Muslim war memorial to bring forgotten soldiers’ stories ‘out of the shadows’
Nearly £1 million has been provided to help design and build a national Muslim war memorial in England.
The government began searching for groups to create the permanent monument.
This will symbolize the contribution of Muslim people to the British war effort during the First and Second World Wars.
Minister of Faith and Societies Nesil Çalışkan said, “Our country consists of a strong and diverse fabric of different faith communities, and we owe this freedom to the courage and sacrifice of those who fought with us for a better future many years ago.”
“Muslim soldiers were an essential part of securing victory, but their story has been overshadowed for too long.
“This memorial will ensure that their contributions remain in our memory now and for generations to come.”
It is estimated that at least 400,000 Muslim soldiers fought in World War I, according to the government.
These included Khudadad Khan, thought to be the first Muslim to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the conflict.
After his fellow soldiers were killed in Hollebeke, Belgium, in 1914, he continued to fire his machine gun alone, delaying the German advance long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
Wounded, he crawled back to his regiment at night.
The competition will open on June 10 and will be open to charities, businesses and local authorities across the UK.
The monument is intended to provide a space for learning and reflection.
As part of their application, organizations will need to propose a location themselves and explain how they plan to obtain planning permission.
Highly scoring designs will need to include reliable construction timelines and engagement activities, particularly with the Muslim and armed forces communities.
Available up to £970,000.
Monuments have already been built for various communities, groups and causes of war.
These include the Memorial Gates near Buckingham Palace, opened in 2002 to commemorate the contributions of soldiers from the Indian subcontinent, Africa and the Caribbean, and the World War II Gate in Whitehall, opened in 2005. These include the Women of World War Memorial, the African and Caribbean War Memorial in Brixton, which was opened in 2017, and the Animals in War Memorial near Hyde Park, which was opened in 2004.
