common platform. The many treaties the Prophet signed with different groups, tribes, cities and even clans to bring peace to human existence is a beacon for us on how we can engage together for the betterment of the human society and uplifting of the human experiences.
Indeed, the parliament will need to draw up an exact remit so as to focus on issues relating to the protection, enrichment and advancement of individuals and families in the UK. It will deal with global issue like Safeguarding within the home, in schools and in the workplace, and it will also need to look at specific Shia Issues impacting on us like divorce, discriminatory attitudes towards disabled, immigration, business loans and cousin marriages. It will also provide a balance view against issues like the media bias against Muslim causes, adoption, underage pregnancies, low achievement in schools etc. The project will allow Shias to come together to deal with immediate issues while also identifying possible future actions to avoid upcoming hurdles.
The parliament will issue a thoroughly researched Green Paper for each topic after involving experts. The Green paper will engage Shias across the board by arranging open debates around the Green paper. This way our communities will be involved at a higher intellectual level, know the exact issues, know the official policy and therefore make informed decisions before taking actions.
Take an example: Say a Shia Community is planning to start a school. A properly researched document on how such a school can be run, what funding sources there are, how segregation impacts on children, how mixing impacts on children, what pit-falls to avoid, what are issues with peer-peer abuse, how to avoid issues like the Trojan Horse etc. Information around setting up a school would help any shia communities in the UK to make a realistic decision, work together, share experiences, involve in feasibilities and empower them to set up such a venture because knowledge is power. There are already some ‘Shia’ schools which can be used for information when commissioning a research project on the value of shia schools in the UK. The research can extend to East Africa, Aga Khan Schools, Hindu Schools etc to inform a strategy. Then it can be debated widely in the Shia UK Parliament. Once the Green Paper is issued there is a public debate on it possibly involving the social media and live internet shows. Finally a White paper is issued on policy. This will in-turn inform the UK Government and educationalists on an Islamic model for education.
The Shia UK Parliament policy will, of-course, not be law, and therefore, the word Parliament may not be appropriate. So words like House, Assembly, Madjlis, Association, Shura and Elected Board are just some alternatives. The advantage of Parliament is that it will be a populist name even though it will have issues. The next best thing, I feel, is Safeena based on the Prophet saying: “The Alhul Baith are like the Ark of Noah ….” Hence the name can be Al Mahdi Safeena UK.
Our parliamentary building could be designed to be symbolic of an Ark (Safeena) and can be housed in a pool of water with a bridge so that the design symbolises the purpose of it as being a place where humanity is guided and defended.
And we can do this now! We can ask people to stand for positons that need immediate responses like Media Expert to stand for tackling the media stereotypes against Islam. This position will be voluntary but will be led by experts. Ultimately it will issue a Green paper giving draft proposals and information to the communities in order to engage a wider audience. The Green paper will be the start of debate in our communities. This will then lead to a full blown discussion and will lead to a White Paper on policy. The document will give direction against the negative portrayal of Muslims so that every community has a common strategy.
A position in the shia parliament will be voted for with individual bidding to take up roles. The positions will require results so people with an ego for positions will be discovered if they don’t deliver the goods at a high quality. Scrutiny will be essential if the project is to be successful. Currently in every Shia communities there are people who occupy positions for political or personal reasons, their work is not scrutinised and they live off scandals, divisions and personal vendettas. At the end the year they produced glossy documents and mezmorise the people with words that just cover up their incompetence and their shallow achievements. Hence, an oath will be taken by every office to fulfil the roles to the fullest and criteria for performance will be given. Reviewing achievements will be essential if it is not like the other bodies set up across the Muslim communities that don’t engage and that only provide status to those who lead it.
The positions will not be like taking up a place in the WF or CoEJ where office bearers tick the right boxes and rubber stamp what ‘looks good’ and where people ‘don’t rock the boat.’ The parliament will not be about what jamaats do, or not do. It will be about good policies, information and direction. It will be about gathering shias on a common platform on issues that affect them on a daily basis. Hence the quality of information will be the litmus test for each office bearer.
The elected position holder will seat after a nationwide elections by all registered Shias. The registration will be free and will entitle the person to view and participate on live debates that will be held on a monthly basis. The elected person will organise and manage the project, and will have the necessary funding through charity to successfully complete the project. The person will have to bring together information already available, government recommendations and work closely with ulema and experts. It will have no political affiliation to any party or outside countries. It will not be a place for those who are known for sectarian or established opinions as it will need to cut across so much stale and dogma, get cross people influences and achieve excellence in policy & information.
At a higher level it can also issue judgements or guidance for issues that divide up communities. Issues around why one groups of Shia split and create their own centres, why so much fund is not accountable for, why we can even hold a common jummah prayer will all in the city, why overseas student face so many hurdles in accommodation, finances and career choices and why there are clandestine abortions among unmarried Shia girls on the rise.
Indeed these ideas are in their formation stage but already the Jews, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs have such bodies that guide their followers and have created wonderments. The result is unity, better community engagement, less discrimination, better life chances and less worries for parents about their children growing up in a complex world. The way the Hindu community deals with their issues is an example of their unity and how a religion that used to have the caste system is now uniting the whole of a diverse country like India and literally launching it in to space. The work to uplift India started long time ago; in the 1960s.Today Indians are the best achieving community in education and the fastest economical climbers in the UK. This is not about just individuals or culture but about institutions that support community cohesion, guidance and support. May be if we start a Safeena for the Shias Uk then the dividend will be realised by the next generations. But it will be better than leaving a trail of confusion, controversies and community idiosyncrasies that we are experiencing today.
A progressive community will always sets up institutes that help the community to plan for the future. So why don’t we do this by creating a Shia UK Parliament? A recent media campaign exposing sexual bullying of ‘children on children’ in schools is an example of a shortfall in guidance for parents. This is one area where policy decisions are needed by communities like ours so that there is information & guidance for parents on how to respond to social realities that affect people’s lives. A platform to debate, discuss and inform a policy document to all Shia Centres would benefit families across the board. A base for intellectuals, social scientists, researchers, parents lobby and children can be provided by the Shia Uk Parliament. And the parliament would not be exclusively for Shias to become members as we are an inclusive faith. Furthermore, the mix of Shia communities that exists in Birmingham we are ideally placed to house such a parliament.
The Shia UK Parliament in Birmingham can draw from all the interconnected Shia communities in the city like Khoja, Pakistani, Irani, Iraqi, Afghani, West Indian etc. The cultural mix can be our cultural capital in Birmingham and we can bolster this mix by having honorary positions for Sunnis and non-Muslim experts. This will be in-line with what the Prophet taught about one humanity solving it’s issues on a common platform. The many treaties the Prophet signed with different groups, tribes, cities and even clans to bring peace to human existence is a beacon for us on how we can engage together for the betterment of the human society and uplifting of the human experiences.
Indeed, the parliament will need to draw up an exact remit so as to focus on issues relating to the protection, enrichment and advancement of individuals and families in the UK. It will deal with global issue like Safeguarding within the home, in schools and in the workplace, and it will also need to look at specific Shia Issues impacting on us like divorce, discriminatory attitudes towards disabled, immigration, business loans and cousin marriages. It will also provide a balance view against issues like the media bias against Muslim causes, adoption, underage pregnancies, low achievement in schools etc. The project will allow Shias to come together to deal with immediate issues while also identifying possible future actions to avoid upcoming hurdles.
The parliament will issue a thoroughly researched Green Paper for each topic after involving experts. The Green paper will engage Shias across the board by arranging open debates around the Green paper. This way our communities will be involved at a higher intellectual level, know the exact issues, know the official policy and therefore make informed decisions before taking actions.
Take an example: Say a Shia Community is planning to start a school. A properly researched document on how such a school can be run, what funding sources there are, how segregation impacts on children, how mixing impacts on children, what pit-falls to avoid, what are issues with peer-peer abuse, how to avoid issues like the Trojan Horse etc. Information around setting up a school would help any shia communities in the UK to make a realistic decision, work together, share experiences, involve in feasibilities and empower them to set up such a venture because knowledge is power. There are already some ‘Shia’ schools which can be used for information when commissioning a research project on the value of shia schools in the UK. The research can extend to East Africa, Aga Khan Schools, Hindu Schools etc to inform a strategy. Then it can be debated widely in the Shia UK Parliament. Once the Green Paper is issued there is a public debate on it possibly involving the social media and live internet shows. Finally a White paper is issued on policy. This will in-turn inform the UK Government and educationalists on an Islamic model for education.
The Shia UK Parliament policy will, of-course, not be law, and therefore, the word Parliament may not be appropriate. So words like House, Assembly, Madjlis, Association, Shura and Elected Board are just some alternatives. The advantage of Parliament is that it will be a populist name even though it will have issues. The next best thing, I feel, is Safeena based on the Prophet saying: “The Alhul Baith are like the Ark of Noah ….” Hence the name can be Al Mahdi Safeena UK.
Our parliamentary building could be designed to be symbolic of an Ark (Safeena) and can be housed in a pool of water with a bridge so that the design symbolises the purpose of it as being a place where humanity is guided and defended.
And we can do this now! We can ask people to stand for positons that need immediate responses like Media Expert to stand for tackling the media stereotypes against Islam. This position will be voluntary but will be led by experts. Ultimately it will issue a Green paper giving draft proposals and information to the communities in order to engage a wider audience. The Green paper will be the start of debate in our communities. This will then lead to a full blown discussion and will lead to a White Paper on policy. The document will give direction against the negative portrayal of Muslims so that every community has a common strategy.
A position in the shia parliament will be voted for with individual bidding to take up roles. The positions will require results so people with an ego for positions will be discovered if they don’t deliver the goods at a high quality. Scrutiny will be essential if the project is to be successful. Currently in every Shia communities there are people who occupy positions for political or personal reasons, their work is not scrutinised and they live off scandals, divisions and personal vendettas. At the end the year they produced glossy documents and mezmorise the people with words that just cover up their incompetence and their shallow achievements. Hence, an oath will be taken by every office to fulfil the roles to the fullest and criteria for performance will be given. Reviewing achievements will be essential if it is not like the other bodies set up across the Muslim communities that don’t engage and that only provide status to those who lead it.
The positions will not be like taking up a place in the WF or CoEJ where office bearers tick the right boxes and rubber stamp what ‘looks good’ and where people ‘don’t rock the boat.’ The parliament will not be about what jamaats do, or not do. It will be about good policies, information and direction. It will be about gathering shias on a common platform on issues that affect them on a daily basis. Hence the quality of information will be the litmus test for each office bearer.
The elected position holder will seat after a nationwide elections by all registered Shias. The registration will be free and will entitle the person to view and participate on live debates that will be held on a monthly basis. The elected person will organise and manage the project, and will have the necessary funding through charity to successfully complete the project. The person will have to bring together information already available, government recommendations and work closely with ulema and experts. It will have no political affiliation to any party or outside countries. It will not be a place for those who are known for sectarian or established opinions as it will need to cut across so much stale and dogma, get cross people influences and achieve excellence in policy & information.
At a higher level it can also issue judgements or guidance for issues that divide up communities. Issues around why one groups of Shia split and create their own centres, why so much fund is not accountable for, why we can even hold a common jummah prayer will all in the city, why overseas student face so many hurdles in accommodation, finances and career choices and why there are clandestine abortions among unmarried Shia girls on the rise.
Indeed these ideas are in their formation stage but already the Jews, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs have such bodies that guide their followers and have created wonderments. The result is unity, better community engagement, less discrimination, better life chances and less worries for parents about their children growing up in a complex world. The way the Hindu community deals with their issues is an example of their unity and how a religion that used to have the caste system is now uniting the whole of a diverse country like India and literally launching it in to space. The work to uplift India started long time ago; in the 1960s.Today Indians are the best achieving community in education and the fastest economical climbers in the UK. This is not about just individuals or culture but about institutions that support community cohesion, guidance and support. May be if we start a Safeena for the Shias Uk then the dividend will be realised by the next generations. But it will be better than leaving a trail of confusion, controversies and community idiosyncrasies that we are experiencing today.