British Council launches Muslim media guide
Regional-UK, Politics, 5/22/2006

The British Council, the cultural arm of the Foreign Office, Monday launched a media guide on the UK's Muslim community to promote the diverse nature of Britain's society.

The handbook, intended as a reference guide for journalists, estimates that there are nearly 2 million Muslims in the UK, half of whom are aged under 25.

The community is described as one of Britain's most ethnically diverse faith groups, hailing from countries as far flung as Bosnia, Bangladesh and Nigeria, and speaking over 50 languages.

Their influence was said to be felt in "every area of British life, from education, business and politics, to sport, entertainment, arts and culture." The British Council said the aim of the publication was to improve the "understanding of Muslim society and culture, and of the issues facing Britain's Muslim communities." "Our hope is that doing so will lead to a more detailed understanding of British society, and result in a more tolerant and informed portrayal of Muslims in the British media," it said.

But the 76-page guide, which is being distributed worldwide by the council in 110 countries it operates, was criticized by the Muslim News, which boycotted the launch because it misrepresented its annual awards ceremony.

Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi said that the British Council did not respond to his letter expressing concern about the way its Annual Awards for Excellence was put in context with government initiatives in response to last year's London bombings.

In particular, he complained that the awards, which were launched by the Muslim News in 2000, were lumped together with government- sponsored roadshows of Muslim scholars set up last December after the London attacks.

"The roadshows are funded 100 per cent by the government whilst out of 17 sponsors for the awards, only two are governmental. The awards are independent of the government whilst the roadshows are organized jointly with the foreign office," Versi said.

In contrast to the guide, a report by four universities last week described Britain's Muslim community as the most deprived minority with half of over 25 years old suffering from unemployment.

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