Imam, Asim Hafiz (pictured) has called for more British Muslims to join the military in hope to stamp out extremism
The imam for the UK’s armed forces has called for more British Muslims to join the military to help stamp out extremism.
Asim Hafiz, an Islamic adviser to top officers, said British Muslims serving in Muslim-majority countries can help prevent violence and ultimately save lives.
And he said the British military’s quest to stamp out terrorism was not just for one faith but ‘for the whole of Britain’.
Mr Hafiz also rubbished claims that Muslims are a ‘fifth column’ who are not integrating within UK communities, and said hundreds of soldiers following the Islamic faith were ready to die serving Britain. He added that Muslims sitting behind deadly weapons pointed at the UK’s enemies were often ‘more in tune with their faith’ than civilians because of the tests they faced.
There are currently 530 Muslims serving in the UK military out of 147,000 service personnel, the latest figures show.
But the Ministry of Defence wants to increase this number and has launched a major recruitment drive.
Last year a cadet unit was set up in a school in Birmingham that was embroiled in the ‘Trojan Horse’ extremism scandal in a move designed to ‘instil’ British values in Muslims from a young age.
Figures show that in 2014-15 and 2015-16 there were just 720 serving members of the military from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. This rose to 1,260 this year, and ministers want 10 per cent of the military to consist of people from ethnic minority backgrounds by 2020.
There are currently 530 Muslims serving in the UK military out of 147,000 service personnel
Mr Hafiz, who in 2005 became the first Muslim chaplain for Britain’s Armed Forces, told the Mail: ‘If we are to be more reflective of British society then we do need more people of different faiths and cultures.
‘A good British Muslim makes a good British soldier. If you are a good Muslim you have values, you have principles and you have discipline. Being British and being Muslim and serving your country is absolutely compatible with each other.’
Earlier this month Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said British passport holders fighting for IS should be killed on the battlefield.
Asked about Mr Williamson’s comments, Mr Hafiz said British troops ‘operate within the law … and I personally believe the British military’s values are absolutely compatible with the values of the Islamic faith’.
He said said British Muslims serving in Muslim-majority countries can help prevent violence and ultimately save lives
The imam added: ‘The British military will do what it has to to ensure that we are free from any risk of terrorism and any risk of violence to our people and our citizens.
‘It is not just one particular faith the military supports. It is for the whole of Britain.’
Mr Hafiz said those in the Armed Forces ‘are actually more in tune with their soul and with their faith and spirit’ because they are asked to make life and death decisions.
He added: ‘The Armed Forces aren’t just about shooting bullets and throwing bombs… [it] has a variety of roles that people can get involved in. Muslims who continue to serve for Britain today are willing to pay the ultimate price in defence of this country. That is something that should be celebrated.’