Lord Sheikh

Mr Mike Mogul, who is a member of the Executive Committee of the Conservative Muslim Forum, raised funds at a charity dinner held in the Houses of Parliament to purchase items for Dolphin Children’s Unit at Croydon University Hospital. Mike Mogul also made a personal donation to the fund.

In conjunction with the hospital, Mike Mogul acquired motorised toy vehicles, computers, TV screens, video players with children’s videos and medical equipment.

All of these were presented to the Dolphin Children’s Unit by Lord & Lady Sheikh, Gavin Barwell (MP for Croydon Central) and Mike Mogul. The Chief Executive of the Hospital, Mr Nick Hulme, was also present as well as Mr Jeff Knight, Consultant ENT Surgeon and the nursing staff of the Dolphin Unit. One of the young patients, Rene Robinson Thomas, was the first to play with the new equipment and said that he loved riding all the vehicles and he particularly loved the Mini.

The Dolphin Unit is a specialist children’s day surgery unit at Croydon University Hospital.

Lord Sheikh has in the last week participated several times in the business of the House of Lords speaking in the debate on the Big Society and asking a question on the declaration of Palestinian statehood. Please click on the links below to view transcripts of what he has said:

Big Society

Question on Palestine

EcoMuslim hosted a seminar in Committee Room G of the House of Lords entitled “Exploring Business through Culture”. The speakers included Lord Sheikh, HE Dr. Carolyn Browne (British Ambassador to Azerbaijan), HE Mr Fakhruddin Gurbanov (Ambassador of Azerbaijan)

Lord Sheikh in his speech mentioned Islam and the environment and highlighted the importance of preserving the environment in Islam and also quoted the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Khalifa Abu Bakr. He also spoke about what is being done in the United Kingdom to combat climate change and cited recent developments in the renewable energy sector.

Lord Sheikh then mentioned that funds generated by Islamic financial institutions need to be utilised for the betterment of the community and finished by outlining what we as individuals can do to help fight climate change.

Lord Sheikh in his initial remarks said that he has very recently returned from a visit to Jerusalem and referred to the acceptance in Islam of people of other religions. He talked about the Jerusalem Declaration issued by Khalifa Omar and the protection granted to people of all religions by Salahuddin Ayyubi when he conquered Jerusalem.

Please click here to view a transcript of his speech.

Lord Sheikh has spoken in the House of Lords twice this week in the debates on the Middle East Peace Process and the Charities Bill. Please click on the links below to view transcripts of his speeches.

Middle East Peace Process

Charities Bill

Lord Sheikh met a delegation of prominent Bahraini citizens in the House of Lords to discuss the current situation in Bahrain. The delegation was made up of citizens belonging to all of the major religious groups including Sunnis, Shias, Christians and the Bahai.

There is a great desire amongst the Bahrainis to achieve peace and harmony and members of the delegation were able to give first-hand accounts of what has happened recently and the way forward.

Lord Sheikh had asked a number of persons who are interested in Bahrain to attend the event.

Lord Sheikh was presented with a plaque which has a Bronze Age Dilmun Seal. The Dilmun Civilisation was in the period 2500BC to 500BC. It was for many years the centre for trading in the Gulf and Bahrain was at that time called Dilmun. Lord Sheikh thanked the leader of the delegation for the remarkable gift as he has been to Bahrain three times and does know a little of its history.

A meeting was organised by the Conservative Party Association in Burton-on-Trent and Lord Sheikh was the chief guest. The meeting was very well attended and there was a large gathering of Muslim men and women. Lord Sheikh spoke on his activities in the House of Lords, the AV Referendum, the Big Society, economy and education policies of the Conservative Party.

The other speakers were Andrew Griffiths MP for Burton-on-Trent, Mohammed Amin (Vice Chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum) and Cllr Khadim Thathall.

All of the Muslim candidates who are contesting the local elections were also in attendance. The number of Muslim candidates is in fact seven which is a record.

Lord Sheikh Chairman, Directors and Staff of Macmillan Sheikh Plc. held a dinner in the Cholmondeley Room and the Terrace at the House of Lords on the evening of Monday 11th April. The rooms were filled to capacity and the guests included; Insurers, Insurance Brokers, Loss Adjusters, Principals of Companies Supplying Services to the Insurance Industry, Heads of Trade Associations, Journalists from the Insurance Press, Heads and Major Donors of Charities.

The MC was Omar Faruk, Barrister and Lord Sheikh’s Chief of Staff, and the other speaker was Nigel Dyer who is Principal of a consultancy company providing support to the Insurance Industry.

Omar Faruk and Nigel Dyer talked about Lord Sheikh’s achievements in Insurance, his Parliamentary career, contributions to Charities and Lord Sheikh’s vision in the formation of Macmillan Sheikh Plc.

On the night Lord Sheikh also made a donation to Mr A.P.P. Chawla, Chairman of the ROKO Cancer Charity.

In his speech, Lord Sheikh spoke about the role of the House of Lords, told humorous stories from his personal experience which amused the guests, and also talked about the role of charities. The evening was enjoyed by the attendees, and Macmillan Sheikh has received complimentary comments from numerous guests.

The Centre for Development Management Studies (CEDEMAS) announced on 18th April 2011 the opening of the CG-CEDEMAS Institute of Management (CGCIM) postgraduate management school in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Institute of Management is the first internationally managed business school in the country and will provide world class management education to a new generation of Nepalese executives and entrepreneurs.

It will offer especially designed market-focused courses in the areas of development management, faculty training, strategic planning and leadership.

Lord Sheikh is the Chairman of the Council of Advisors of CEDEMAS.

In the statement issued by CGCIM, the following paragraph is included:

We are grateful to all those whose hard work made our mission possible, and for the valuable guidance and support of the distinguished members of our Council of Advisors, in particular, Lord Sheikh the Chair of the Council, Ambassador Rajan and the Nepal Ambassador to the United Kingdom His Excellency Dr Chalise.

Lord Sheikh with the Prime Minister of the West Bank, Mr Salam Fayyad and other British Parliamentarians

Lord Sheikh visiting West Bank with a United Nations official

Lord Sheikh with an Israeli army officer and official from the Israeli foreign office

Lord Sheikh together with three other British Parliamentarians visited Israel and the West Bank.

During their visit they met with the Prime Minister of the West Bank Mr Salam Fayyad, Sir Vincent Fean, British Consul General with responsibility for the West Bank, the Deputy British Ambassador to Israel, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees as well as other NGOs and human rights organisations.

They also spent the best part of a day with an Israeli army officer and high officials in the Israeli Foreign Office to hear the Israelis stance and attitude regarding the Palestinian issues.

Lord Sheikh has spoken in the House of Lords on the Middle East Peace Process on 4th May and you can view his speech by clicking here