Aksaa - Committed to a better understanding of Islam in the world

Islam is probably the fastest growing religion in the world – and perhaps also one of the most misunderstood.

The international shock that followed 9/11in 2001 and the terrorist attacks in London last year have generated a fear and distrust of Islam that most Muslims find deeply disconcerting.

One man in Dewsbury is determined to set the record straight when it comes to a better understanding of his religion.

Kaushar Tai was born in India but has lived in the UK for most of his life. His company Aksaa Ltd, a management and training consultancy, has been promoting Muslim awareness seminars up and down the country since January 2004.

Working through 60 Mosques across Britain, his team of speakers talk with members of the public sector such as police, emergency services, healthcare and social workers as well as private sector personnel to promote a better understanding of the true picture of Islam and the Muslim culture. Now, with the help of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Kaushar is looking to take the same kind of expertise he has developed in the UK to audiences overseas.

Kaushar said: “Islam means peace and submission to God. We believe that our course in Islam which is presented by Muslims who practise their faith in the truest form will help people to develop a more genuine perspective of Islam and what the majority of Muslims believe.

“For public sector workers in particular, the course enables them to ensure that they abide by the Race Relations Amendment Act and the new European Directive on religion and belief regulations. The acts of violence committed by a handful of Muslims have no basis in Islam, but they distort the way we are portrayed in the media and therefore perceived by the general public.”

He continued: “Islamophobia is not restricted to Britain and the USA. Muslim communities in many other countries are suffering from the same kind of negative backlash. But the answer is not to isolate ourselves but to talk to people and dispel once and for all the myths, rumours and distorted views of Islam that are being presented to them every day.”

Once he had decided to explore overseas opportunities for his company, UKTI staff at Business Link in Batley made Kaushar aware of the Passport to Export programme. This useful of mix of training, advice and support, gives would-be exporters some early pointers to doing business overseas.

The Passport programme also introduced Kaushar to the services available overseas through UKTI staff based in the embassies and consulates. They compile the reports for the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS), a programme that has provided Kaushar with up to the minute market reports on Denmark and France so far. 

Laura Clayton, UKTI adviser in Batley said: “With our help Kaushar has visited staff in our embassies in France, Sweden, Denmark and most recently the Middle East. This gives UKTI staff overseas a chance to see for themselves how the courses might work in those countries and they can identify some useful contacts and leads to follow.”

Aksaa Ltd have already successfully delivered a series of seminars in four cities across Sweden, and with the help of UKTI the company is currently working on extending the seminars into France, Denmark the USA and Canada. Aksaa Ltd is also looking to develop its services in the private sector and in particular among the foreign communities based in Middle East countries.

In a recent fact-finding visit to Doha and Qatar, Kaushar met with UK Trade & Investment staff who offered positive feedback on the potential for these types of seminars.