Mohammed Shafiq stirs controversy in Muslim community by vowing to wear poppy

Mohammed Shafiq presenting on the Ummah Channel

Mohammed Shafiq, the Rochdale based presenter on the Ummah TV Channel and Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, has unleashed a wave of controversy in the Muslim community by declaring he will be wearing a poppy with pride. He said: "I'll be wearing my poppy with pride, also be remembering the millions from the Indian sub continent who died fighting in both world wars."

Some Muslim critics have lambasted him as a "typical 50/50 Muslim" saying he would "compromise his entire belief and faith and his Ummah [community] to make the Kafir [unbeliever] smile."

One critic said: "The wearing of the poppy is not for the remembrance of Muslims. It is to support the warmongering soldiers of the British establishment." However, another responded: "You are wrong it is to remember the war dead including Muslims."

In a very pejorative insult another critic likened Mr Shafiq to a coconut - brown on the outside, white on the inside.

Other Muslims have backed Mr Shafiq's stance, Aftab Ali from Rochdale said: "Regardless of what history teaches us, people fought and died to protect this country, we live here and will probably die and be buried here. Wearing a poppy is a sign of respect, and from a Muslim's perspective should be a sign of appreciation and of forgiveness if you feel you were historically wronged."

Despite the criticism, Mr Shafiq, who is purported to be on the 'hit list' of Muslim terrorist group Al-Shabaab, a cell of Al-Qaeda, has said he stands by his vow, saying: "To my followers who criticised me ... I respect your right to challenge me but I stand by it."

The poppy has been used since 11 November 1921 by The Royal British Legion for their 'Poppy Appeal', as a symbol of remembrance and using the funds raised to provide support to serving and ex-Service community and their families.

Muslims who refuse to wear the poppy say that most have no issue commemorating the war dead in a general sense, but see the poppy as being a symbol of the British Army itself, and due to the invasions of two Muslim countries since 2001 – Iraq and Afghanistan – feel they cannot support the “Poppy Appeal”.

More than 3.5 million soldiers from the Asian subcontinent fought for Britain in both wars, not just Muslims, but Sikhs and Hindus, too. Tens of thousands were killed in action.

Julie Siddiqi, the executive director of the Islamic Society of Great Britain, said: "British Muslims should be wearing poppies not burning them."