As a British Muslim, a commissioned officer in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and the Chairman of the Armed Forces Muslim Association I would like to dispel a myth about serving in the British Armed Forces.

The UK’s Armed Forces, first and foremost, exists to act in defense of justice, to stop persecution, protect the citizens of the UK and to act to strengthen international security and stability.

Whatever your political view of the legitimacy of military campaigns over the last thirty years, the motivation for British military engagement in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan has been on these terms and in support of the local Muslim populations. 

Furthermore, providing security, justice and protecting freedom are not values that I believe are in any way incompatible with Islam. 

On the contrary, these are values central to my understanding of the Muslim faith. A faith, like many, embraced by the Armed Forces.

Visit many British military cemeteries, and you will find the names of Muslim soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the prosperity and future of our nation. 

Our community, as much as any other community, has a long and proud tradition of British military service.

Which is why there is not a single major conflict in which Muslim soldiers have not fought and died for our country. 

Yes, the British Military is currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it is also deployed in Africa, North America, South America, Eastern Europe and Western Europe – including Northern Ireland where Muslim soldiers were deployed to counter terrorism.  

Yes, the military is involved in the international fight against terrorism, but it is also involved in the fight against piracy, the illegal wildlife trade and plays a leading role in responding to emerging humanitarian crises and peacekeeping efforts with UN.
 
Major Naveed Muhammad MBE is Chairman of the Armed Forces Muslim Association.