| `I believe this Honour represents recognition for the positive work carried out by all at the Muslim Council of Britain together with the British Muslim community in building better relations and playing their due role in mainstream society for the common good of all. The over-riding objective of all Muslims is to work to seek the pleasure of our Creator,' said Iqbal Sacranie. |
The Muslim Council of Britain is delighted by the news that our Secretary-General, Iqbal Sacranie, has been awarded a Knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Brief Profile:
Iqbal AKM Sacranie has been actively involved in voluntary capacity with community and charitable work for the last thirty-five years in the UK (local and national) and overseas at international level. His main interest has been to ensure that faith and ethnic communities are treated fairly, equally and justly and given due recognition of their contribution to the society.
A businessman, born in Malawi arrived in the United Kingdom for further studies in 1969. He is a Fellow of Institute of Financial Accountants and an Associate of Institute of Administrative Management.
He was re elected the Secretary General of The Muslim Council of Britain, a national umbrella and representative body of British Muslims in 2004. He was the founding Secretary General when the MCB was established in 1997.
He Chairs the Board of Trustees of Memon Association UK. He led the Committee in raising £1.2 million pounds primarily from the Memon and Muslim community to build a unique Sports and Community Centre in South London. HRH Prince of Wales officially opened it in February 2001. All communities in London use the Memon Centre. He inspired the community to donate and be self-reliant and not to be dependent on government and institutional support.
He was elected Deputy President of World Memon Organisation (WMO) in 2002, which is an umbrella body of Memon organisations from different parts of the world. The WMO carries out charitable work for the upliftment of its community in number of countries particularly in India and Pakistan.
He Chairs the Board of Trustees of Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre. Also chairs the Al-Rissala Education Trust, which runs independent primary and secondary schools.
He was appointed Vice President of Family Welfare Association, a national charity in the UK that focuses on helping suffering children around the world. He is a trustee of Muslim Aid an international relief agency serving in more then 45 countries.
Iqbal is a Patron of Abdulla Quillam Society in Liverpool, Chairs the MCB Charitable Foundation and is a member of Home Office Race and Equality Advisory Panel. He has served on the Advisory Council of the previous four Home Secretary's advising the government on matters relating to equality and race relations.
Iqbal has over the years served on number of other charitable and community organisations including British Heart Foundation, National Co-ordinating Committee of European Year Against Racism, National Consultation on Chaplaincy, Interfaith Network, Coroners Review Group and the Prince's Trust.
Prime Minister Tony Blair awarded him OBE in 1999 Honours List and a recipient of Muslim News Award for Excellence - Good Citizenship. He was awarded a plaque for Commitment and Dedication to Community work by Memon Association UK, which was presented by HRH Prince of Wales in 2001. In March 2005 he was presented with the Life Time Achievement Award for community work presented by the World Memon Organisation in Bombay, India.
In 1999 the Observer magazine produced a Power List of 300 most powerful people and he was numbered at 246. The Guardian newspaper named him in 2002 as 'The most influential Muslim in the UK'. In 2005 the GQ magazine produced a list of 100 Most Powerful Men in Britain and he was ranked at number 10 as the voice of Muslims in Britain, who plays a vital role as mediator in multi-cultural Britain.
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