KUALA LUMPUR, December 21 (IslamOnlone.net & News Agencies) - Muslims in Britain have achieved remarkable progress over the years despite the many challenges they faced and continuing to face, according to former president of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) Anas Al-Tikriti.

Iraqi-born Al-Tikriti told Malaysian Bernama news agency in a recent interview that Britain's Muslims, estimated to be some 2.5 million out of the 60 million population, had attained progress in many important fields and professions such as information technology, medicine, accounting, business and politics.

Al-Tikriti said this was a major achievement because the first generation who immigrated to Britain in the 1930's were mainly unskilled workers, labourers and shipyard workers.

“There is no doubt there have been positive, incredible and remarkable progress...in all aspects of life in terms of education, arts and drama, economy, politics, media and science,” he said, according to Bernama Monday, December 20.

Al-Tikriti, 36, was in Malaysia to attend the opening of an exhibition on Palestine and Iraq last week by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The event was organised by the Malaysian Sociological Research Institute and Citizens International.

According to Al-Tikriti, in the city of London alone, more than 35,000 Muslims were employed by the financial sector.

He also estimated that in the medical profession there were about 30,000 Muslims employed in the British National Health Service (NHS).

The British Muslim leader also noted that Muslims in Britain were increasingly gaining importance in the politics of the country.

“They (political parties) are competing with each other to field Muslim candidates (in elections) and vying for the support of Muslims. The Muslims have now become vocal and active in many issues,” said Al-Tikriti, who is also a founding member of the MAB.

There are currently two Muslim MPs in Britain, both representing the ruling Labour Party and there are also Muslims elected to city councils.

According to Al-Tikriti, Muslims also stood as candidates representing various political parties in Britain's 2001 general election and they also contested in the European parliamentary election.

On the situation after the 9/11/2001 attacks in the United States, he said that like Muslims in other parts of world, it also had an impact on Muslims in Britain.

“The world and Britain's Muslims went through the same level of shock like others...this is something the world forget. They (the world) think that because the attacks were carried out by Muslims, they (Muslims) were celebrating over,” he said.

He said that during post-Sept 11, Muslims in Britain had to face two choices -- to keep a low profile and in fear or come out strong to defend their rights.

“I say, why are you doing this...basically, compromising the gain we made. You are part and parcel of the British society. I think we should go to the other choice...become more outspoken than before...to defend Islam against terrorism. The Muslim community reacted in a positive way and actually came out in force,” he said.

Al-Tikriti, a leading figure of the British anti-war movement and a member of Britain's Respect party, also said that Britain's Muslims also participated actively in the various anti-war movements to show their opposition to the Iraq war.

“Because we are so adamant to prove ourselves that we are going to transform the policy not by terrorism or violence (but) by using peaceful demonstration...the British people are known to be quite cool and calm. They don't like the reactionary appearance,” he said.

Tikriti further said that British Muslims were not absent as far as global issues, like Iraq and Palestine, were concerned.

“There is vast array of racial and sectarian background (among Britain's Muslims)...they are worried and concerned over these issues,” he said.

Observers note that Muslim groups are beginning to react appropriately to attacks against their community, in what they called “lobby-minded” approach.

In January, the Muslim Council of Britain lodged a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) and the BBC urging robust disciplinary action against columnist and presenter Robert Kilroy-Silk.

On June 9, the BBC 1 aired a controversial episode of the MI5 drama, Spooks, featuring an Imam of a fictional mosque in Birmingham who recruited Muslim students and teenagers to be “suicide” bombers.