ISLAMIC leaders in Southampton are urging are the city’s Muslim community to play their part in shaping the nation’s future by voting in the general election on June 8.

Currently, there are more than 2.7 million Muslims in the UK, which account for more than 4.8 per cent of the UK population but figures from IPSO Mori showed that more than 53 per cent of those who were eligible didn’t vote in the last general election.

This compares to 85 per cent of people who describe themselves as CofE who did vote.

The voting message comes from the British Muslim Forum (BMF), an independent umbrella body of mosques, Muslim institutions and community organisations who are encouraging voter registration in their message at weekly prayers.

Navid Hamid, co-head of publicity at Medina Mosque in St Mary’s, said: “We have engaged with our local MPs and councillors to promote the importance of voting and democratic participation.

“During this Friday’s prayer, there was a sermon which involved the general election to promote the importance of registering to vote and making your voice heard.”

he said a laptop had been made available at the mosque for people to register on line during their visit to the city’s mosque.

Imam Qari Asim, from the forum added: “It’s vital that the voices of British Muslims are heard in this general election. Our faith urges us to play an active role in the civic society in which we live.

“Voting is a hard-won right and we must not miss the opportunity to exercise that democratic right.

“The result of the general election must be down to choice and not the by-product of apathy.

“Muslims are advised to take the time to find out about the key issues that are going to affect their families and the country in the coming years, and then vote on June 8 to shape the future of our country together.”

The BMF also participated in the #MyFaithMyVote social media initiative this week to urge people of all faiths to register to vote.