Somali youth crime conference in Harrow sees call for action (From Harrow Times)

Somali youth crime conference in Harrow sees call for action

7:09pm Wednesday 29th July 2009

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THE Somali community was today asked to seize “the fierce urgency of now” during a conference aimed at tackling youth crime.

Organiser Nasir Diriye used the famous phrase, taken from Dr Martin Luther King's “I Have A Dream” speech, to inspire those present to tackle problems with youth violence.

He called on hundreds gathered at Byron Hall, in Christchurch Avenue, to ask themselves what drives teenagers towards a life of crime and to find solutions for Harrow's Somalis.

Mr Diriye said: “As an immigrant community integration and assimilation is offered to us as a solution. However, as a solution it has proved to be simplistic.”

The event was held in memory of student Hassan Kul Hawadleh, 19, who was stabbed to death on the forecourt of the Total Garage, in High Street, Wealdstone, in February.

Ugbad Hawadleh, 25, Hasan's sister, said violence in society today has a root cause, which she described as a “cancer on our streets”.

She told the conference of the pain her and her family experienced following Hassan's death.

She said: “God willing, we will see him again in the afterlife and see his wonderful smile. The amount of people who came to give their condolences was astounding.

“This was because Hassan was a dearly admired young man and we had no idea what his circle of friends was until he passed away.

“We understand that Hassan will be missed greatly, not just by the immediate family but by a wider family.”

She added: “We see no point in speaking much about Hassan's death because no matter how much we cry out there will never be anything that can bring him back.”

A series of politicians addressed the crowds offering support to the Somali community but also calling on young Somalis to take responsibility.

Tony McNulty, MP for Harrow East, said progress could not come from the Government or Harrow Council telling the Somali community how to tackle these issues.

He said: “If that's the starting point, it's the wrong starting point. This must be about helping you to help yourselves.”

He stressed the need for Somali people to be involved in the political process by winning seats on the council and getting MPs elected to Parliament.

He said: “We must start to talk about the community in terms of success not failure, heroes not victims.”

Ugbad, Hassan's sister, ended her speech with the question: “What's worse, to be a Muslim and be slain or to be a bad Muslim and take another's life?”

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