In this conversation, I sat down with Dr Wajid Akhter to reflect on his first year as Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain. It was a sobering - and at times shocking - exchange. His verdict: Muslims are facing multiple, urgent, interconnected crises, yet they are not responding with the speed, coordination or seriousness the moment demands.
We touched on a whole host of issues: from mental health problems and youth disengagement to health inequalities, political powerlessness and institutional inertia... not to mention Gaza and grooming gangs. So what is the solution? What is MCB doing about it? Is it being sufficiently backed by the very community it exists to serve and represent?
In addition to his voluntary MCB role, Dr Wajid Akhter works as a GP. He is the founder of Charity Week, as well as a founding member of the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) and the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. His passions include history, public speaking and travelling.
Find out more about the MCB: https://mcb.org.uk
(0:00) Muslim crisis and lack of urgency
(6:23) What the problems are
(12:17) Are Muslim problems Muslim-specific?
(19:34) What are the positives?
(22:05) Why there is failure despite potential
(26:30) What is MCB doing about this?
(36:44) Changing culture at the MCB
(38:41) Mental health challenges and solutions
(47:52) The MCB sustainability problem
(59:05) The need for proactive ambition
(1:06:41) Has MCB become powerless?
(1:11:04) Is power the right objective?
(1:14:18) Summary and the way forward
