(Photo: Screengrab Ahmed J Versi/Muslim News)
Ahmed J Versi
Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, lashed out at those deriding him as “not Muslim enough” after he rejected claims by the Muslim Council of Britain that there was widespread Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.
Speaking at the Big Iftar Party in the House of Commons hosted by Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, on June 5, Javid was furious that his faith was being challenged. He began his speech by reminding the audience that he was “the first Muslim Home Secretary to be invited” to the iftar.
He briefly talked about the significance of Ramadan. “Ramadan is much more than just fasting, it’s about spiritual reflection, charity, good deeds, spending time with your loved ones, your family and friends.”
Javid said his job is sometimes “not an easy place to be. Since becoming the Home Secretary I have been called a ‘coconut’, an ‘Uncle Tom’, and some much worse than that, and some people have even questioned whether I am really a Muslim, whether I am a Muslim or not. Some people say I’m too Muslim, others say I’m not Muslim enough. I just can’t keep up.”
“But there is one thing that I do know about being a Muslim in Great Britain, and that is, that I have the right to define myself, not Muslim extremists, not the far right. My relationship with God is my business as is yours,” he continued.
He added that instead, “we should celebrate our different connections to such a generous and compassionate faith.”
The self-described son of a bus driver from Bristol was born to Pakistani immigrants in Britain and was raised in a Muslim family. However, questions about his faith arose when he said he did not practise Islam.
Addressing a church-hosted husting in his inaugural election campaign for Bromsgrove on April 22, 2010, Javid told the audience: “My own family’s heritage is Muslim. Myself and my four brothers were brought up to believe in God, but I do not practise any religion. My wife is a practising Christian and the only religion practised in my house is Christianity.”
