46. Mohammed Naseem, Birmingham Central Mosque

Not only is Birmingham Central Mosque on Belgrave Middleway one of the most prominent places of worship in Birmingham, it is also one of the largest mosques in the UK. So it's no surprise the chairman of the Central Mosque is equally prominent.

Dr Mohammad Naseem, who is 83 years old, has become well known as a voice of the Midlands Islamic community and is often on the national stage.

Dr Naseem was born in 1934 in Amritsar. He was educated mainly in Pakistan and then in England where he trained to become a doctor. He served for many years as a GP in Aston until he retired in 1994.

In the late 1960s, Dr Naseem became involved in a project to establish a major mosque and Islamic centre in Birmingham.

The project was listed as a registered charity and as a limited company and elections were held to select officers to run the new trust.

Dr Naseem was elected chairman, and has remained chairman ever since, supported by an annual
vote.

He has been a vocal champion of Muslim integration into British society, and led the way in promoting what he believes is the true peaceful message of Islam by opening the mosque to people of all faiths without restrictions.

He has occasionally courted controversy -most famously by comparing ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair to Adolf Hitler - and has crossed swords with Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood who he stood against as a Respect party candidate in the 2005 General Election, gaining more than 2,000 votes.