JEDDAH, 5 October 2005 — Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the former Saudi ambassador to the UK, yesterday issued a Ramadan greeting on behalf of the citizens of Saudi Arabia to Muslims and non-Muslims alike in the UK.
In his message he offered his congratulations on the advent of Ramadan to Muslims in the UK and extended the friendship of the people of Saudi Arabia to all the people of the British Isles. “At this time,” he said, “as Muslims, we hope that peace and prosperity will prevail in your communities, whatever your religion.”
Prince Turki broadened the message to include the divisions between people and nations in an oblique reference to ethnic and religious strife.
“We also look to the rest of the world, and pray that the peace of God brings some understanding and reconciliation to those peoples who are still divided and estranged from each other through hatred and fear,” he said.
The UK is home to about 1.6 million Muslims out of a population of 59.2 million and some 60 percent hold British passports, many having been born in the UK.
Muslim immigrants tend to come from former colonial territories Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The Muslim Council of Britain acts as the community’s lobby group and Muslims tend to be more active in politics than other minority groups.
Muslims in Britain reportedly face a considerable discrimination, especially after Sept. 11, 2001. They have the lowest employment rate among members of all religions and tend to live in segregated communities.
In the year following Sept. 11, the Islamic Human Rights Commission reported 344 violent incidents against Muslims; another peak occurred after the March 11, 2004 Madrid train bombings. Muslims are also targeted by police; they are part of the demographic group most likely to be stopped and searched and the ratio of terror-related arrests to convictions is disproportionately high.
Prince Turki’s greeting reflects his ongoing concern with division and reconciliation in both the UK and around the world.
