ties that bind - sep 11

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Acknowledgements I am extremely indebted to Dean Godson for his encouragement and support while I wrote this pamphlet, and for affording me the space to explore the subject matter as I thought best. It is a privilege to work with him. A debt of gratitude is owed to Leah Samuel and Elena Schiff, whose assistance with archival research allowed me to compile this pamphlet faster than would otherwise have been possible. Jacob Amis, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens and Ashley Lait also assisted for which I am grateful. My thanks also go to William Clowes for pulling this pamphlet together so deftly. Michael Burleigh, Gordon Corrigan and Jahan Mahmood were more than generous with their time and helped with the historical sections, directing me through sometimes unwelcoming archives. Many thanks go to Professor Francis Robinson, Professor of the History of South Asia at Royal Holloway, University of London, for reading the historical content. I am grateful to the staff and librarians from the repositories used in this research. These include the British Library, London; Cambridge University Library; Centre for South Asian Studies, Cambridge; Imperial War Museum; National Archives, London; and the National Army Museum. I must also thank the Ministry of Defence, the Research Information and Communications Unit, and all the servicemen who helped facilitate my access to events, people and material. Finally, I wish to thank Trevor Pears of the Pears Foundation for reposing confidence in me throughout this project. It could not have been done without him. Supported by Pears Foundation policyexchange.org.uk | 5
6 | policyexchange.org.uk Executive Summary Muslims have a long and distinguished record of service in the British armed forces. But, in recent years, this history has been lost amidst the competing narratives of the far right and hardline Islamists. These two blocs are united in their assertion that a good Muslim cannot be a loyal Briton.This runs in the face of a collective past. During the two World Wars: ? Indian Muslim leaders successfully defined the conflicts as political in nature, not religious. ? Indian Muslim leaders successfully counteracted the propaganda of Germany, the Ottoman Empire and pan-Islamists, which sought to portray fighting for Britain as a betrayal of Islam. ? Even after the entry of the Ottoman Empire into the First World War on the side of Germany, the vast majority of Muslims serving in the British armed forces remained loyal to the Allies’ cause. ? The British military and politicians sought to provide for the spiritual and cultural needs of Muslim servicemen. ? The British military and politicians went to great lengths to prove that the Empire was in no way involved in a religious conflict with Islam. However, this proud record is in danger of becoming a forgotten footnote of British history. It needs to be revived in a contemporary context if we are to escape the binary and exclusivist messages that can isolate British Muslims from our armed forces. ? The Government must continue to work hard to counter the divisive messages of Islamists and the far right – which assert that the possession of Islamic beliefs is a barrier to pursuing a career in the armed forces. ? The notion that Britain is at war with Islam needs to be confronted.The Government should offer a counter-argument that refers to those occasions in which the British military has acted in defence of Muslims – and Muslims in defence of Britain. ? The MoD should vigorously promote the lifelong skills and qualifications that an armed forces career can offer. ? The armed forces must continue to meet the spiritual needs of its servicemen and women. But there should be less consultation with self-appointed community groups from outside the military structure over the appointment of faith-specific chaplains. Anyone involved in the religious affairs of the armed forces must have sufficient experience of life in the military. ? The MoD should update its recruitment techniques. It should engage Muslims directly and not through ‘gatekeeper’ organisations. ? The heroic record of Commonwealth soldiers in the two World Wars should be more fully reflected in the history curriculum.
Page 1 and 2: Ties that Bind How the story of Bri
Page 3 and 4: 2 | policyexchange.org.uk About the
Page 5: 4 | policyexchange.org.uk Appendix
Page 9 and 10: Ties that Bind 3 See: http://www.cp
Page 11 and 12: Ties that Bind 17 Stolen Valour: Ho
Page 13 and 14: Ties that Bind 12 | policyexchange.
Page 15 and 16: Ties that Bind 27 Omissi, The Sepoy
Page 17 and 18: Ties that Bind 16 | policyexchange.
Page 19 and 20: Ties that Bind 41 Ibid. p.28 42 Ibi
Page 21 and 22: Ties that Bind 47 Geoffrey Bennet,
Page 23 and 24: Ties that Bind 58 Ibid. Also see, M
Page 25 and 26: Ties that Bind 64 Punjabi Musalman
Page 27 and 28: Ties that Bind 74 Omissi, Sepoy and
Page 29 and 30: Ties that Bind 84 The Comrade, 7 No
Page 31 and 32: Ties that Bind 90 Ibid, p.5 91 Ibid
Page 33 and 34: Ties that Bind 107 Ibid. 108 Supple
Page 35 and 36: Ties that Bind 128 Ibid. 129 Ibid.
Page 37 and 38: Ties that Bind 146 Ibid., p.90 147
Page 39 and 40: Ties that Bind 159 Punjabi Mahomeda
Page 41 and 42: Ties that Bind 166 Ibid., p.129 167
Page 43 and 44: Ties that Bind 181 CAB/24/54, Natio
Page 45 and 46: Ties that Bind 187 India’s contri
Page 47 and 48: Ties that Bind 191 Judith Brown, Mo
Page 49 and 50: Ties that Bind 200 Ibid. 201 Ibid.
Page 51 and 52: Ties that Bind 211 Ibid, p.55 212 I
Page 53 and 54: Ties that Bind 224 Omissi, Sepoy an
Page 55 and 56: Ties that Bind 238 Ibid, pp.70-72 2
Page 57 and 58:
Ties that Bind 252 Ibid. 253 Ibid.
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Ties that Bind 265 CAB/66/58/25, Na
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270 The Gallup Coexist Index 2009:
Page 63 and 64:
Ties that Bind 278 Note that Al-Muh
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Ties that Bind 286 http://www.times
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Ties that Bind 299 Hans Wehr, A Dic
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Ties that Bind 308 http://www.dohad
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Ties that Bind 315 http://web.archi
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Ties that Bind 329 http://www.indep
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Ties that Bind 340 Keynote Address
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Ties that Bind 350 http://www.publi
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Ties that Bind 364 Humayun Ansari,
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Ties that Bind 390 Ibid, p. 49. 391
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Ties that Bind 406 Policy Exchange
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Ties that Bind 419 http://www.musli
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Page 93 and 94:
Ties that Bind 435 Ibid., p.606 436
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439 London Gazette, 3 July 1945, ht
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96 | policyexchange.org.uk Bibliogr
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