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Sadiq in
Afghanistan
In April
Sadiq led a delegation of British Muslims in a visit to
Afghanistan. The group visited aid projects, hospitals
and farms and met British troops and local politicians. It
was truly a humbling experience for the delegation, and a
great deal was learned about Afghanistan. Most
importantly, the delegation was there to show the people of
Afghanistan what being a British Muslim meant, and managed
to counter some negative misconceptions about the lives of
British Muslims.
Sadiq
wrote this about the trip...
"This trip
wasn’t about governance meeting governance – it was about
people meeting people. I used the opportunity to learn more
about what it is really like on the ground in Afghanistan.
Together
with the delegation of British Muslims that I was leading, I
met so many different people, from ex-poppy-farmers, now
farming alternative crops in Mazar-e-Sharif province, to
local politicians and British soldiers. There was no point
going just to meet VIPs, we wanted to get out and about and
meet people.
What
emerged was that the efforts being undertaken in Afghanistan
involved so much more than just providing security. British
troops were working to secure areas, but so that aid workers
could build schools, bridges and hospitals. Such a holistic
approach that incorporates both security and building up
civic society is vital to eventually enabling the country
become self reliant.
But we
can’t turn our backs on Afghanistan, a peaceful and
prosperous future for the country requires a long term
commitment. We’ve learnt from the past that if you allow
religious extremist views to fester it can lead to problems
in your own back yard.
Whilst in
Afghanistan, I also found myself having to counter many
misconceptions about what it is like to be a British Muslim.
Many Afghanis, particularly those of an older generation,
were quite agitated about, for example the Danish cartoons,
and assumed that in the UK Muslims were treated with little
respect. Such misconceptions make the jobs of teachers, aid
workers and troops much harder than they might otherwise be.
I was able
to show them that I am British, I am a Muslim, and I am able
to freely practice my religion. Many Afghanis just couldn’t
believe that we have Muslim MPs.
I left
Afghanistan feeling very optimistic after I had countless
inspiring conversations with Afghani people. They were
positive about the future of their country, and after what I
have seen, so am I."
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