Hawzah News Agency – Led by MCB Secretary General Zara Mohammed, the leadership team met with over 17 organisations in the towns to learn of their fantastic work serving local Muslims and wider society at large.

Batley and Dewsbury is home to a large proportion of Muslims. Many of the mosques and Islamic associations are vibrant hubs for the local community, serving both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Annual Lecture to One of the UK’s Oldest Muslim Organisation’s

Zara Mohammed was invited to deliver the annual lecture at the Indian Muslim Welfare Society. Established in 1957, the Society is one of the oldest Muslim organisations in Yorkshire and indeed in the UK, serving the people of Batley and surrounding areas through a range of religious, social and cultural activities.

Zara also spoke to students at Batley Girls High School where she discussed the need for girls to be confident in who they are and to not limit themselves and what they can achieve. It’s important to have supportive people are you that help push to achieve good things.

She complimented the teachers for providing great environment, nurturing students and helping them to be confident about themselves.

Batley and Dewsbury’s Vibrant Muslim Civil Society

The team was left in awe and truly humbled by the incredible work of the Moonlight Trust. For over 10 years, the Trust has been serving refugee communities across the world in dire conditions, all volunteer driven.

The team met gardeners at the Hamm-Damm Community Gardens in Dewsbury. The project grows produce for the community and supports a local food bank is to take on a one-acre plot of land to expand its activities.

‘Kumon Y’all’ is a charity dedicated to bringing local people and young people together. Young members took time out to talk to Zara and explain the excellent work they do in the area.

MCB’s leadership team was struck by how interfaith and common action featured in much of the work of Muslim organisations in the area.

They met with volunteers at Darul Ilm who exemplified interfaith action by working with the Dewsbury South Community Support Group, delivered food packs to hundreds of family since the start of the pandemic.

At the Salfia Centre, the team discovered how the institution strove to bring everyone together, serving those most in need and creating a space for friendship and family.

Zara also met with members of the North Kirklees Interfaith Council, learning about the excellent initiatives they do including the the Batley iftar, sports tournaments and their real commitment to unity.

Scholars and Ulema

Dewsbury is also a hub for scholarship. Hundreds of British trained Islamic scholars graduate from the Institute of Islamic Education at the Dewsbury Markaz. Zara Mohammed addressed their student body, highlighting the importance of participating in British society.

The MCB leadership also met with scholars at the Shariah Council in Dewsbury and Rabeta. At these and other organisations, women’s participation in Muslim institions were a common theme of discussion, as was the participation of Muslims in British society.

Local Politicians

The team met with Mark Eastwood, Conservative MP for Dewsbury and and Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen. They also met Tracey Babin, the mayor of West Yorkshire along with deputy mayor Alison Lowe and councillor Naheed Mather. The team were pleased to learn of the connections local politicians had with Muslim communities and discussed the common concerns Muslim communities have across the UK.

Zara discussed her trip to the two towns on BBC Leed’s breakfast show.

She also took part in the ‘Two White Muslims’ podcast hosted by Yusuf Bashforth and Junaid Rahim.

An Inspiration For The Rest of the UK

Summing up the trip, Zara Mohammed said:

The people of Batley and Dewsbury have really inspired me. The spirit and strength of local communities is what makes a real difference to how we come together and overcome our differences, a good lesson for national politics.