British Muslims for Secular Democracy is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting secularism in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 2006 by Nasreen Rehman and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. The group believes the diversity of views among British Muslims is not adequately represented to wider British society and that their image is distorted. The organization is one of the growing number of feminist and progressive Muslim organizations.
The organisation says it aims to:
Challenge those who have a vested interest in promoting the 'clash of civilizations' narrative. They claim that these include some Muslim leaders and prominent white commentators.
Highlight the rights of Muslims who are marginalised because of their inability to cope with or succeed within the system.
Encourage British Muslim men and women to recognise the contributions they have made to Britain.
Examine the role of political parties that pander to "community leaders"
Enable Muslims to become more aware of their autonomous rights and question Muslim leaders who set themselves up as 'representatives' or ‘experts’.
Work with other global progressive Muslims opposing Saudi influenced Salafism and its offshoots.
Challenge the ill-informed and politicised nature of the state's intervention in the organisation of religious life in this country and the influence faith-based groups now have on public policies.
Object to government policies that curtail civil liberties using the prevailing sense of fear of terrorism.
Work with young Muslims and try to win over their hearts and minds, so they espouse the quiet and compassionate Islam practised by Muslims through generations.
