Tagged with Tower Hamlets

Gay-Muslim unity against hate in Tower Hamlets

I had the opportunity to speak at the East London Gay Pride event on Saturday. Taking to the stage, I made it clear that our LGBT residents are part and parcel of the Tower Hamlets Community. I talked of how important our togetherness, and our unity in diversity, is in our efforts to remain One Tower Hamlets – a community that welcomes people from all walks of life. I expressed my gratitude to all those LGBT residents who had joined me in preventing the English Defence League from holding their racist march through our borough.

As a British Asian, as a British Muslim, I know what it’s like to be part of a minority. But minorities have since the beginning of time been woven into the fabric of this borough – and what makes us special is how we stand together and speak up for one another. It’s a sentiment that leading gay rights activist Peter Tatchell (pictured here) enthusiastically shared. Continue reading →

Labour Party must pay £123,000 compensation to sacked Asian councillor

The Labour party has been ordered by an employment tribunal to pay former Birmingham Labour councillor Raghib Ahsan £123,000 after a 13-year legal battle. Although Raghib’s legal costs were funded by the Commission for Racial Equality, Labour’s own legal costs will bring its total bill to well over £500,000.

Raghib Ahsan, although now a solicitor, used to work at the Rover works, was president of the Birmingham Trades Council in the 1980s and a councillor for the Sparkhill Ward between 1991 and 1998. Three years ago, the Law Lords found unanimously in his favour on his claim that he was discriminated against by a selection panel in the run-up to the 1998 local government elections in which he was replaced with a white candidate who had not even been a member long enough to qualify under the party rules. Raghib Ahsan was also prevented by party officials from standing for Labour’s national executive for which he had been backed by the centre-left Grassroots Alliance. Continue reading →

Mayor Rahman urges Home Secretary to ban EDL march

I have just learned that the Acting Metropolitan Police Commissioner has made an application to the Home Secretary to ban all marches in certain areas of London (including Tower Hamlets) for 30 days starting September 2, 2011.

I applaud the decision of the Acting Commissioner and I now call upon the Home Secretary to act swiftly in confirming that such a banning order is now in place. Continue reading →