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(L-R) Tunu Miah, his wife, Salema Bibi, their two children, Jamil Ahmed and Nasreen Pria with Mayor Valerie Sedgwick, registrar Marina Brown, Jamir Chowdhury with wife Mohua and daughter Sabia.
New citizens arise
Shelina Begum26/ 3/2004
THE first new citizenship ceremony in the North West has been
held in Oldham when 13 adults and three children swore a loyalty
oath beneath the Union Jack.
During the private ceremony conducted by superintendent registrar
Marina Brown in the presence of Oldham Mayor, Councillor Val
Sedgwick, participants swore a patriotic oath to the Queen as the
national anthem was played.
The new citizens then took a pledge to "uphold the UK's rights,
freedoms and democratic values" before being presented with their
certificates.
They were also given a present - a plastic passport wallet - by
Oldham council to keep as memory of the event.
Bangladeshi born Jamir Hussain Chowdhury, aged 34 was among the
participants who took the oath.
He was declared a citizen as his smiling wife, family doctor Mohua
Chowdhury and their three-year-old daughter Sabia, looked on.
Said IT student Jamir: "I really didn't mind taking part in the
ceremony. The whole event does make you feel a little special and
wanted in this country.
"I wasn't nervous but I was a excited about the day especially as
we are among the first in the north west to take part in this
historical event. "
Mohua said she did not feel it was forced patriotism.
"If you're going to become a British citizen, it's only right that
you should swear an oath to stay loyal to the country.
"The whole ceremony was pleasant and everybody taking part enjoyed
themselves. That is how it should be when you are being welcomed as
a new citizen .
"This should have been done a long time ago as it reinforces
people's loyalty to the country they have chosen to live in."
Tunu Miah was there to see his wife, Salema Bibi, and their two
children, Jamil Ahmed, aged eight and Nasreen Pria aged two, take
the oath.
The family moved recently from Bangladesh to the Coppice area of
Oldham.
Said Salema: "It was a little difficult but I understood what was
happening and what I was saying.
"It would have been better if they had given us a written copy of
the oath before hand so I could have practiced with my
husband."
Tunu added: "We all got dressed specially for today. My son is a
pupil at Coppice Primary School and he took time off from classes
to collect his certificate."
Oldham is one of eight local authorities in the country chosen to
run the pilot schemes. Over time it is expected they will become a
weekly event with 10-15 people being conferred with British
citizenship.
The cost of laying on the ceremony is £68 for each person and is
paid by the people who are being granted citizenship - a reasonable
fee according to Salema and Jamir.
Eventually new citizens will have to prove they have reached a
certain standard in English and could face a quiz about the culture
and history of the UK.
A handbook about life in the UK is also being produced to help
people integrate into society.
After the Oldham ceremony Mayor Val Sedgwick said she was delighted
to welcome the new citizens.
She said: "It is great news that Oldham has been chosen as one of
the pioneers of this important scheme."
Home Office press officer Linda Bateman congratulated all the new
citizens.
She said: "The prime purpose of the ceremony is to extend a very
warm welcome to everyone who has decided to make their home in this
country.
"This is an opportunity to celebrate their cultural diversity with
local people from their own town."
The Oath: "I (name) swear by almighty God, do solely and truly declare and affirm that, on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful; and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second, her heirs and successors according to law.
The Pledge: "I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British Citizen.
NOT everyone has welcomed the citizenship ceremony
Critics claim it is a piece of reactionary flummery more suitable
for staging at a British National Party rally than in town hall,
supposedly the seat of local democracy.
They have particularly attacked the oath which requires citizen to
swear fidelity to a particular royal line (ironically a German one,
with a German name until our present royals adopted the name
Windsor) and to God.
They say this is a grotesque hypocricy in a country where recent
opinion polls show half the citizens would like to see the back of
the Windsor dynasty and where less than two per cent worship
regularly in church.
In the North West opposition has come from a perhaps surprising
source - one of the officials who is obliged to carry out the
ceremony. But Rochdale deputy registrar David Roney says he will
refuse to officiate at the new ceremony.
Mr Roney (pictured above), aged 55, claims swearing an oath to the
Queen and singing the national anthem is forced patriotism and
offensive to ethnic minorities.
He has called for a national revolt by registrars.
Green Party member Mr Roney said the ceremonies are 'xenophobic'
and unfair for those both taking and giving the oath.
He said: "I am not prepared to ask someone to sing the national
anthem as proof of their 'Britishness'. I am a republican not a
royalist.
"This idea was first conceived by the far right parties and then
turned down by the Conservatives," he said.
"Now New Labour, in its wisdom, has decided to adopt it.
"We are going down the American line. It is degrading for everyone,
even for the registrars who have to conduct this farce."
Mr Roney has received support from Green Party national leaders,
who describe the new law 'a medieval idea.'
He added: "Members of the public I have spoken to are in favour of
what I am doing. They believe it is wrong and will not bring unity.
Wouldn't it be better to spend money giving new citizens health and
safety or English lessons rather than learning them to sing 'God
Save the Queen'?"
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