“Vote to remain in the EU on 23 June” as “Vote to leave” is ill designed: appeals Dr Zahid

Posted by Ameenur Rasheed on June 13, 2016.

Distinguished community champion and academician Dr Zahid Parves makes a very strong case for vote to remain in the EU in his statment made today on social media site Facebook.com. He explains how leave cmapigners illusioned the British voters to leave the UK in order to fulfill their ulterior motives by putting the economic interest ahead and blacking out their political ill desires.

Dr Zahid’s full message is as given below:

“Appeal to REMAIN in the EU

Dear all the date of the referendum on the EU (Thurs 23rd June) is drawing near. I am making a special appeal to vote to remain in the EU.

Indeed there are pros and cons about the impact of remaining or leaving the EU on the economy, immigration, national sovereignty/independence, national security, access to justice, etc. My key concern is, however, not these issues but related to the likely rise in nationalism, far right extremism, Islamophobia, and the global power shift that is likely to occur if the UK leaves the EU.

The majority of the political parties (Labour, Libdem, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Green, etc.) and many faith leaders are supporting to remain in the EU. However, Nigel Farage and UKIP and those leaning to the far right nationalism are campaigning to leave. In addition, we see around 50% of the Conservative Party, neo-cons and the more hawkish sections of the political right are campaigning for the UK to leave. But why?

My thinking is that by leaving the EU, it is likely that the UK will align its foreign and economic policies much more closely to the US – thus enhancing the power and influence of the US in the world further. On the other hand, the EU will likely become much limited in its influence, or weaken and perhaps might even eventually collapse if the UK leaves.

The far right, neo-liberals and neo-cons want the few powerful nations to use their power and influence to build a world order where they have total dominance. They want to push further muscular secularism (and do away with policies based on multi-culturalism). They want to eradicate the influence of religion in public life and hence desire to shape social, economic and foreign policies to support their national and global agenda. The consequences for this will be devastating for humanity.

For me one superpower is very dangerous. I believe that the US would have attacked Iran a few years ago had it not been for a great reluctance from the EU – EU is thus an obstacle in the way of those who are more hawkish right wing thinkers and politicians.

God says in His Glorious Book – “…And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of FASAD…. (2: 251)

The EU has prevented the ugly wars that we saw in the early part of the last century. A divided Europe is also likely to increase nationalism with serious consequences for all Europeans. Please therefore vote to remain so that we can work to strengthen the EU further and hence prevent power from concentrating further in one or a few countries.”

Dr Zahid Parved is currently principal of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education in Leicester and chairman of the Muath Centre in birmingham. He has also previously served as president of the Islamic Society of Britain, the president of the UK Islamic Mission and senior lecturer of the Business School at the University of wolverhampton