UK: Muslim soldiers conference

A country house in Hampshire was the rarefied setting for the second conference hosting Muslims serving in Britain's armed forces.


Those who gathered at Amport House - the home to military chaplains from all faiths - came for a mix of practical advice and spiritual support, talking of how the military had done much to accommodate them but arguing that there was more to be done, including in the field of recruitment.


Close to 400 Muslims serve in the military - about 300 in the Army, 50 in the RAF and 40 in the Navy.


Many come from the Commonwealth as well as from Britain's established Muslim communities - Gambia and Ghana were well represented.


The Navy and RAF have a sprinkling of high-ranking officers, including group captains and rear admirals, but the Army appears to have somewhat fewer role models for young Muslims joining up.



Potatoes and peas


Imam Asim Hafiz, who has served as the Muslim chaplain for the last three years, organised the conference and is in charge of ministering to the spiritual needs of Muslims in all three services.


"They are soldiers but at the same time they have a faith identity, a Muslim identity," he told the BBC.


He went on to explain that the conference provided Muslims with advice on tackling some of the issues they may face - like how to talk to superiors about getting regular prayer time, or having halal food available or fasting.


Some of the older officers explained that when they joined the issue of halal food was not understood at all, leading to a diet that consisted largely of potatoes and peas.


But while progress has been made, there was a sense that more work needed to be done to educate officers on how to deal with Muslims in their ranks and what it means to practise a religion.


"It is an education for the individual on how to raise these issues and an education to the hierarchy that these are just different requirements that need to be considered," explained one flight lieutenant in the RAF.


The proportion of Muslims in the armed forces is far from reflecting the numbers in society as a whole, and recruiters acknowledge the Muslim community is harder than others to operate in.


"When they go back to those communities they are making the statement that there is a possible career within the armed forces," explained Imam Hafiz.


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Source: BBC (English)

See also: UK: Army to offer halal rations