Photo: MoD
Muslims and non-Muslims in the military came together at the Ministry of Defence last week to mark Islam Awareness Week. The one day event, hosted by the Armed Forces Muslim Association, heard keynote addresses from Lord Astor of Hever, military personnel, and faith leaders, and aimed to highlight the important role of Muslims in the Armed Forces – to ensure that this national institution is representative of the society which it serves
Speaking at the event, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Lords Spokesman on Defence, Lord Astor of Hever, said: “While unfair misconceptions abound about the Muslim community, so too a parallel myth is being peddled by a minority – that the Armed Forces is no place for a Muslim. Today allows us to put the record straight and show there is nothing incongruous about a Muslim in a British uniform. Any society, any Armed Forces, is only as great as the sum of its parts. For us to succeed as a country, we must continue to draw on the talents of all our local communities.”
Recognising the debate around why some Muslims feel a disconnect between their religion and serving in the Armed Forces, discussions highlighted some of the projects around the UK that are trying to combat this view.
Hifsa Iqbal, National Co-ordinator for Islam Awareness Week, said: “Islam Awareness Week was initiated by the Islam Society of Britain - one of the first organisations that sought to evolve a uniquely British flavour to Islam."
Iqbal added: "In order for this to happen, it was felt that Muslims would have to think seriously about understanding their faith in a British context. The main idea of Islam Awareness Week is to promote social cohesion rather than dwelling on differences, and we want to raise awareness and remove misconceptions surrounding Britain’s second largest faith group. I believe Muslims should play a full part in the defence of our country.”
Representatives from two new initiatives spoke about their work to build social cohesion: firstly, the IMPACT project from social enterprise ‘SHAPE’ that works with volunteers in the Bradford and wider West Yorkshire area to counter the negative narrative about our Armed Forces, and to show the benefits a career in the services can bring. Secondly, the Oppo Foundation in Bury which uses football to bring together youth and faith communities to break down barriers and create greater understanding between our communities.
The event was also attended by Imam Asim Hafiz, Islamic Religious Advisor to the Armed Forces, who last week was in Sierra Leone visiting the military hospital facilities set up there to visit those suffering, and recovering, from Ebola.
As well as meeting Regular and Reserve military personnel who are part of the UK effort to tackle Ebola, he met with local Imams and community leaders and spoke at events held to educate local people on the dangers of Ebola and ways to avoid spreading the virus.
Imam Asim Hafiz said: “Many people like to say that faith is something that divides communities but faith is something that brings communities together. I came out to Sierra Leone because I wanted to meet the British Armed Forces that are working here to help the Sierra Leonean population fight Ebola. I wanted to do that because over the last ten or fifteen years we’ve been in very kinetic operations and that has created a certain perception of what the Armed Forces are about. And so to be able to come here to Sierra Leone and observe the Armed Forces carry out a humanitarian operation was an amazing experience for me.
“In recent years in the UK I’ve seen that there seems to be some tension between different faith communities. So to be able to take a lesson from the Sierra Leonean book, is important. I think we can take this example of how Sierra Leoneans absolutely unconditionally support each other and work with each other, the fact that many of their places of religious worship are in the same compound, I believe is something that can be a lesson for many people in other parts of the world including the UK.”
THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE HAS SOLD THE GOVERNMENT PIPELINE AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR £82 MILLION
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has signed a contract to sell the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS) to Compañía Logística de Hidrocarburos (CLH) of Spain for £82 million. The contract also protects the future supply of aviation fuel to both the military and commercial airlines in the UK.
This means that MOD is close to completing the three major elements of the Asset Management Programme that it launched following the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. The Defence Support Group land business is being sold to Babcock for £140 million, with major downstream savings to Defence, and Solent Gateway has been selected as preferred bidder for the concession to manage, and exploit the commercial potential of, the Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre, again generating significant downstream savings.
The GPSS fuel storage and distribution network supplies aviation fuel to UK military bases, including those supporting US visiting forces, and the UK civil aviation sector. As part of the sale, an enduring contract has been agreed between the Secretary of State for Defence and CLH which will protect the GPSS supply of aviation fuel to the military, while also protecting our national civil resilience.
CLH will provide long-term investment in the GPSS network to maintain safe, secure and timely access to the fuel supply across the country, and place the GPSS network on a sustainable long-term footing for many years to come.
Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne MP said: “I am delighted with the successful completion of another Defence asset sale. Signing this transaction with CLH has generated a major capital receipt for Defence while safeguarding supply of aviation fuel to both military and civil customers throughout the United Kingdom.
The £82 million proceeds from the sale represent excellent value for money for the taxpayer and will allow us to continue to focus our resources on the front line.”
CLH will bring unique experience to the operation of GPSS as it operates and maintains a network of oil pipelines (over 4,000 km) and storage systems serving major airports across Spain. In addition it provides fuel transportation services (including storage and pipeline facilities) to military customers in Spain.
The MOD launched the sale competition in July 2014. CLH offered the best deal in terms of value for money, while protecting the capability to supply fuel to UK military bases and civil airports.
The sale completion is expected on 30 April 2015, and CLH will commence operation of the GPSS from that date.