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Christian receives Muslim holiday card sent by Watford Liberal Democrats

1:39pm Thursday 1st October 2009


A Christian has questioned the ethics of a political party in Watford after he received a greetings card celebrating a Muslim holiday.

Javid Suleman, 37, received the card to mark Eid, the holiday to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, from Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate Sal Brinton.

However, he has taken exception to the possibility the party “categorised” him as a Muslim by his surname after receiving the card on Tuesday, September 22.

He said: “A long time ago I was a Muslim but I converted to Christianity. Somehow they categorised me as a Muslim and the question is how and why. I personally think that's ethically wrong.

“You have to abide by certain processes and categorising people by their ethnicity, colour or religion is the wrong thing to do.

“I asked my neighbours if they got it and of course, they didn't. They're not of Asian decent so they definitely didn't get this.”

Mr Suleman, a systems analyst from Premier Place, Watford, added: “I'm so dubious about my data at the moment. It's really scary.

“I would want my name off their list. I've got nothing against the Liberal Democrats themselves. This doesn't mean I won't vote for them because that depends on their policies and what they will do for Watford. But this doesn't do them any favours.”

Susan Gaszczak, a Watford Liberal Democrats representative, said: “We send out Eid cards on a yearly basis, as we do Christmas cards.

“The data we use is based on the electoral roll and MOSAIC data, which is a 'best guess'. This is the type of data used by direct marketing firms.

“We then go through every name manually and remove the ones that we know not to be Muslim. Inevitably there are some that do go out to non-Muslims but when they contact us we then correct our data.”


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Your Say YourWatford

The Eye of Mordor, Watford says...
1:49pm Thu 1 Oct 09

i may be missing something here but why is a political party sending out greetings cards to muslims anyway ? I presume the Lib Dems will be sending all Christians a Christmas card this year too - and if not , why not ?

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Garston Tony, Garston says...
3:40pm Thu 1 Oct 09

Eye of, the article does say that they send xmas cards out - but then how many people who receive those are not Christians? It is a transparent, pathetic and cringeworthy attempt at gaining support which only helps to devalue the celebrations. I can not speak for those that celebrate Eid, but Christmas has for most people lost its true meaning having been spoilt through commercialism without it being further abused by politicians.

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Watford_Chick, Watford says...
5:27pm Thu 1 Oct 09

People are never greatful for what they receive just moan about it!! what does it matter if your not Muslim - lol thought christan people are meant to be open minded about people and the world lol
right time to write to satan for a birthday card!

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KevMaskill, The Meriden Watford says...
5:49pm Thu 1 Oct 09

I received Exactly the same card at my address for a Mr. Muhammed last week.


I sent it back where it came from the Lib Dems in Leavesden Road, North Watford and wrote i hope they were sending New Year cards to all their non-Muslim residents.

Let's see what happens when it's New Year 1st January, 2010???

There's a fat chance non-Muslims will receive a card then.

Sooo obviously trying to attract the Muslim vote.

Vote the Green Party.

Don't think they'd waste money on this mass card sending to supposedly Muslim residents...


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Wilkinson, Watford says...
6:57pm Thu 1 Oct 09

Another disgusting attempt by the Lib Dem's to try and coax the muslim vote, this is wrong on so many levels i'm just glad this man has brought it to our attention.

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big willie, Watford says...
8:01pm Thu 1 Oct 09

Let's not beat about the bush here.

Dorothy was merely thanking Mr. Suleman for his ahem...'Postal Vote' from the time he WAS Muslim.

A simple 'Clerical Error'....if you like

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big willie, Watford says...
8:14pm Thu 1 Oct 09

Obviously Downhill Dotty is sticking to the old addage.....Bull$hit can get you to the top, but it won't keep you there......

I wonder if our benevolent mayor could enlighten me as to the status of the claw-back of grants to the Muslim community, in relation to the old Cannon cinema, seeing that it is now in private hands and run as a taxi company, barbers.....etc.?
After all, a grant is realistically an interest free loan based on goodwill on behalf both parties to settle the debt when it is affordable to do so.
The sale of this gaff is at a profit, so the money is legally due to be repaid.

After all, it's our council tax money we are talking about here.

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KevMaskill, The Meriden Watford says...
4:04am Fri 2 Oct 09

A grant is a gift not a loan, it does not have to be repaid.

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Mabasher, Watford says...
8:38am Fri 2 Oct 09

Is it just me? Or is this being totally blown out of proportion! I totally appreciate in this age “political correctness” that we have to almost tip-toe around subjects such as race, religion and sexuality etc etc. However, the card was probably sent by some snotty nosed teenager, doing some work experience in the local LIB DEM office - we really need to get a grip here!! There are so many other things we could be worrying about!

“Javid Suleman” Christian? Who would have known that apart from Javed Suleman himself? Yes, the Lib Dems are trying to panda to a certain section of the community – so what? It’s not exactly a novel idea and it’s something that all the political parties are well versed in doing!

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Garston Tony, Garston says...
9:42am Fri 2 Oct 09

I think the reaction is due to people being fed up of politicians in general and the means some use to try and garner votes. The card sent out was nothing to do with the lib dems candidate really wanting to wish someone a happy Eid and that does devalue the celebration, as it does when they send out xmas cards willy nilly. Mabasher, you said it yourself the card was probably sent out by some work experience student which would just shows how much the candidates/party really cares about the recipient. This type of card is no better than any other type of junk mail trying to entice you to go to a particular pizza joint or something. In fact its worse than those as it is hijacking what for many is an important religious and personal occassion.

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Razza Man, Watford says...
5:38pm Fri 2 Oct 09

What you all on about!!!

Well done Javid for coming forward with this!

He says.. "You have to abide by certain processes and categorising people by their ethnicity, colour or religion is the wrong thing to do. "

Can't you all see this, we are all being categorised and marked for some form of marketting. Lib Dems or any other government party should not be using our data in such way. This is what he is merely stating!

If I was a christian, I would be upset too if some one sent me a card like this!!

I like Javid would like to know what this MOSAIC data is too.

Also lets look at the openning... the word "ethics"!!! This is the key word. I want to see some data protection policies in place.

Well done Man for voicing how you feel! They wont be sending you a card again in a hurry!

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big willie, Watford says...
5:27pm Sat 3 Oct 09

I wonder how many of these cards contain keys to a council house?

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PFrancis, Watford says...
11:43pm Sat 3 Oct 09

I am tired of people saying words like "this is blown out of proportion" or "we have more important things in life".

Every small matter has a bearing on bigger issues. Watford Observer has done a great job in finding this guy and reporting this. If anyone says it’s not a big deal, then they are living in cookoo land!

Yes! Here is an example of the system failing us again. No political party should be allowed to segregate people by, race, colour, ethnicity, etc etc! By doing this, they have opened themselves up to discrimination. They could start targeting or favouring a type of person. We have already seen this with BNP!

I can see a bigger picture emerging here! What is happening to our data? Maybe we need to fight to ensure our data is used in the correct manner. After recent events of government bodies losing masses of data, they need to have some king of procedures and guidelines introduced. We the people need to fight for how our data moves around and is used, for both government and businesses!

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KevMaskill, The Meriden Watford says...
5:01am Sun 4 Oct 09

The Watford Observer did not find him, he contacted them.

I could have done exactly the same but just wrote on the envelope that i hope as a non-Muslim i get one for my New Year.

I best or i will contact the Wartford Observer for them to investigate as the Lib Dems spokeswoman says Christmas cards are sent also.

Funny that, i'll be 51 at Christmas and never got one yet from the Lib Dems?????

Very puzzling....

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KevMaskill, The Meriden Watford says...
5:02am Sun 4 Oct 09

The Watford Observer did not find him, he contacted them.

I could have done exactly the same but just wrote on the envelope that i hope as a non-Muslim i get one for my New Year.

I best or i will contact the Wartford Observer for them to investigate as the Lib Dems spokeswoman says Christmas cards are sent also.

Funny that, i'll be 51 at Christmas and never got one yet from the Lib Dems?????

Very puzzling....

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pac man, Watford says...
11:28am Mon 5 Oct 09

who cares who contacted who??!!!

freedome of speech and freedom of the press. This is a much better than hearing some newspaper is backing a party! Atleast this is a form of news, and yes it does matter! All these little stories add up to a bigger picture.

Shame on the Lib dems on their activity! In my opinion they should be careful in the way they look at data! And more importantly stop targetting groups. Muslims are just as intelligent as any other people and they know what they are up to! Votes Votes Votes... hmmm

Anyway, this will be old news in a few days, and its going to be forgotten!

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Comments are closed on this article.

Javid Suleman, a Christian, was sent a Muslim holiday card by the Watford Liberal Democrats. Javid Suleman, a Christian, was sent a Muslim holiday card by the Watford Liberal Democrats.


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