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About CIM

INTRODUCTION

THE GENOCIDE of Muslims in the western Indian state of Gujarat with a magnitude unparallel shook everyone in the country and abroad as well. The closer the sufferers are to you hurt of the pain and anguish becomes all the more greater. Not only that the close relatives of a large number of British Indian Muslims were being subjected to the worst crimes committed by the Hindutva bands of criminals, at least 85 Muslims from North London area were stranded in the hell let lose on Muslims in Gujarat. The North London Muslim Community Centre (NLMCC), a popular centre of Muslim welfare activities in Hackney, was in constant touch with the British Foreign Office and the Indian High Commission in London to arrange a safe way out for them and to put an end to the wanton killings of Muslims, dishonouring of women and the destruction of their properties by Hindutva beasts. Executive members of the NLMCC were there 24 hours to answer calls and offer help and guidance to worried relatives of the victims and those who were stranded in Gujarat.

On 3 March 2002 the NLMCC organised an emergency meeting of Muslims from all over the UK representing various organisations and mosques to view the situation in Gujarat. In order to work and campaign against such recurrent anti-Muslim riots back home the delegates unanimously agreed to form a national body to be known as the Council of Indian Muslims (CIM) with the following aims and objects. The meeting also passed a resolution and handed it to the then Indian High Commissioner Mr Nareshwar Dayal.

Since its inception, in addition to various lobbying activities, the CIM's organisers have had meetings with the then British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw, made representations to the Indian High Commission, arranged a number of meetings in the country, produced news letters, published a book, The Victim of Hindutva Fascism: A Tribute to Ahsan Jafri. on shaheed Ehsan Jafri, who was dismembered alive by Hinduva fascists in Gujarat, met with Muslim Ambassadors and sent memorandum to the OIC's 29th Foreign Ministers Conference held in Khartoum in June 2002.

AIMS AND OBJECTS OF THE CIM

To:

  1. Organise and bring onto one platform the NRI Muslims in the UK;
  2. Promote in them a community spirit and create an awareness of the advantages of a collective life;
  3. Remind them of their religious and universal responsibilities towards fellow human beings and prepare them to fulfil these responsibilities;
  4. Explore ways and find means to play their role as an integral part of the world ummah;
  5. Monitor and promote the interests of Muslim community in India which has been subjected to most severe violence and continuous discrimination since independence and which is under the threat of an unbridled wave of anti-Muslim communalism;
  6. Maintain contacts with the British and Indian governments, representatives of United Nations Organisation, its specialised agencies, NGOs and the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC)
  7. Publish and distribute newsletters, informative literature and other material on:
    • Cultural heritage of Indian Muslims and
    • The violation of their human rights;
  8. Maintain contacts with organisations and individuals representing Indian Muslims and other persecuted sections of Indian society in and outside India;
  9. Promote and exchange ideas with them to educate the young generation about their cultural heritage.
  10. Promote tolerance and mutual understanding between various Indian communities in the UK by organising seminars and exchanging ideas with individuals and organisations opposed to any form of terrorism and communalism.