Posted on 05/19/2009 8:24:34 AM PDT by markomalley
LONDON, May 19 (APP): The British Muslim Minister responsible for community cohesion Sadiq Khan is currently visiting Saudi Arabia to examine the interaction between faith and state with key decision makers in Government and faith institutions and also to learn more about the counter-radicalisation programmes being carried out in the country. His four-day visit also seeks to promote a better public understanding of the position of Muslims and Islam in the UK.
In Riyadh, Khan discussed the interfaith work of the Saudi Government with Dr. Abdullah Al Luhaidan, Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs and the two ministers agreed to exchange further ideas on how the two countries could work together in the future.
Speaking following their discussions Khan said:
“The work the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has done with mosques and imams in Saudi Arabia was revealing. It is interesting how the Ministry team is devolving responsibility for regulation and supervision for over 70,000 mosques and ensuring that imams have a high standard of training and practice.
“We discussed how the Ministry and its scholars can work with British scholars in potentially exciting ways. Dr Abdullah emphasised the importance of interfaith dialogue. He was particularly interested in some of the work underway in the UK in developing the role of faith buildings as community hubs and we agreed to exchange further ideas as to how we could work together.”
A department release said he also attended a session of the chamber of the Saudi Consultative Assembly (Majlis al Shura), and met with the Committee on Islamic Affairs and Human Rights.
According to Khan, the head of the Committee Shaykh Aazeb al Misbel was honest and frank on some of the common challenges facing the two countries and he outlined the importance of sharing best practice to undermine extremists who mislead young people.
In performing Umrah, Sadiq Khan became the first Western Minister to do so in official capacity.
Huh? How do you do a pilgrimage in an official capacity (unless you have official sanction to do so)???
How about an interfaith pilgrimage to Mecca? Oh wait, they discriminate against non-muslims and would kill any kufir who’d enter the segregated cities of Mecca and Medina.
The UK continues its decline into Sharia
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