A MUSLIM COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE PROPOSED ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES

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In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

A MUSLIM COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE PROPOSED ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES

As members of the Muslim community the undersigned individuals and organisations feel the need to communicate our view regarding some of the recently proposed anti-terrorism measures in the aftermath of the London bombings, and address statements made by the Prime Minister in the past few weeks.

The British Muslim community has always been a law-abiding community and all its endeavours to create a more just society have been entirely peaceful. We fear that recent events are being exploited by some sections in society to demonise legitimate Islamic values and beliefs and hence consider it appropriate to make the following observations:

  1. The term “extremism”, frequently used in the public discourse about religion and terrorism, has no tangible legal meaning or definition and is thus unhelpful and emotive. To equate ‘extremism’ with the aspirations of Muslims for Shariah laws in the Muslim world or the desire to see unification towards a Caliphate in the Muslim lands, as seemed to be misrepresented by the Prime Minister, is inaccurate and disingenuous. It indicates ignorance of what the Shariah is and what a Caliphate is and will alienate and victimise the Muslim community unnecessarily.

  2. The Muslim community in Britain has unequivocally denounced acts of terrorism. However, the right of people anywhere in the world to resist invasion and occupation is legitimate. Therefore the proposal to criminalise ‘justification’ or ‘validation’ of such self defence appears to be intended to stifle discussion about, and support for, such resistance. Thus anyone even verbally opposing the illegal invasion of Iraq, for example, could in future be made out to be justifying and supporting ‘acts of terrorism’ and prosecuted. We are concerned that these proposed measures are intended to prevent the popular opposition witnessed in the run-up to the Iraq war should the United States wish to attack Iran, Syria or any other sovereign nation in the near future.

  3. It is natural for Muslims to feel sympathy with fellow Muslims elsewhere in the world and to desire justice for those of them living under oppression. Many people compare the Israeli reality with South African apartheid and demand a similar solution. To denounce anybody who questions the legitimacy of Israel will be seen as an attempt to silence academic thought and legitimate political expression. If the government hopes to pander to Zionist pressure by condemning and excluding from this country people who are critical of Israeli apartheid, it is in fact supporting apartheid.

  4. The proposal to ban the non-violent organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir is, in our view, unwarranted, unjust and unwise, and runs counter to all the principles which Western democracies are currently trying to promote abroad. Any disagreement with a political organisation must be expressed through debate not censorship. Whatever objections one may have to someone else’s point of view, we must uphold their right to hold and articulate those views. If it is suggested that any laws have been broken by any individuals or groups then this must be proven by due legal process. Criminalising the mere possession of certain opinions is the hallmark of dictatorships, not democracies.

  5. The same reasoning applies to the proposal to close mosques if they are arbitrarily defined as being ‘extremist’ or to try and politically influence what may or may not be said during a religious talk. This would amount to a collective punishment of the community and will be likely to create fear and prevent legitimate political discussion within mosques. This repression could lead to the very radical sub-culture which we all seek to prevent.

  6. The proposal to deport and/or extradite foreign nationals to countries known for gross human rights abuses is abhorrent to a civilized nation, irrelevant of whether or not a diplomatic assurance that deportees will not be mistreated is obtained. This recent move comes across as a cynical attempt to resolve the problem of dealing with those currently under “control orders” after the judiciary found their continued detention without trial to be unlawful. Given that the alleged bombers on 7 July in London were British nationals, such an exploitation of the events to move against foreign nationals as well as unwanted asylum seekers is indeed shameful.

This list of concerns is not conclusive, but we are putting these issues forward to help prevent a knee-jerk reaction to recent events which would drive a rift between communities in the UK and set the course of British politics onto the slippery slope of intellectual censorship and totalitarianism.

Signed:

Organisations and Institutions

  1. 1990 Trust

  2. Ahl-e-Hadith UK

  3. Alif Recordings

  4. Al-Ikhlas Foundation

  5. Al-Khair Foundation

  6. Al-Khair Educational & Cultural Centre

  7. Al-Khair Primary & Secondary School

  8. Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre

  9. Amal Trust

  10. An-Nisa Society

  11. Algerian Community in Britain – Supporters of FIS

  12. Association of Muslim Lawyers

  13. At-Tawheed Network,

  14. At-Tawheed Network Media.

  15. At-Tawheed Network Publications

  16. Bangla 2000

  17. Bangladeshi Community Centre (S Leeds)

  18. Bangladeshi Community Initiative, Southampton

  19. Bolton Link Youth Forum (BLYF)

  20. Cageprisoners

  21. Centre of Muslim Affairs

  22. Comparative Religion Centre Ltd

  23. Council of British Pakistanis

  24. Crescent International

  25. Ethnic Minorities Representatives Council (EMRC)

  26. European representative of World Council of Muslims Inter-faith Relations (WCMIR)

  27. Forum Against Islamophobia & Racism (FAIR)

  28. Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS)

  29. Friends of al-Aqsa

  30. Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain

  31. Innovative Minds

  32. International Muslims Organisation

  33. Islam Channel

  34. Islamic Forum Europe

  35. Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC)

  36. Islamic Observatory Centre

  37. Islamic Party of Britain

  38. Mayfair Islamic Centre

  39. Mindsprings

  40. Mosque and Islamic Centre of Harrow

  41. Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK

  42. Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)

  43. Muslim Directory

  44. Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony UK

  45. Muslim Community Trust, Leyton

  46. Muslim Professionals UK

  47. Motamar Al Alam Al Islami (World Muslim Congress )

  48. Masjid At-Tauwheed, Great Yarmouth

  49. Muslim Wefare Association of the Vale of Glamorgan

  50. Masjid Ikram al-Muslimeen Barry

  51. National Association of British Pakistanis (NABPAK)

  52. Norfolk & Suffolk Islamic Mission, Great Yarmouth

  53. Norfolk and Fenland Muslims

  54. New Civilization Foundation

  55. Party for Islamic Renewal

  56. Pakistani Resource Centre

  57. Pakistan Muslim Organisation (Bolton)

  58. Prisoners of the West

  59. Q-News

  60. Racial Attacks & Harassment Monitoring Association (RAHMA)

  61. Ramadhan Foundation

  62. Reading Islamic Centre, South Street

  63. Reading Muslim Council

  64. The Revival Magazine - Voice of the Muslim Youth

  65. Salam Magazine

  66. Stop Political Terror

  67. Sussex Muslim Society Trust UK

  68. Thinkers Forum UK

  69. UK Islam Mission

  70. UK Islam Events and Notices

  71. Waltham Forest Islamic Association

  72. WF Noor Ul Islam Trust - Leyton

  73. World Islamic Propagation Establishment UK

Individuals and Personalities

  1. Abu 'Abdissalam Khan - Islamic preacher specialised in Islamic Jurisprudence – London

  2. Abdul Haq, President - Ramadhan Radio Bristol

  3. Councillor Ismail Ibrahim - Bolton (Lab)

  4. Councillor Khalid Mahmood - Watford

  5. Councillor Mohammad Idrees - Bolton (Cons)

  6. Councillor Mohammad Jamil - Bowling and Bakerend ward Bradford (Cons)

  7. Councillor Munir Ahmed –

  8. Councillor Riaz Ahmed – Bradford Moor ward (Lib Dem)

  9. Daud R Matthews ex-Director International Council for Islamic Information

  10. Dr Abduljalil Sajid

  11. Dr Muhammad al-Massari

  12. Dr Rafaqut Rashid – Local GP and executive member of Islamic Cultural Association.

  13. Dr Usama Hasan

  14. Ejaz Ahmed, IT Tutor, Learn Direct

  15. Haji Kamran Bashir – Imam and Khatib of Girlington Mosque.

  16. Hamza Soren – Solicitor specialising in discrimination law from Manchester.

  17. Hasan al-Thaqafi - Islam Channel

  18. Ilyas Sherif, IT Tutor, Learn Direct

  19. Imam Shakeel Begg - Kent & Lewisham Islamic Centre

  20. Juan Varela, Volunteer Befriending Scheme Worker, Sheffield

  21. Khaliq Sharif,  IT Tutor, Learn Direct

  22. M. Hussain – Chairman, Reading Private Hire Association

  23. M. Jahmani, Business, Motor Trade

  24. Mohammad Azad Jaral – Chairman Kashmir Art Council UK.

  25. Mohammed Iqbal – Management and Marketing consultant Liverpool

  26. Mohammad Jan – Community leader who built 1st Rochdale mosque in 1964

  27. Nabeel Ul-Haq - Teacher of Islamic subjects - Croydon 

  28. Nageeb Khan, Teacher & Imam, Bristol Thaleem Islamic Trust (BTIT)

  29. Omair Zaman – Station Manager, Ramadan Radio Reading

  30. Refi Abu Rumyasah  Teacher of Islamic studies- High Wycombe

  31. S.Hassan – Secretary, Sri Lanka Islamic Forum

  32. Sajid Varda - Islam Channel Presenter & Businessman

  33. JUSTPEACE (Muslims for Justice and Peace)

  34. Shahid Saddiq- Teacher

  35. Shahid Younis – Councillor Reading

  36. Sharmeen Suleman - Founder of International Muslims Women's Clothing Company

  37. Sheykh Haitham al-Haddad - Shariah Council UK

  38. Sheykh Suliman Gani

  39. Sikander Mahmood – Chair of Karmand Community Centre, ex-Labour and trade unionist.

  40. Yvonne Ridley – Political Editor, Islam Channel

2005-09-13

This article is from The Revival's first website, where its publication date was not recorded. The date shown above is approximate.

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