Nadine Osman
Former Chancellor Sir Sajid Javid is calling for a memorial to honour Muslims who fought for Britain during the two World Wars.
Javid urged the incumbent chancellor to support the proposal, citing the 140,000 Muslims who sacrificed their lives to defend freedom.
He stated that a memorial at Staffordshire’s National Memorial Arboretum will “help honour the fallen and educate future generations.”
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt agreed in principle to a memorial for fallen Muslim soldiers but did not commit to providing funding for it.
He added that his officials would “be happy to engage with him to identify how best the government can help make this vision a reality”.
Javid said that the British Armed Forces was “renowned for people of different heritage and backgrounds fighting together in common cause – this includes Muslims, who have a proud history of service.
“The National Memorial Arboretum holds a special place in national life and already does so much to commemorate different communities who bravely served.
“Muslim service also deserves recognition. A new powerful symbol… will help honour the fallen and educate future generations. I hope the chancellor will help make this vision a reality at the Spring Budget.”
According to Javid, who is standing down at the next election, the World Wars Muslim Memorial Trust is the only organisation with approved designs and planning permission.
The plans illustrate a minaret-shaped memorial incorporating elements from various Islamic architectural styles.
In 2015, Major General Patrick Sanders, businessman Peter Singh Virdee and Jay Singh-Sohal unveiled a memorial in honour of Sikh soldiers who fought during World War One at the arboretum in Staffordshire. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission honours Muslim troops’ contributions by preserving their names in its records and maintaining their graves and memorials.