Mohammed.Amin.com
Fresh thinking from a British Muslim

Custom Search

Politics

Plato said: "Good men who refuse to take part in politics are condemned to be governed by those less worthy than themselves."

TV discussion on Britain and Christian values

In a speech on the King James Bible, Prime Minister David Cameron explained his view of Britain as a Christian country and the importance of Christian values. The Islam Channel had a programme where I discussed this with Dr Jonathan Chaplin - Director of the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics.

The Conservative Party, racial equality and national identity

My essay in the Demos publication "Are we there yet? A collection on race and Conservatism" edited by Max Wind-Cowie. I discuss the nature of race and the meaning of national identity, and how the Conservative Party has changed under David Cameron.

Why the state should exit the marriage business

Using the same word, "marriage" to describe a legal relationship and a relationship that is primarily religious causes confusion. The state should recognise only civil partnerships, leaving marriage to individuals depending on their beliefs.

Winning Muslim votes for the Conservative Party

A one-page article I wrote for "Reformer", the house magazine of the Tory Reform Group, on how the Party can win more Muslim votes.

Review of "Minority Verdict - The Conservative Party, the voters and the 2010 election" by Michael A. Ashcroft

Lord Ashcroft was at the heart of Conservative campaign strategy from 2005 - 2010. He gives a fascinating, short and very readable insight into how the Conservative Party needed to change, and why it just failed to win an overall majority.

The proper boundary of "Political Islam"

Political Islam causes concerns in many countries. When is it legitimate for a politician to be inspired by religion and when is it not?

Why I will vote YES in the Alternative Vote referendum

First past the post (FPTP) does not work properly once you have more than two credible candidates. The referendum is possibly the most important decision our country will make in a generation.

The benefits and costs of joining a political party

Every time I think about it I am surprised by how few British citizens are members of a political party. In this piece, I explain how much influence joining a party gives you, even if you don't have time to get actively involved.

BNP video: "British Conservatives Support Hard-Line Islam"

This video appears to have been posted on YouTube on 23 February 2010, but I only became aware of recently when a friend brought it to my attention. I was quite pleased to find the BNP attacking me by name, and regard it as a badge of honour.

Is there a Muslim bloc vote and how do Muslims vote?

With the General Election now only eight days away, I wrote a couple of comments on the Guardian's comment is free website. This page contains those comments, along with links to the main articles I was responding to.

A review of the BNP's 2010 Election manifesto

I decided to read the BNP's 2010 Election Manifesto, and to write a short review from a Muslim perspective.

Powerful or powerless?

I was asked to contribute a piece to the newly launched MCB Youth Committee blog. I chose to write about the critical importance of political participation, which I regard as essential to the future of the Muslim community in the UK.

Why Muslims need to join the Conservative Muslim Forum

I am a member of the Conservative Muslim Forum. In the summer of 2009, I helped to write the leaflet "Why Muslims need to join the Conservative Muslim Forum," the text of which was signed off by the Conservative Party's internal team as with all other Party materials.