By Naheem Zaffar
Yep, Ladies and Gentlemen. It’s that time of the year again. Time to name and shame. Who are the people who have done the most damage to Islam and Muslims over the past year? The underlying theme this year for our turkeys has always been terror and terrorism.
We’ve had the Right Honourable Charles Clarke, for his heavy-handed anti-terrorism laws, and Sir Ian Blair for his attempted cover-up following the shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles De Menezes. And who can forget the ‘turkifying’ of fanatics who fan and support heinous acts of terrorism and butchery.
More recently the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad spoke in favour of completely wiping Israel off the map - and gave fuel to a stuttering lobby attempting to justify military action against Iran.
There was the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the possible involvement of Syrian officials. Then there was the betrayal of Iraq as some Muslims in the UK voted in the election for the murderous Tony Blair and his cronies.
The Turkey of the Year links a lot of the causes of the above together. It ties together terrorism, government, and Muslims betraying other Muslims.
So who is the turkey? Well let’s get our rotten eggs and tomatoes ready for the FOUR stooges. A nice boo for Khalid Mahmood, Shahid Malik, Muhammad Sarwar and Sadiq Khan. All four voted in favour of the proposed anti terror legislation, stabbing the whole Muslim community in the back.
From the four, the dynamic duo of Shahid Malik, and Khalid Mahmood managed to vote with the government in ALL ELEVEN VOTES. Stabbing the community once was not enough for these stooges.
The Anti-Terror Law & Why It Matters
The government wanted to hold suspects WITHOUT CHARGE for a maximum of 90 days, extended from the previous 14 days. Apparently they needed that time to carry out their investigation and gain evidence. A flawed argument as it has been over 100 days since the July 7 bombings, and not a single individual has yet been charged!
This proposal was defeated, no thanks to the Muslim MPs. Three of them voted in favour, but an amendment extending the period without charge from 14 to 28 days was successfully passed, and voted for by Sadiq Khan.
Many organisations have campaigned against this legislation. One was the Association of University Teachers (AoUT), which was worried the bill would accidentally criminalise a large number of people, particularly with the clause concerning ‘intent to further the causes of terrorism’, which does not need proof of intentional encouragement or support. “Without the need to prove that someone ‘intends’ to further the cause of terrorism, we run a huge risk that entirely legitimate forms of academic enquiry will be criminalised,” the AoUT document read. (1)
All four MPs voted in favour of this clause. What this really does is criminalise supporting the Kashmiri, Palestinian and Chechen struggles amongst any others... The sense of being part of a global Ummah is slowly being de- stroyed.
This clause was passed in parliament by 3 votes. Only three votes! If our representatives had the courage to stand up for what’s right, the gov- ernment would have been defeat- ed. Instead, MP Sarwar, who had not been present in recent votes in the House of Commons specially made his way down just to vote in favour of this clause!
These TUurkeys’ Have Stabbed The Muslims In The Back!
These MPs have betrayed their voters and stabbed the Muslim community in the back. They have voted against removing the clause which criminalises ‘... Statements that are likely to be understood by members of the public as indirectly encouraging... acts of terrorism...’(2) The proposal that the words have to be in context was also struck down! If whatever you say is taken out of context to directly or indirectly, purposefully or accidentally, encourage any act that may be deemed to be supporting or glorifying terrorism, you are now a criminal.
Go straight to jail. Do not pass go. For up to 5 years. You did not commit a crime, or even intend to support an offence? Well the long arm of the law does not care.
You are guilty. Glorifying or supporting your actions is now a punishable crime.
We are always asked to be tolerant, but the government is encroaching on our freedoms. This legislation is not tolerating our sense of community, and limiting our freedom to practice Islam. It is destroying our sense as part of the worldwide Muslim community. It is asking us not to support our brethren in just causes.
Just think: an Imam has second thoughts before doing dua for Muslims around the world! Just think: You have second thoughts before even listening to a talk! Just think: people have second thoughts before discussing Islam in detail.
Just think: become a criminal by just visiting some harmless websites! Just think about Islam being controlled in Whitehall. There will be no Global Ummah.
Are You Still Going To Do Nothing!
In May we asked you carefully choose who you will vote for. In July we told you how to take action. In September we gave the Islamic angle. Now we ask you to grill your MPs over their actions. Phone them. Fax them. Email them. Go to their offices. Hold them accountable for their actions. Don’t know how? We’ll teach you. (3)
If we do not speak up as an Ummah now, we will forever have to hold our silence. It is time to show these MPs how they have betrayed us all.
And the pay-off for this treachery? Well MP Khalid Mahmood has managed to gain a position in the Home Office... No doubt Shahid Malik amongst others will be expecting something for his troubles too.
We must show the Turkeys their rewards pale in comparison to the wrath they incur. We must make them think twice the next time they decide to betray us.
