Nadine Osman

The UK Chancellor announced that £1 million will be allotted for a memorial honouring Muslims who died during World War I and II.

In his Spring Budget speech on March 6, Jeremy Hunt vowed that the past sacrifices, regardless of faith, colour, or class, would not be forgotten.

Former Chancellor Sajid Javid asked the government last month if it would back a plan to build a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. The memorial would serve as a tribute to the approximately 750,000 Muslims who served in the British military.

“As we mourn the tragic loss of life in Israel and Gaza, the Prime Minister reminded us last week of the need to fight extremism and heal divisions,” Hunt told the Commons.

“So, I start today by remembering the Muslims who died in two world wars in the service of freedom and democracy.

“We need a memorial to honour them, so following representations from the Right Honourable Member for Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid) and others, I’ve decided to allocate £1 million towards building one.”

“Whatever your faith or colour or class, this country will never forget the sacrifices made for our future.”

At least 2.5 million Muslim soldiers and labourers fought alongside the Allied forces during the First World War. The British Indian Army included over 1.3 million soldiers, of whom at least 400,000 were Muslims. During World War II, of the 2.5 million soldiers in the British Indian Army, approximately 1 million were Muslims.

Muslims from India and African countries colonized by Britain played a decisive role in Britain’s first major land victory against Nazi Germany in North Africa.

Photo: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presenting statement of budget in House of Commons (Credit: Maria Unger/UK Parliament)