Nottinghamshire council official says Taliban offering 'amazing opportunity' for Afghanistan

A council dignitary has been criticised by MPs after saying that the Taliban should be given a chance.

Musharraf Hussain, a deputy lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, also said the insurgent movement should be given the “benefit of the doubt”, and described their takeover as an “amazing opportunity” for Afghanistan.

During a BBC interview last week, the Islamic scholar and community leader denied that Afghans trying to flee the country were escaping violence, describing them instead as “economic migrants”.

Appointed by the Queen, deputy lieutenants support the lord lieutenant of a city or county in carrying out his or her civic duties.

Dr Hussain has leading roles in a number of Muslim charities and is a former vice-chairman of the Association of Muslim Schools and chairman of the Christian Muslim forum.

He was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to community relations.

Speaking to the BBC’s Frances Finn, he said: “I think a very important thing in our relationships is to actually trust people, give them the benefit of the doubt.

“On the other hand, our conflicts and our wars and our problems all begin when we mistrust people, when we don’t take their word.

“It is really important that we give the benefit of the doubt to them.”

“I’m really pleased to hear that even our Prime Minister said we’ve got to just see how they keep their word."

Those fleeing are 'economic migrants'

Dr Hussain added that Afghans “are not fleeing for their lives as such really”.

“They are economic migrants as such as it’s an opportunity for them to escape the poverty of the country.”

His comments follow reports of summary executions and a rapid deterioration of human rights at the hands of the Taliban.

Nottinghamshire County Council said that because Dr Hussain’s remarks were made “as an individual and as a member of the community”, no further comment would be made.

Brendan Clarke-Smith, MP for Bassetlaw, said: “Deputy Lieutenants are expected to have a strong commitment to our democratic values, the rule of law and human rights and I would hope that this commitment is upheld by all those taking up the office"

“I think it is deeply inappropriate to refer to those who are most vulnerable, and those who have helped the U.K. and our armed forces as ‘economic migrants’."

He added: “Perhaps Dr Hussain should speak to my constituent who came into my office yesterday in floods of tears and in desperation over the safety of her family members.”