Belief - Junaid Bhatti

Joan Bakewell explores the beliefs of artists, thinkers, religious leaders and other public figures in a returning series of programmes on Radio 3. Tonight Joan Bakewell's guest is Junaid Bhatti, who chose to leave the world of conventional banking and to help start Britain's first Shariah-compliant bank, the Islamic Bank of Britain. He explains the fundamentals of Islamic banking and how, in principle, the practice of Islamic finance avoids the excesses and vulnerability of conventional banking which led to the credit crunch. He also talks about how he became Baron of Ballencrieff, a Scottish feudal title of nobility, and his experience growing up and working as a Muslim in Britain including a brief spell managing acts in a comedy club. He believes extremism within his religion should be condemned and the preachers of hate should be challenged.