Islamic Bank of Britain is now serving the Muslim market in Wales. Islam is Wales’ most popular non-Christian religion, with about 60,000 Welsh Muslims, most living around Cardiff.

Islamic leaders in Wales have been encouraging providers of halal financial services to develop closer ties with their communities. Islamic Bank of Britain has responded by launching halal financial services through a network of financial advisors, mortgage brokers and other intermediaries from Cardiff and the surrounding areas. The programme has the support of the Muslim Council of Wales and Cardiff University’s Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK.

Cardiff was home to the first mosque in the British Isles. The Welsh Assembly recently welcomed its first-ever Muslim member, when Mohammad Asghar won a regional seat for Plaid Cymru, which promotes Welsh independence. Asghar was previously elected the first Muslim councillor in Wales, and his recent election is seen as a step forward for the Muslim community’s confidence in the Welsh political system. Together with Asghar, a record 11 Muslim candidates stood for election to the Assembly.

One of the bank’s Shariah scholars is Sheikh Nizam Yaquby, a PhD candidate at the University of Wales in Cardiff, specialising in Islamic law. Mr Sultan Choudhury, commercial director for Islamic Bank of Britain commented: “We are very excited about the launch of our halal services for the Muslim community in Wales. Muslim families and entrepreneurs in Wales have voiced their strong desire for a halal alternative to conventional mortgages and commercial property loans, as they feel they are having to compromise their faith just to get on the property ladder. “Now they have an opportunity to conduct their finances without compromising their faith.” (see details in http://islamicbankingandfinance.com/news.html)