Fifteen Imams are to be given alcohol awareness training in a bid to break down the stigma of drinking within the Muslim community and to reassure those with a problem to seek help.
The Imams, all members of the Bradford Imam Forum, have been invited to the Lifeline Project in Bradford on for the training.
Faz Hafiz, a senior practitioner at Lifeline Piccadilly, said it was the first of its kind in the district.
“This will bring the Imams together to give them the basic tools to work within their communities to help those who have a problem with alcohol,” he said. “We will talk about things like the effect of alcohol on the human body and identify where levels of drinking are dangerous.”
Ilyas Khan, a member Bradford Imam Forum, who is a volunteer at the Lifeline Project, has said the Imams acknowledged there was a problem and took it upon themselves to try and help the victims by working with other organisations.
“There is a stigma because Islam forbids alcohol and drugs but the youngsters live in a Western society and they are readily available and when they grow up they are attracted to these things.
“Some people get sucked in badly but don’t seek help because they are scared what the community will think of them and are worried they will be treated as an outcast.
“Organisations like Lifeline are there to help and they do a tremendous job. I have been volunteering there for four weeks there are not many Asians using the service.
“Maybe they’re afraid to come forward and we want say ‘if there is a problem we can help you resolve it’.
“This training is going to equip us with the tools to help those who do approach us.
“We will be able to point them in the right direction to get the help and support they might need.
If the project proves successful it can be rolled out throughout the UK to help the many thousands of Muslims suffering from alcohol related problems.
