The Muslim News

November 29, 2002

HRH The Prince of Wales Presents The Muslim News Awards for Excellence

London, The Muslim News

The Muslim News will be hosting its third annual Awards for Excellence on 11th December 2002 in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales who, as Guest of Honour, will present a number of the Awards.

The unparalleled success of The Muslim News Awards for Excellence highlights the existence of vitality and profound accomplishment found within the Muslim Community. These awards acknowledge and celebrate positive Muslim role models and help to project a positive image of the
Muslim community.

Ahmed Versi, Editor of The Muslim News says:

“The awards are intended to help build confidence in our community, mark out realistic role models for our young people, and recognise achievement. This is needed more than ever after a challenging and most trying 14 months for Muslims.”

The readership of The Muslim News selected and nominated them, and a distinguished panel of Judges reviewed, deliberated and mused over the list of illustrious men, women, children and projects deemed to be worthy of short-listing for a Muslim News Award for Excellence.

According to Versi:

“The overwhelming response of The Muslim News readers to our request for nominations shows that… Muslims are determined to carry on with their lives in a positive manner... Indeed, given the dire circumstances, it is all the more important… that we should celebrate the exemplary practice of the illustrious men, women and children present among us.”

Representing many sectors of society from The Arts, Business, Community Projects, Sport, Academia and Science, some names may be familiar and some may not, yet all are defined by their outstanding contribution to the community. These exemplars of good practice include infamous boxer ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed, BBC London News presenter Asad Ahmad,Chair of the Greater London Authority (GLA) Trevor Phillips, Director of Butt Foods in Nottingham Mazhar Butt, Vice Chairman of Unesco and the only ethnic minority member of Labour’s NEC Shahid Malik, academic and expert on South Asian affairs Dr Iftikhar Malik, retired teacher and current chair of the Muslim Education Co-ordinating Council Nazar Mustafa MBE as well as many other exceptional individuals.

Well-qualified to assess the nominations, the Judging panel consists of Asma Jawaid Khawaja of Faith in the Future Ltd, Batool al-Toma, Editor in Chief of Meeting Point, the newsletter of the New Muslims Project, Ahmed Ali Muhammed Ahmed Rajab, Editor/Director of Africa Analysis and contributor to The Guardian, Dr Bobby Sayyid, Sociology Lecturer, writer and leading political thinker, Dame Rennie Fritchie, renowned Consultant on development, conflict resolution and social issues, Iman Achara, Director of Genuine Empowerment of Mothers in Society (GEMS) and Lord Bhatia OBE

This prestigious Gala Evening will take place on December 11th, when the finalists are announced for the coveted Awards for Excellence in the presence of over 500 of their peers and other renowned guests from all walks of life - sports, entertainment, media, business, academics, religious leaders, community leaders, and youth - Muslim and non-Muslim. Politicians from all parties will participate in this unique event, including Home Office Minister, Lord Filkin, Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin and Liberal Democrat Leader, Charles Kennedy.

Notes for Editors: The first Muslim News Awards ceremony was held in March 2000 when the Guest of Honour was Secretary of State for International Development, Clare Short.
Last year the Guest of Honour was Prime Minister Tony Blair.

For further information contact us on 020 7608 2822 or 077 68 241 325. Please acknowledge The Muslim News when using the press release

oem online store/h2>, Buy and Download OEM Software

Buy Adobe OEM