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‘Muslim medics discriminated against over pro-life views’
London, 27 October 2003 -- Muslim doctors and medical students are being discriminated against because of their pro-life views, according to a leading Muslim physician. Dr Jafer Qureshi was addressing a conference in London on Saturday
(25 October) organised by the Muslim division of the Society for the
Protection of Unborn Children.
Dr Qureshi has told SPUC that he and his colleagues are
pursuing some cases of discrimination with deans of medical schools.
Some matters are being looked at by lawyers and could go to the
Commission for Racial Equality. Issues which arise for Muslim doctors
and medical students include abortion, surrogacy and euthanasia. Dr
Qureshi has been involved in developing training in Muslim medical
ethics.
Dr Qureshi is the founding chairman of the Muslim Doctors' and
Dentists' Association. He is also a member of the Muslim Council of
Britain's health and medical committee and a co-convenor with Dr
Anthony Cole, the leading Catholic physician, of the Medical Ethics
Alliance. The alliance is providing an ethical response to the
government's Mental Incapacity Bill.
Dr A Majid Katme, SPUC's Muslim coordinator and the Islamic
Medical Association's spokesman on medical ethics, spoke about the
Islamic perspective on abortion and euthanasia, citing the numerous
references in AL QUR'AN to the sanctity of life. He appealed for
Muslims to wake up to the need to defend human life and appealed for
Muslims to become actively involved in the pro-life movement through
SPUC's Muslim division.
Dr Katme also urged Muslim doctors to exercise their right to
conscientiously object to involvement in abortion and to take a stand
against euthanasia by act or omission. Dr Qureshi wholeheartedly
endorsed these suggestions.
Dr Katme said: "Muslims, Christians and all people who believe
in the common good must work together in this Divine, Humane and
Islamic campaign to uphold the sanctity of life."
John Smeaton, SPUC's national director, spoke about the
current pro-life situation, particularly the threat of the draft Mental
Incapacity Bill and the incidences of passive euthanasia being carried
out in British hospitals. He also referred to the pro-abortion agenda
at the UN and its particular application to Muslim countries.
Below is a picture
showing the three speakers with a set of SPUC's foetal models. From left
they are Dr A Majid Katme, John Smeaton and Dr Jafer Qureshi. The
photograph is by Rab Macdonald. Sets of foetal models can be ordered
from SPUC and are useful for educational purposes. They cost £75.49
including UK postage and packing.
