Scholars urge Muslims to vote

Top Islamic scholars and community leaders are to meet on Tuesday to urge Muslims across the UK to vote in Thursday’s general election.

Iqbal Sacranie, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said that it was vitally important that Muslims were involved in the democratic process.

Mr Sacranie said: “We know there is a lot of disaffection in the community particularly with the way the anti-terror laws have been applied and with respect to the war against Iraq as well as concerns on inclusion and equality.”

He added: “We believe that by not participating in the political process we will only be further marginalised. Our Islamic scholars are convinced in their opinion that British Muslims must increase their engagement with the wider British society with a view to fulfilling the Qur’anic commandment to ‘enjoin the good and forbid the wrong,'”