see ODEON LUXE cinema tickets page WWIINN 54 FEBRUARY 2ND EDITION 2020 Yorkshire & Midlands Media Trash Leeds Imam finally gets apology from The Mail on “WWee nneeeedd ttoo Sunday for “ wrongly cchhaalllleennggee accusing him A Leeds Imam has news reported about called for Muslims to Muslims is fair, accurate “challenge hostile news and inclusive. a coverage” by mainstream meddiia media. He says we are all ile me Continued on page 4 hhoossttile responsible for ensuring ccoovveerraaggee..”” 2 Local www.asianexpress.co.uk February 2020 - 2nd Edition Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal visited Victim Support’s Wakefield hub to CONTACT US: launch an innovative new LiveLink for people harmed by crime in West Yorkshire. Tel : 0113 322 9911 The new service, being delivered by Victim Princess Support, will allow victims of domestic abuse 08703 608 606 to give evidence remotely via video streaming. The move will allow victims to engage with the Email : [email protected] Criminal Justice System without needing to Stories: [email protected] attend a court building or risk coming into [email protected] contact with the perpetrator. Advertising enquiries: [email protected] Anne opens After unveiling a commemorative plaque at the facility on on Tuesday 25th February, Text to mobile : 07772 365 325 Princess Anne spent time meeting victims and witnesses of crime, who explained the emotional and practical importance of being Follow us on able to give evidence safely and remotely. domestic The LiveLink facility will link into courts across West Yorkshire. Lesley McLean, Contracts Manager for Victim Support (West Yorkshire) said: “Court Asian Express is available as a FREE WEEKLY pick-up from buildings themselves can be intimidating, selected supermarkets, retail outlets, community centres, boutiques, restaurants and many other distribution outlets especially as victims and witnesses enter across the Yorkshire region. through the same shared entrance as abuse defendants, offenders and their families. For So pick-up your FREE copy victims of particularly serious crimes such as domestic abuse, this can be incredibly of Asian Express TODAY! stressful. “Many trials collapse before sentencing, as the number of victims attending court to give ©Media Buzz. All contents are Copyright. All Rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be stored in any ‘Livelink’ evidence is low. This LiveLink facility will retrieval system or transmitted electronically in any form without prior written permission of the Publishers. Whilst help to empower victims to give evidence from every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility a completely separate building, helping to can be accepted for inaccuracies howsoever caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the relieve anxiety. opinion of the Publishers. The editorial policy and general layout of this publication are at the discretion of the “We are delighted to offer this much- publisher and no debate will be entered into. No responsibility can be accepted for illustrations, articles or needed facility and, in the longer term, we photographs whilst in transmission with the Publishers or their Agent unless a commitment is made in writing prior to hope to extend this service to other vulnerable receipt of such items. for West adults, children and young people.” The LiveLink facility was funded jointly by Published by Media Buzz. West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Media Buzz. Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson and First Floor, St Andrews House, St Andrews Street, West Yorkshire Police, following the closure of Leeds, LS3 1LF Wakefield Magistrates court. Yorkshire West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “I pledged to put victims first and it was fantastic to welcome Princess Anne to Wakefield, as part of our drive to raise awareness of this new service that I have victims commissioned here in West Yorkshire. Rajput JEWELLERS Specialists In Asian Jewellery, Wedding & Occasional Jewellery, Bespoke Designs Made To Order, Full Jewellery Repair Service, Victim Support is an independent charity providing Scrap, Unwanted Gold Purchased emotional and practical support to people affected by crime. Victims do not have to report a crime to the police 212 Roundhay Rd, Leeds, LS8 5AA in order to access assistance, and our free, confidential Tel: 0113 249 9722 Supportline is open to callers 24/7: 08 08 16 89 111 February 2020 - 2nd Edition www.asianexpress.co.uk Local 3 “The LiveLink will offer vulnerable victims and witnesses of incidents such as domestic abuse a safe, secure and welcoming space to give evidence, removing barriers to justice and improving outcomes for those harmed by crime. “This service importantly eliminates the possibility of seeing the defendant in a court setting, as well as helping to alleviate other potential issues such as travel and childcare. I look forward to seeing the results and the impact it will have.” West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable, John Robins QPM, said: “This suite, and one like it in Calderdale, make a tangible positive impact on outcomes for victims. It takes away the need for vulnerable and intimidated victims and witnesses to enter a court. “For example, a third fewer Domestic Abuse cases are failing at trial since the Live link facility was introduced in Calderdale. “Services like this mean that more victims are engaging with the criminal justice process for longer enabling more cases to reach a conclusion at court, confidence in the criminal justice system is improved and importantly victims feel more supported. “This puts vulnerable victims and witnesses where they should be, at the heart of the criminal justice process” Committed employer Bradford businessman Saj and retain the best people, we commitments - but a growing Shah employs 350 people regularly review pay, benefits and number also tell us a minimum across his three local training opportunities. We also number of hours guaranteed McDonald’s restaurants. offer a suite of additional benefits would help them get better access He says that people are at the that can include free lunches. to financial products such as heart of his business and, as a “All contracts offered are mobile phone contracts or car responsible and proud employer, permanent contracts regardless of loans. he is committed to investing in whether the number of hours is “We are absolutely committed them. flexible or has a minimum to diversity and inclusion. Our Saj says that reward and guaranteed - a decision we took in people make McDonald’s what it recognition for his staff is a key April 2017. is, which is why we have worked priority. Each year McDonald’s in “80% of our employees have hard to create jobs and the UK invest over £43 million in chosen to stay on flexible opportunities that work for them, staff training. contracts, valuing the ability to irrespective of gender, age or life “To help ensure we can attract work around their other stage.” Bradford’s McDonald’s in Rooley Lane is now open from 5am every day Meet a key member of the team at McDonald’s in Bradford Iolante Bob-Manuel • Worked for McDonald's and outside of work and given for two years as a part-time her better understanding how crew member. businesses work. • Likes to work at Says: “McDonald’s has McDonald's because of the been flexible towards my people that are employed in schedule I have been able to the organisation: “They are all pursue an interest I have in supportive and friendly to dance and to get better at it.” you, I also like the way Working at McDonald's has McDonald's support me in helped develop herself as a side of work and outside if i person to become more have any issues.” confident and extend her • Loves the culture in skills in communication. McDonald's as a caring Adds: “I hope to progress supportive group that to advance my career and motivates you to do better. use what I have learnt at • Loves how McDonald's McDonald's to help me in my has given her confidence to Business studies at Iolante Bob-Manuel, 18, grow as a person both inside university.” wishes she could read minds 4 Local www.asianexpress.co.uk February 2020 - 2nd Edition Whist researching the recent Cover story continued apology from the Mail on Sunday to Imam Qari Asim’s call to action Imam Qari Asim, Asian Express comes after his 10-month battle for newspaper found almost non-existent an apology from the Mail on Sunday coverage about Imam Qari Asim newspaper for publishing deleterious wining this battle. This raises information. They had (wrongly) unnerving concerns on how the accused him, in April 2019, of internet is funnelling our searches supporting a cleric in Pakistan who and continuing to (worryingly) bring had campaigned for Christian woman up the same old inaccurate articles as Asia Bibi to be hanged for top hits. It makes valid up-to-date blasphemy. information very difficult to find. Imam Qari Asim MBE, Head Speaking to Asian Express Imam at the Makkah Mosque in newspaper Imam Qari Asim said: “A Media Thornville Road, Leeds, is deemed as section of the UK media too often one of Yorkshire’s most senior misrepresents Muslims. Muslim clerics. He is also appointed “Lazy journalism, inaccurate as the Government’s Islamophobia reporting or even "fake news" about adviser. Muslims is extremely reckless and The Mail on Sunday apology dangerous; such incorrect reporting, appeared in their Clarifications & big-click journalism painting Corrections section on 23rd February overwhelmingly negative picture 2020. about Muslims fuels prejudice against It said: “On 6th April 2019, we Muslims and increase anti-Muslim alleged that Mr Qari Asim MBE, hatred in society. through his support of a protest led “It also tars the diligent work by Trash by a number of individuals including many journalists across the country.” an extremist cleric, Khadim Rizvi, Talking about the harrowing supported the proposed hanging of a experience of being a person in the Christian woman (Asia Bibi) for public domain and being so widely Leeds Imam finally blasphemy and endorsed the brutal accused of something that he never murder of Asad Shah.