A RHYL Imam who worked to reduce fear in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing has been honoured with a top award.

Dr Abdel Kareem Awad has been honoured with the with Equality and Diversity Award at the North Wales Police (NWP) and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones’ annual Community Awards at Theatr Clwyd in Mold.

The Muslim community leader has been at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Rhyl since 1996. His engagement work at the mosque was instrumental in reducing tensions in the town following the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017.

Dr Awad, who also leads the North Wales Muslim Council, said: “It’s a dream to be honoured and awarded by my brothers and sisters. They are a part of me and my community.”

“I’m so happy. I have two PhDs but this award is very different. There is no comparison. I believe no other local Imam has been presented with such an award by the police, not even in Liverpool or Manchester. This is a first.

“This will give my community a different impression, one of reassurance and positivity that not only is their Imam honoured by them but also by the police as well."

Rhyl Journal:

Dr Abdel Kareem Awad speaking at the awards ceremony in Mold

Dr Awad, 64, is Palestinian, and moved to the UK in 1994 after teaching English throughout the Middle East.

His award is presented to an individual or group who has supported the equality agenda and made an impact on hate crime through community engagement.

A published author, Dr Awad’s earned both of his doctorates at British universities and his guidance has been instrumental to police in the implementation of policies within mosques and guidance around key religious events such as Ramadan. His work to promote understanding has included inviting Denbigshire schools to visit the Rhyl Islamic Centre

Dr Awad is also a senior Imam at Liverpool's biggest mosque Al-Rahma, and has been

actively involved in the We Stand Together campaign led by NWP to ensure the Muslims continue to feel safe as well as promoting recruitment opportunities within the force for people from the community.

Dr Awad added: “I have served the community for 25 years but to be acknowledged by the police is a different issue altogether. This award is not only for me it is for all of Wales. It will challenge the impression of the relationship between Imams and the police.”

“I don’t believe in oneness or the word ‘me’ or ‘I’, I believe in ‘we’. ‘We’ can achieve, ‘we’ can obtain and ‘we’ can progress together.

“We need to work together. Together we will build a unique community and a cohesive community."

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, said: “Trust and confidence in policing are vital and the support given by Dr Awad to NWP has been instrumental to positive engagement during difficult times and in encouraging young Muslims to look at the possibility of a career within the police.

“His advice and guidance to policing has been invaluable.”