CAIRO, March 28, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw praised on Monday, March 27, valuable contributions by British Muslims to society and honored a number of shinning Muslim stars.

"British Muslims contribute hugely to this country's success, prosperity and culture and it is only right that this is recognized through events like the Muslim News Awards for Excellence," Straw told the sixth annual ceremony of the award, reported The Muslim News on its website.

"British Muslims are where Britain and Islam intersect. Celebrating their success is the best way of showing that these two identities can and do thrive in the same place and in the same person."

The ceremony brought together some 700 dignitaries, including politicians, religious leaders, journalists and community activists.

The annual awards, launched by the Muslim News newspaper in 2000, are designed to celebrate the achievements of both Muslims and non-Muslims in society.

The awards fall into 15 categories of Muslim achievements, ranging from science and engineering to community development and the arts.

Nominations from Britain's two million Muslim minority are made by members of the public and the shortlist and winners are decided by an independent panel of seven distinguished judges.

"Muslims make Britain a better and more diverse country," Campbell said.

Ahmed Versi, editor of the Muslim News, said the annual event had "become a beacon of light in the midst of such gloom."

He underlined the importance of honoring and acknowledging "shinning starts" in these trying times.

In a message to the ceremony, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the awards indicate "the extraordinary contribution of Islam over many centuries to learning, literature, art and science across the world."

David Cameron, the leader of the opposition Conservative party, said Britain must be proud of its "vibrant, multi-racial society."

Liberal Democrat party chief Sir Menzies Campbell echoed the same message.

"Muslims make Britain a better and more diverse country.

"Our society is enhanced - socially, culturally, politically and economically - by Muslims."

British Muslims have played a positive role in their country’s successful efforts to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

Young England cricketer Bilal Mustapha Shafayat won the award for excellence in sports.

The award for good citizenship went to lawyer Mudassar Arani, who lectures in mosques and universities and has distributed more than 500,000 leaflets giving advice on dealing with interrogation by police or the security services, won the award for good citizenship.

Ahmad Al-Rawi, the president of the Leicestershire-based Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe (FIOE), was given the ward for excellence in promoting understanding between global cultures and faiths.

Jamil Ahmed, an artist who combines European painting techniques and Islamic calligraphic disciplines, won the award for excellence in arts.

The award for excellence in engineering, science and technology went to Professor Saghir Akhtar, an internationally renowned academic in drug delivery of genome-based therapeutics and currently Chair of Drug Delivery and Director of the Centre for Genome Based Therapeutics at Cardiff University.

Cynthia Capey, a pensioner who has spent the last 50 years promoting understanding between Muslims, Christians and Jews in Suffolk, won the championing a Muslim cause category.