Muslim Aid is pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees elected Sir Iqbal Sacranie as Chair at its Annual General Meeting on 31 May 2008 for a term of 2 years.

Taking over from former Chair Farooq Murad, Sir Iqbal said, “I am delighted to have been entrusted by my fellow Trustees with the honour of leading one of the UK’s leading Muslim relief and development agencies. As Muslims and as global citizens we have a duty to serve the poor using the best of our traditions, skills and understanding. Muslim Aid stands in solidarity with the poor working towards a world or peace, compassion and justice where all can lead lives of dignity and fulfillment”.

The Board agreed to build on the considerable achievements of 2007 and to continue to lead the organisation toward its vision of a world of peace, compassion and justice where all can achieve fulfillment and live in dignity. Highlights in 2007 included the significant contribution made to emergency relief efforts in Bangladesh following Cyclone Sidr: where Muslim Aid distributed food, water purification systems and medication to over 30,000 people. Longer-term rehabilitation work involved repairing roads, bridges and canals, with the reconstruction of houses already underway. During the year Muslim Aid also responded to flooding in Sudan, India and Pakistan, partnering with local agencies to provide emergency relief to survivors.

Sir Iqbal Sacranie trained as an accountant and went on to become managing director of the family business. He was founding Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (established 1997), and served further four years as Secretary General in 2002-04 and 2004-06. He was awarded an OBE in 1999 and a knighthood in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to the Muslim community, to charities and to community relations.

The Annual General Meeting also elected a new Vice-Chair (Dr Manazir Ahsan MBE) and Treasurer (Professor Ghulam Sarwar). Brother Tanzim Wasti remains as Secretary.