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Ikram Butt
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Top accolade for rugby star
23/ 7/2008
RUGBY league and rugby union international, Ikram Butt has been recognised for his community work with an award at a recent British Muslim Honours ceremony in London.
Ikram, who heads up the British Asian Rugby Association (BARA), collected the accolade from Baroness Haymen at the event which took place at the House of Lords.
Also in attendance at the event was the High Commisioner of Pakistan to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohammad Mian Soomro.
The award recognises the work of Ikram and BARA in developing community sports-based initiatives that build cultural bridges for young people across the UK and in South Asia.
Ikram, currently community sports and activities development officer with Bradford Council, enjoys the distinction of being the first British Asian to represent England at either rugby code.
He has been the recipient of a number of awards in recent times and commented: "This is another major accolade and recognition for the progress that BARA has made in breaking down social divisions.
"Sport is a key way of interacting with young people on the issues of citizenship and Islamophobia and combating the recent surge in knife crime," added Ikram.
Ikram has also been featured as one of Britains most inflential men and women. At the Asian Power 100 Awards event Ikram won the Futures Leaders Award, ones to watch category and won the Active Citizen Award for Bradford. He was also shortlisted for the Outstanding Achievement category at the British Asian Sports Awards in February 2008.
BARA was praised recently by Prime Minister Gordon Brown during PM Question Time and has been officially endorsed for its work by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP.
BARA is an organisation which aims to provide positive role models, break down cultural amd religious barriers, promote community integration, personal development, healthy living and encouraging participating in sport & physical activity especially in rugby.
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