Rochdale’s Youth MP has quit a community radio station amid claims it was giving airtime to a controversial Islamist group.

Usman Nawaz resigned from Crescent Community Radio because of worries Hizb ut-Tahrir members were being invited to appear on the station.

The 18-year-old, who had been a presenter on the station for nine years, says members of the organisation were allowed to air their views unchallenged without Crescent providing an alternative viewpoint.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, which campaigns for a single Muslim state across the Islamic world, is banned in several countries, including Germany, Holland and several Middle Eastern states, but not in the UK.

Usman, who also says his decision was influenced by the fact he is attending university in London from next month, said: "There were some key concerns I had on a personal level that made me think it was best for me to step back.

"I was concerned about the lack of management and professionalism in some of the shows.

"It is important to stress that no one connected to Crescent Radio is a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir or any other organisation like that, but my concern is that Hizb ut-Tahrir members’ views were being aired without a counter argument being provided.

"No-one was advocating violence or terrorism and I appreciate it is a community station and cannot be managed and monitored 24 hours a day, but there still should have been safeguards in place so the station gives a balanced view."

Usman cited one guest who said British culture was based on binge drinking and teenage killings.

He added: "If someone said to me Islamic culture is about extremism and terrorism I would rightly be very offended because it is a false generalisation and it was that kind of thing which I was concerned about."

Station manager Faheem Chishti said presenters were given strict guidance about the content of their shows.

He added: "We do not ban anybody, but I do agree that one or two presenters have invited some guests on too often.

"We are a community station and we do give our presenters a bit of leeway to run the shows how they like.

"But I have been explicit in the guidelines I have given them.

"We are about giving the community a voice and bringing communities together and that means giving people of all types of belief a platform to air their views."

Critics of Hizb ut-Tahrir claim it is anti-democractic and plays a role in radicalising young Muslims because it says being British and a Muslim is incompatible.

Following the 7/7 London bombings it was one of the groups then Prime Minister Tony Blair talked about banning, under new laws which barred the glorification of terrorism.

But the group rejects these criticisms, saying its proposed model of government would protect religious minorities and promote women’s rights and justice.

Source: The Asian News

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