Muslim Council of Britain

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) "is an umbrella organisation dedicated to the common good, to the betterment of the community and country. It was inaugurated - after several years of wide-ranging consultation and careful planning - on November 23 1997 at the Brent Town Hall in Wembley by representatives of more than 250 Muslim organisations from all parts of Britain including Northern Ireland. The recent fifth annual general meeting (April 28 2002) affirmed the MCB's status as a vibrant coalition of grassroot organisations and institutions and individual talent and skills that is making a positive and constructive contribution to meeting the needs and the aspirations of the Muslim community in a period of recurring crises and anxious optimism."

Its affiliated organisations of mosques, charities and Islamic associations participate in the organisation's General Assembly. The General Assembly elects a 'Central Working Committee' who elects the Secretary General and office bearers. Elections take place every two years and the term of a Secretary General cannot extend beyond two terms.

Funding
The MCB's core funding comes from its affiliates whose fees entitle organisations to participate in the decision making. MCB also seeks funding from government and other bodies for a variety of project work. Such as its Faith in Employment Project.

Current personalities

 * MCB is headed by Muhammad Abdul Bari
 * Former Secretary Generals - Sir Iqbal Sacranie and Yusuf Bhailok
 * Former Assistant Secretary General (2004-6), Ibrahim Hewitt
 * Muslim Council of Britain spokesman Inayat Bunglawala

Controversies
Inayat Bunglawala from the MCB notes that The Islamist, by Ed Husain (Penguin, 2007) "provides a very misleading description of the Muslim Council of Britain which according to him (p167) is merely a front for the Jamaat-i-Islami and the Muslim Brotherhood."

Contact

 * Web: http://www.mcb.org.uk

Related SourceWatch

 * Muslim Council of Britain Charitable Foundation