Rights and responsibilities are the two sides of the same coin," said Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn while launching the Progressive Muslim Forum, a new organization, at the Committee Room of the House of Lords, on 8th of May, 2007. Lord Patel, the Patron of the Progressive Muslim Forum (UK) said, "When we came first we were immigrants; now we are full fledged citizens of this country. When we are talking of the full-fledged citizens of this country naturally we got rights and responsibilities."

Speaking about his experience while traveling from Preston to Euston every "week with a cap, beard and a dress like this, they think these are terrorists." But he added, "Majority, ninety nine per cent of the members of the majority community, are very very tolerant. On the very same day of 7/7, I was here in London and I traveled from my flat in Mile End to here, Westminster."

Lord Patel spoke of the most important thing that the Muslim community has to do is to join the mainstream organization. "We are as good citizens as they are. We have as much rights as they have. But we have the responsibilities," said Lord Patel.

Khurshid Alam, chairman of the Forum, explained its aims and objects and the long-term plan. He said, "This is a very young and new forum - a platform to discuss issues of the Muslim community. Focusing on the areas which are more important for the coming generation and that is healthcare and education."

What he wanted to focus on is to work collectively with all sections of the communities rather talking ourselves. Alam said, "We are educated. We value diversity. But we need a meaningful engagement with the mainstream body. We want to build partnership with a cross section of all sections of the community. That's why; we have today among our speakers, the President of the General Medical Council, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bolton and others."

Alam said, "We want to build a society based on true respect for each other, faith values and for working together."

Speaking on the Medical profession, Sir Graeme Catto, President of the General Medical Council, said "We are going to make progress in education where we need to engage all sections of the United Kingdom including the Muslim community."

Sir Catto also said, "A disproportionate number of people are coming from the ethnic group associated with Asia. That shows their determination to succeed to participate in this society.

"I believe if you want to make progress in health and education you need to engage with this community," Sir Catto said and mentioned about the driving enthusiasm of the people who have come to work in this country somewhat more recently than our forebearers."

Sir Catto also mentioned about the effects of the changes in the laws of this country. "Many of the people who come to work in this country are quite significantly disadvantaged by changes in the laws of this country over the last few years. Please drop me email or write to me and I promise I would get back to you (about) anything you want to," Sir Catto assured the audience and said, "1 believe all men are good and equal. With that basis we need to go forward and see how we can improve the life of the community in education and health within this country."

Speaking on Education, Dr. George Holmes, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, said, "We are already very much in that engagement in the University of Bolton. Around 12% of our current student groups in our University mostly represent the community that we are talking; the Muslim community and that was quite a very significant component, a very progressive component of the University. The University is always about the development of knowledge; development on behalf of civilizations."

He mentioned about the development of the great universities of Cambridge and Oxford. "They are centres of our civilization. So higher education is significantly within it. Of the diversity of the community, to be brief, in our case, 12%; I am pretty sure that background is very significant in our University," Dr. Holmes said.

"We are very modern, very very new University where we sit with institutions, Asian social change, social cohesion mutual understanding and respect in society. University is the heart of civilizations," said Dr. Holmes.

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