Muhammad Abdul Bari

The Honourable Doctor Muhammad Abdul Bari MBE FRSA Esq.
Native name	মুহাম্মাদ আব্দুল বারি
Born	(1953-10-02) 2 October 1953 Tangail, Bangladesh
Residence	Tooting, London, England
Ethnicity	Bengali
Citizenship	British
Education	Physics
Alma mater	Chittagong University Royal Holloway, University of London King's College London Open University
Occupation	Physicist, educationalist, writer, scholar
Years active	2004–present
Known for	Head of several organisations
Movement	Jamaat-e-Islami
Religion	Islam
Denomination	Sunni

Muhammad Abdul Bari, MBE FRSA^[1] (Bengali: মুহাম্মাদ আব্দুল বারি; born 2 October 1953), is a Bangladeshi-born British physicist, scholar, writer, teacher, community leader and the current secretary of Muslim Aid, who is widely regarded as one of the most powerful Asians and Muslims in Western Europe.^[2][3] In 2006, Time Out makazine classified Abdul Bari as the 7th shaker and mover persons in London, preceded by David Cameron and Ken Livingstone.^[4] He is usually listed as a community leader in The 500 Most Influential Muslims.^[5][6] He is also the former Chairman of the East London Mosque, and the former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain. He has also served as the president of the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE).^[7] In addition to the parenting and consultancy work, Abdul Bari also writes on various blogs including The Huffington Post and Al-Jazeera and he has authored numerous books.

Education

After studying at Chittagong University, Abdul Bari joined the Bangladesh Air Force in 1978. Later he moved to the United Kingdom. In 1986 he earned a PhD in Physics from King's College London, and joined Royal Holloway, University of London as a postdoctoral researcher, when he become involved in community work. He entered into teaching after completing Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from King's College London in 1991. He spent five years in a secondary school in Haringey, London, teaching Science.^[8] He joined Tower Hamlets Education Authority as a Specialist Teacher in 1997. He is a researcher in physics, science teacher and Special Educational Needs specialist in London.^[2][9]

Career

Abdul Bari has served East London's diverse communities in various capacities for three decades. Since 2002, he has been the Chairman of the board of trustees at the East London Mosque (London's first mosque, which now includes the London Muslim Centre) leading the institution to win the national 'Super Model Mosque Competition' in 2009. He is also a founding member of The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO), a coalition of churches, mosques, and other civil society organisations working together to promote understanding and a safer, fairer and better governed city.

He was Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain from June 2006 until June 2010, having completed two terms. Prior to that, he served as the Council's Deputy-Secretary General for four years. As Secretary General, he worked to have more young people take part in the Council's work.

A physicist and educationalist by training, Abdul Bari received his doctorate in Physics and qualified as a teacher from King's College London, and gained a management degree from the Open University. He is now a Special Educational Needs specialist in London.

Abdul Bari is also a patron of the National Youth Agency, The Ramphal Institute, Anchor House (a homeless charity based in Newham, London) and Nida Trust (an educational charity). He is the Secretary of Muslim Aid, an international charity and London Catalyst. He served on the Good Childhood Inquiry Panel which was set up by the Children's Society in 2006. He is also an advisor to the Centre for Public Policy Seminars.

He has written for various newspapers, journals and community publications.} He is the author of Building Muslim Families, A Guide to Parenting, "Addressing Adolescence: A Guide to Parenting in Islam" and Race, Religion and Muslim Identity in Britain.

He was on the LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Board),^[10] responsible for preparing and staging the London 2012 Games - 2012 Summer Olympics.^[11]

In 2014 he created a website named Amana Parenting, which is dedicated to providing parenting support and consultancy. ^[12]

Awards and recognition

In 2003, Abdul Bari was appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2003 New Year Honours for his services to the community.^[2] In 2005, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In July 2008, he was made an Honorary Fellow of Queen Mary, University of London.

London Evening Standard found him one of London's 1000 most influential humans being in 2009.^[13] Abdul Bari was recognised for his 'Outstanding Achievement' by British Bangladeshi Who's Who in Islamic Affairs and Community Relations. In January 2012, he was in the British Bangladeshi Power 100.^[14]

The University of East London conferred on Bari with honorary doctorate in education ^[15] in November 2012 'for his work as secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain from 2006 to 2010 and for his contribution to the cultural life of east London'.

In 11th Muslim Awards Ceremony of The Muslim News in March 2013, the Judges Panel conferred Abdul Bari with Special Iman wa Amal (Faith and Action).^[16]

Views

Abdul Bari has appeared in the British media to speak about Muslims in Britain, integration and what efforts could be taken to improve and control fundamentalism rising among and against Muslims since 9/11 and the 7 July bombings. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, he said he believes the rise of Islamophobia is linked to sections of the media and some politicians: "But some political leaders and sections of the media are demonising Muslims, treating them as if they're all terrorists – and that encourages other people to do the same." "Young Muslims need role models to show them they can play a part in British society."

Abdul Bari feels that the media is only interested in fringe groups of angry Muslims instead of mainstream Muslims from the community. He also made the criticism that some right wing tabloid media twisted some of his past comments. He criticises the government's stance on how it deals with violent extremism, which he believes is responsible for creating tensions within the communities, and believes that the "UK will become Nazi Germany, if the situation is not handled very well by the government."^[17] One of his examples included remarks by the head of MI5, Jonathan Evans, and criticised the government's war on Iraq, described as a "disaster."^[18]

Abdul Bari occasionally writes on social, political and global issues in The Huffington Post and Al Jazeera English.^[19][20]

Personal life

His interests include reading and travelling.^[2][8] His father, a popular herbalist in the area, was a land-owning farmer in the Tangail District. He speaks Bengali and English fluently and is married with four children.^[2]

Books

• Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2002). The Greatest Gift: A Guide to Parenting from an Islamic Perspective. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-044-1
• Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2005). Race, Religion, & Muslim Identity in Britain. Renaissance Press. ISBN 978-0-9543294-7-1
• Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2007). Marriage and Family Building in Islam. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-083-0
• Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2011). Addressing Adolescence: A Guide to Parenting in Islam. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-125-7
• Abdul Bari, Muhammad. (2012). British, Muslims, Citizens: Introspection and Renewal. Consilium Publishing. ISBN 978-1-62095-097-5
• Abdul Bari, Muhammad. (2013). Meet the Challenge, Make the Change: A call to action for Muslim civil society in Britain, Cordoba Foundation.
• Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2015). Cherishing Childhood: A Guide to Parenting in Islam. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-154-7

See also

• British Bangladeshi
• List of British Bangladeshis

References

External links

• Harrison, David. Media 'contributing to rise of Islamophobia'. The Telegraph. 10 September 2006
• 'UK will become Nazi Germany' if it's not careful when tackling terrorism, says Muslim leader. Daily Mail. 10 November 2007
• 'British should try arranged marriages'. The Telegraph. 10 June 2006
• 'Trust at risk' after terror raid. The Guardian. 6 June 2006
• Eid in the square. BBC London News. December 2006
• UK Muslim Leader Urges More Positive Focus. Sky News. 10 November 2007
• Sylvester, Rachel; Thomson, Alice. Dr Bari: Government stoking Muslim tension The Telegraph. 10 November 2007

East London Mosque London Muslim Centre Islamic Forum of Europe (Young Muslim Organisation Muslim Community Radio) First Solution Money Transfer (closed) Key People Muhammad Abdul Bari (former chairman) Abdul Qayum (chief Imam)

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