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Dear Members,
As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah
Many of you may already be aware that The Association of Muslim Lawyers (AML) was officially launched in 1995 and that our focus has been to work on issues of importance and significance to Muslims in the UK as well as highlighting issues that affect Muslims internationally.
The main aim of AML is to provide a platform where such issues can be introduced, debated and procedures set in place to bring about desired results. This aim has been implemented by means of seminars and conferences, as well as through the AML magazine The Muslim Lawyer.
Many of you will appreciate that the membership of AML is comprised of lawyers and non-lawyers, practitioners and students, as well as Muslims and non-Muslims. The AML has always welcomed the contribution of those who believe in the Objectives that the AML has set itself !V please see our website: www.aml.org.uk
It is now time for the AGM, as it has been some time since the organisation met collectively and for the current Executive Committee to report on what has been happening and we have chosen to concentrate on the last 18 months.
These past 18 months have been extremely busy for the AML, and whilst we did organise one social event, the annual dinner, this had to be postponed due to the Live 8 concert being organised for the same night. We put the blame squarely and fairly on Bob Geldof!
However we have been very busy with many other projects, and I set out below a brief summary:
1. Seminars
Seminars held successfully in conjunction with the Law Society:
OnIslamic Wills in English Law Seminar, 1st December 2004
OnFamily Law Seminar !V In the Child!&s Best Interests, 19th April 2005
OnIslamic Finance Seminar - Brave New World or Trojan Horse, 30th June 2005
2. Ethnic Minorities Lawyers Fifth Biennial Conference
The AML was also an active member of the Planning Forum for the Ethnic Minorities Lawyers Conference held on 14th May 2005, which is organised jointly by the Law Society and the Bar Council. The AML was responsible for organising the workshop entitled Immigration and the Abuse of Police Powers - Advising Ethnic Minority Communities.
3. Other Projects
Government Taskforce - Tackling Extremism Together
Following the July bombings in London the Chairperson and Deputy Chair were both appointed by the Government to the Government Taskforce set up with the task of Tackling Extremism Together. Seven Working Groups were set up and our involvement was on the group dealing with Security, Policing and Islamophobia. The Chairperson was the Deputy Convenor of the Security Group. The groups worked for a period of two months to produce the recommendations comprised in the report. For a copy of the full report please visit the Home Office Web site: http://communities.homeoffice.gov.uk/raceandfaith/reports_pubs/ publications/race_faith/PET-working-groups-aug-0ct05.
Setting up a panel of law firms to advise and represent individuals after July 2005
This was organised following the July bombings as there was a backlash against Muslims. This panel was organised to deal with such issues.
The Future
We are now looking to hold elections to appoint new members to the Executive Committee as the demands made on the organisation are ever increasing and bring with them great challenges !V but ones which are satisfying and rewarding in the sense of playing a small but vital part in the difficult climate we are in.
We believe that as lawyers we have a significant role to play, and with ten years behind us and a proven track record of stability, commitment, drive and delivery, the organisation is one that is well respected and called upon more and more.
If you feel that you want to be part of this team to take the organisation forward and have the drive and commitment needed then seriously consider joining us.
Being part of the Executive Committee will effectively mean:-
_ Planning and implementing future strategy;
_ Attending a minimum of 6 meetings per year of the Executive Committee;
_ Representing the organisation at optional working groups, seminars, conferences and consultative bodies;
_ Joint responsibility as regards the content of the The Muslim Lawyer.
At the AGM you will be able to meet the current Members of the Executive Committee and former Members who will be able to talk to you about the work and the impact it has had individually and as a lawyer !V whilst the work is voluntary the rewards are manifold, albeit not financially!
I should point out that in accordance with our Constitution, membership of the Executive Committee is open to all Members of the AML !V however it is not possible for Associate Members to join the Executive Committee.
Final Words
The AML logo features the Arabic letters alif, !%ayn, mim, lam. From these four letters, four key words can be derived :
ayn mim lam : (noun) meaning !%action!&;
alif mim lam : (noun) meaning !%hope!&;
alif ayn mim lam : (verb, imperative) meaning !%do!& or !%act!& (appears twice in the Qur!&an : 34.11, 41.5);
alif ayn mim lam : (noun, plural) meaning !%actions!& (appears four times in the Qur!&an : 10.41, 23.100, 27.19, 46.15).
Thus the meaning of the AML Logo is : !%Act with hope!&.
I look forward to meeting you all at the AGM inshallah.
Wassalam
Ifath Nawaz (Mrs)
Chairperson
Association of Muslim Lawyers
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