Waqar Azmi

ISIS called for the murder of Azmi along with 20 other top Western Muslims leaders including Conservative Party ministers Sajid Javid and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and Hillary Clinton's advisor Huma Abedin in their 2016 online English-language magazine, Dabiq in an article entitled "Kill the imams of kufr in the west", who, according to ISIS, "directly involve themselves in politics and enforcing the laws of kufr (non-believers)."{{cite journal |author= |title= Kill the Imams of the West| url=https://www.clarionproject.org/docs/Dabiq-Issue-14.pdf |journal= Dabiq 1437 Rajab (April - May 2016)|publisher= Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |access-date= 2016-04-30|issue=14|pages= 8–18|quotation=Lastly, one must not overlook the overt crusaders, those who don’t even wear the cloak of da’wah, but instead directly involve themselves in politics and enforcing the laws of kufr, like (in the US) Mohamed Elibiary, Arif Alikhan, Rashad Hussain, Keith Ellison, Huma Abedin, etc. and (in the UK) Muhammad Abdul Bari, Sayeeda Warsi, Waqar Azmi, Sajid Javid, Ajmal Masroor, and other politically active apostates..(p. 17)}} The article brands Azmi and those on the 'hit list' as "apostate" 5Pillars, 14 April 2016, 'ISIS publishes "hit list" of British and Western Muslim leaders', London: 5 Pillars: http://5pillarsuk.com/2016/04/14/isis-publishes-hit-list-of-british-and-western-muslim-leaders/ and urges their murder by encouraging followers in other countries to "wage jihad by himself with the resources available to him (knives, guns, explosives, etc.) to kill the crusaders and other disbelievers and apostates."Emily Collis, 15 April 2016, 'Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid named on ISIS kill list', Bromsgrove Advertiser: http://www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/news/14430024.Sajid_Javid_named_on_ISIS_kill_list/

Waqar Azmi grew up with his family in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, and moved to the UK at the age of 13, speaking no English when he arrived. He attended the University of Central Lancashire, graduating in 1993 with a degree in Politics and Social Policy.

In 2001, he became Managing Director at the world's largest consultancy firm, TMP Worldwide Advertising and Communications and Monster.com and, chairman of Waterhouse Consulting Group in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.waterhouseconsulting.co.uk/ |title=Waterhouse Consulting Group |publisher=Waterhouseconsulting.co.uk |access-date=2013-02-22}} Azmi founded the British Federation of Racial Equality Councils,{{cite web|url=http://www.bforec.co.uk/History.htm |title=British Federation of Racial Equality Councils |publisher=Bforec.co.uk |date=2001-04-25 |access-date=2013-02-22}} a UK body of racial equality councils and partnerships representing over 100 councils across England, Scotland and Wales.{{cite web|url=http://www.bforec.co.uk/History.htm |title=British Federation of Racial Equality Councils |publisher=Bforec.co.uk |date=25 April 2001 |access-date=20 October 2011}} He also founded the think tank Race Equality West Midlands[http://www.rewm.org/Our_History.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517023027/http://www.rewm.org/Our_History.htm|date=17 May 2008}} and the Herefordshire Equality Partnership.[http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/social_issues/diversity/23764.asp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523050421/http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/social_issues/diversity/23764.asp|date=23 May 2010}}

In October 2004, he was appointed as UK Government's Chief Diversity Adviser at the Cabinet Office. He launched the 10-Point Plan on diversity to drive change across Whitehall and for the first time in the UK, linked diversity performance of each government department to the pay and bonus of Permanent Secretaries.{{cite web |date=1 November 2005 |title=/ UK – Breaking down barriers to top jobs in Whitehall |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a3c00710-4a7c-11da-b8b1-0000779e2340.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 October 2011 |work=Financial Times}} The Times wrote: "Azmi raised eyebrows when he announced that the bonuses of permanent secretaries would be linked to their success in meeting the targets". Britain's only Asian Permanent Secretary, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, and a former Minister, Keith Vaz, welcomed the announcement, saying it would accelerate change in the civil service. But Keith Vaz warned: "I'm quite sure there will be resistance to this".{{cite news|author=Tania Branigan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/nov/01/uk.society |title=Meet diversity targets or risk cut in bonuses, civil servants warned | Politics |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=20 October 2011 |date=1 November 2005}}

Azmi's work led each government department to prepare a delivery plan and stepped up the pace of change including advertising for open competition the posts of Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors and other sensitive and top governmental jobs. The Guardian called Azmi "The Equaliser"{{cite news|author=Mary O'Hara |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/oct/13/equality.guardiansocietysupplement |title=Public manager: Waqar Azmi, Whitehall's new adviser on diversity | Society |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=20 October 2011 |date=13 October 2004}} and The Times called him "Whitehall's diversity champ." Pat McFadden, the then Cabinet Office Minister said in a speech that Azmi was "doing a hugely important job".Cabinet Office (2007) 'Informing the Public

Speech by Pat McFadden, Cabinet Office Minister Joint Event with Howell James, Permanent Secretary Government Communications', page 6, London: Cabinet Office, http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130128101412/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/corp/assets/publications/speeches/mcfadden/rtf/informing_public.rtf Other commentators like Paul Zickel writing in The Times said: "Disability in the Civil Service recently moved out of the shadows and into the mainstream. For me, the key driver was the Civil Service-wide ten-point plan developed by Waqar Azmi".{{cite web |author=Gibb |first=Frances |author-link=Frances Gibb |title=The Times |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/public_sector/article1536863.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611164220/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/public_sector/article1536863.ece |archive-date=11 June 2011 |access-date=20 October 2011 |publisher=The Times}}{{subscription required}}

Azmi has been involved in several Public Inquiries in the UK. He was also on the 2001 Oldham riots Inquiry which was set up to investigate the riots that occurred in May 2001. He was an open critic of the Inquiry, claiming that under government pressure the Inquiry was steered towards language and citizenship, instead of structural inequalities and the growing influence of far-right groups such as the British National Party (BNP).{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2010198.stm |title=UK | England | Riot report is 'flawed' |work=BBC News |date=27 May 2002 |access-date=20 October 2011}}

Waqar Azmi received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2002 at the age of 32 by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of his major contributions in the UK{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2002/birthday_honours_2002/2045206.stm |title=In Depth | Birthday Honours 2002 | OBEs A – M |work=BBC News |date=14 June 2002 |access-date=20 October 2011}} and in 2003 he was awarded Britain's Young Asian Achievers Award by Lloyds TSB.{{cite web|url=http://www.jewelawards.tv/winner.asp?catid=8&locid=2 |title=Asian Jewel Awards – 2003 Winners |publisher=Jewelawards.tv |access-date=20 October 2011}}

In 2001 Azmi was awarded an Honorary master's degree by the University of Worcester.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=165598§ioncode=26 |title=Glittering prizes |magazine=Times Higher Education |date=2 November 2001 |access-date=20 October 2011}} In 2006 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Southampton Solent University,{{cite web|url=http://portal-live.solent.ac.uk/university/mediabox2/waqarAzmi.aspx |title=Portal Mobile |publisher=Portal-live.solent.ac.uk |access-date=2013-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716093737/http://portal-live.solent.ac.uk/university/mediabox2/waqarAzmi.aspx |archive-date=16 July 2011 }} and later that year, the University of Central Lancashire awarded him an Honorary Fellowship.{{cite web|url=http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/uclan/honorary_graduates/index.php |title=Honorary Fellows – University of Central Lancashire |publisher=Uclan.ac.uk |date=4 September 2007 |access-date=20 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927130104/http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/uclan/honorary_graduates/index.php |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}

In January 2015, Azmi was nominated for the Spirit of Britain award at the British Muslim Awards.{{cite news |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/11745550.British_Muslim_Awards_2015_finalists_unveiled/|title=British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled|publisher=Asian Image|date=23 January 2015|access-date=1 November 2015}}

The Times of India wrote: "After he had finished delivering an inspiring speech at a career fest last week, Dr Waqar Azmi was almost mobbed by the crowd. It seemed like the Muslim gathering had waited for a long time for someone like him".{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Dont-be-reactionary-Blair-adviser-tells-Muslims/articleshow/17725685.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216071506/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-23/mumbai/35981894_1_sunni-muslims-islamic-preachers-waqar-azmi |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-02-16 |title=Don't be 'reactionary', Blair adviser tells Muslims |date=2012-12-23 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=2013-02-22}} Speaking to a Muslim audience of 150,000 (Urdu/Hindi: 1.5 lakh people) {{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Sunni-leaders-preach-tolerance-purity-to-1-5-lakh-attendees-on-final-day-of-Ijtema/Article1-973748.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130220071126/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Sunni-leaders-preach-tolerance-purity-to-1-5-lakh-attendees-on-final-day-of-Ijtema/Article1-973748.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2013 |title=Sunni leaders preach tolerance, purity to 1.5 lakh attendees on final day of Ijtema |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=2012-12-17 |access-date=2013-02-22}} in Mumbai, he "slammed those who killed innocent people in the name of Islam. Evil has taken over the hearts of those who maim innocent children, blow up houses and kill people. It is our duty to help purify those dirty hearts," he said. A section of Muslims had gone astray as they had left the Prophet's message behind, he said. "We must illuminate the hearts of those misguided."{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Sunni-conference-asks-Muslims-to-shun-violence/articleshow/17643997.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216071449/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-17/mumbai/35868408_1_prophet-quran-superstitions |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-02-16 |title=Sunni conference asks Muslims to shun violence |date=2012-12-17 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=2013-02-22}}

Azmi sees globalisation as an opportunity for greater integration and understanding. He cites the Prophet's choices in the initial days of Islam: "He could have tried to destroy all non-Muslims in Medina; commanded everyone to become a Muslim; or chosen the path of integration. He chose the last option and invited everyone, including Jews and Christians, to the society he formed. The problem surfaces when, instead of integration, Muslims want to colonise. They want to create a separate society."

Azmi also believes that Muslims themselves are largely responsible for the problems and challenges that exists in their communities due to a lack of education, activism and effective leadership: "Muslims have become reactionary rather than responding forces," he says. "Reaction leads to friction and destruction while responding paves the way for reconciliation and peace. When controversies erupt over cartoons or films on the Prophet, I tell Muslims there is no image of the Prophet. So any cartoon or film depicting him will be fake. Why fight over a fake depiction? When Muslims react violently, they play into the hands of forces that want to incite the community and paint it as reactionary".

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Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Civil servants in the Cabinet Office

Category:English Muslims

Category:Indian emigrants to England

Category:People from Azamgarh

Category:Alumni of the University of Central Lancashire