Muslim 'Live 8' to highlight Darfur crisis

A Muslim version of Live 8 will be staged in the UK tonight to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

Organisers are expecting more than 10,000 British Muslims at London’s Wembley Arena for the charity concert.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has lent his support, saying in a video message to screen at the event: “I want to thank all of you who have been active on this issue, from the artists and musicians who are performing here today, to religious leaders from all communities who have been leading prayers and campaigns for the people of Darfur.

“The fact that so many of you are here tonight shows how deeply people from communities all over Britain care about the people of Darfur and their plight.

“An injustice anywhere is an attack on justice everywhere and so we will continue working together with all of you to bring this suffering to an end.”

It is hoped the concert will raise £2 million for those displaced in Darfur.

The headlining act is singer Sami Yusuf, whose last album sold four million copies. His latest song, Asma Allah, is a recitation of the 99 names of Allah.

He was part of a Foreign Office-backed Muslim delegation which travelled to Darfur to talk to victims of the violence, refugees, tribal leaders and government officials.

He has urged fellow Muslims to confront the genocide in the region.

Other artists on the lineup include Kareem Salama, America’s only Muslim country and western singer, and Outlandish, an award-winning multi-faith hip-hop group from Denmark.

While targeting Muslims, it is hoped that the concert will also attract members of other communities.

There has also been an information blitz throughout Ramadan calling for people to “rise to the challenge of helping Darfur” with special messages sent to mosques and imams for Friday sermons.

Jehangir Malik, the UK national fund-raising manager of Islamic Relief, said: “This is a thorny issue for us and it is clear that we have to do more.

“It is a challenge for us because people are highly motivated and get highly charged in other areas, and we need to do considerably more.”

More than two million people, nearly one in three of Darfur’s population have been forced to flee for their lives into camps, according to the Disasters Emergency Committee which represents UK aid agencies.

About 107,000 civilians were displaced due to insecurity and fighting between January 1 and April 1 this year.

Four million people in Darfur, which is two-thirds of the population, are dependent on humanitarian aid for their survival.

The July 2005 Live 8 concert was part of a worldwide day of action to highlight the problem of global poverty.