Make a difference. Write now. Those are the evoking, haunting, powerful words which embodied the Muslim Writer Awards 2008.

What began as a modest project in the West Midlands, intended to encourage Muslims to become better communicators, has snowballed into a nationwide search for the cream of writing talent, culminating in an exclusive awards ceremony held at the ICC in Birmingham.

The event itself attracted a number of high profile speakers, including Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Conservative Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action. Baroness Warsi expressed her adulation at the success of the Muslim Writer Awards, which had encouraged over 10,000 writers across the country to put pen to paper. James Caan, the latest dragon in BBC’s Dragon’s Den, sent a special video- link message;

‘The Muslim Writer Awards will help inspire people to not only become better communicators, but also to be heard for the right reasons. Hopefully, it will show society that we have a lot to contribute.’ Caan is one of Britain’s most successful businessmen, and his endorsement of the awards stood testimony to the gravitas of the event.

However, the evening’s highlight was when special guest, Jermaine Jackson, took to the stage for a question and answer session with TV presenter Sajid Warsi, where no topic was out of bounds. Jermaine talked candidly about his reasons for converting to Islam, and his family’s initial displeasure with his decision. And of course, Jermaine was asked to reflect on his time in the Celebrity Big Brother House, which brought him instant acclaim from the British media, and won the hearts and minds of viewers. In person, Jermaine displayed the modest and amiable qualities that shone through in the big Brother House. He also gave a glimmer of hope to die-hard Jackson fans, by hinting that a tour was on the cards.

While guests were treated to a Moroccan feast, the entertainment was provided by Double, a self-acclaimed Hip-Hop Creative Practitioner. Double, aka Mohamed A. Shariff, provided a refreshing alternative to the violent undertones of hip-hop we have become accustomed to, and instead rapped about the prophet and his faith. With lyrics such as ‘One Day I will have to answer to the owner // until then I give this art my heart like an organ donor’ double can be considered a true poet.

The evening culminated in a thought-provoking video which summarised the importance of the event. The key words, Read on. Write Away echoed throughout the video, explaining the importance of writing, and how Muslims need to become better communicators in the current political climate of Islam-phobia. This was a suitable end to the evening, as beneath all the glamour and ceremony of the event, combating Islam-phobia was the ultimate objective.

Full list of winners:

NON FICTION AWARD

Shelina Zahra Janmohamed (Age: 33) London

SHORT STORY AWARD

Kashif Choudry (Age: 28) Solihull, West Midlands

NOVEL AWARD

Fatima Martin (Age: 49) Woking, Surrey

POETRY AWARD

Shameam Akhtar (Age 38) Bradford

UNDER 16’s AWARD

Humaira Rashid (Age: 16) Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

BEST CHILDREN’S STORY AWARD

Aliya Vaughan (Age: 37) Brixton Hill, London

PUBLISHED WRITER AWARD

Moazzem Beg, from Birmingham

WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Aliya Vaughan (Age: 37) Brixton Hill, London

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