بِِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Alif Recordings
3. Al-Ikhlas Foundation
4. Al-Khair Foundation
5. Al-Khair Educational & Cultural Centre
6. Al-Khair Primary & Secondary School
7. Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
8. Amal Trust
9. An-Nisa Society
10. Algerian Community in Britain – Supporters of FIS
11. Association of Muslim Lawyers
12. At-Tawheed Network,
13. At-Tawheed Network Media.
14. At-Tawheed Network Publications
15. Bangla 2000
16. Bangladeshi Community Centre (S Leeds)
17. Bolton Link Youth Forum (BLYF)
18. BHMF – Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum
19. Cageprisoners
20. Centre of Muslim Affairs
21. City Circle
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. Mindsprings
39. Mosque and Islamic Centre of Harrow
40. Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK
41. Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)
42. Muslim Directory
43. Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony UK
44. Muslim Community Trust, Leyton
45. Muslim Professionals UK
46. Motamar Al Alam Al Islami (World Muslim Congress )
47. Masjid At-Tauwheed, Great Yarmouth
48. Muslim Wefare Association of the Vale of Glamorgan
49. Masjid Ikram al-Muslimeen Barry
50. National Association of British Pakistanis (NABPAK)
51. Norfolk & Suffolk Islamic Mission, Great Yarmouth
52. Norfolk and Fenland Muslims
53. New Civilization Foundation
54. Party for Islamic Renewal
55. Pakistani Resource Centre
56. Pakistan Muslim Organisation (Bolton)
57. Prisoners of the West
58. Q-News
59. Racial Attacks & Harassment Monitoring Association (RAHMA)
60. Ramadhan Foundation
61. Reading Islamic Centre, South Street
62. Reading Muslim Council
63. The Revival Magazine - Voice of the Muslim Youth
64. Salam Magazine
65. Stop Political Terror
66. Sussex Muslim Society Trust UK
67. Thinkers Forum UK
68. UK Islam Mission
69. UK Islam Events and Notices
70. Waltham Forest Islamic Association
71. WF Noor Ul Islam Trust - Leyton
72. 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 Mohammad Jamil – Conservative Bowling and Bakerend ward Bradford.
4. Councillor Mohammad Idrees (Bolton Cons)
5. Councillor Ismail Ibrahim (Bolton Lab)
6. Councillor Riaz Ahmed – Liberal Democrats Bradford Moor ward.
7. Daud R Matthews ex-Director International Council for Islamic Information
8. Dr Usama Hasan
9. Dr Abduljalil Sajid
10. Dr Rafaqut Rashid – Local GP and executive member of Islamic Cultural Association.
11. Ejaz Ahmed, IT Tutor, Learn Direct
12. Hasan al-Thaqafi - Islam Channel
13. Haji Kamran Bashir – Imam and Khatib of Girlington Mosque.
14. Mr Hamza Soren – Solicitor specialising in discrimination law from Manchester.
15. Imam Shakeel Begg - Kent & Lewisham Islamic Centre
16. Ilyas Sherif, IT Tutor, Learn Direct
17. Khaliq Sharif, IT Tutor, Learn Direct
18. Mohammad Azad Jaral – Chairman Kashmir Art Council UK.
19. Mohammad Jan – Community leader who built 1st Rochdale mosque in 1964.
20. Mr Mohammed Iqbal – Management and Marketing consultant Liverpool.
21. Munir Ahmed – Councillor
22. Dr Muhammad al-Massari
23. M. Hussain – Chairman, Reading Private Hire Association
24. M. Jahmani, Business, Motor Trade
25. Nabeel Ul-Haq - Teacher of Islamic subjects - Croydon
26. Nageeb Khan, Teacher & Imam, Bristol Thaleem Islamic Trust (BTIT)
27. Omair Zaman – Station Manager, Ramadan Radio Reading
28. Refi Abu Rumyasah Teacher of Islamic studies- High Wycombe
29. S.Hassan – Secretary, Sri Lanka Islamic Forum
30. Sajid Varda - Islam Channel Presenter & Businessman
31. Salim Bhorat (Just4Peace
32. Shahid Saddiq- Teacher
33. Shahid Younis – Councillor Reading
34. Sharmeen Suleman - Founder of International Muslims Women's Clothing Company
35. Sheykh Haitham al-Haddad - Shariah Council UK
36. Sheykh Suliman Gani
37. Mr Sikander Mahmood – Chair of Karmand Community Centre, ex-Labour and trade unionist.
38. Yvonne Ridley – Political Editor, Islam Channel
2005-09-13
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Alif Recordings
3. Al-Ikhlas Foundation
4. Al-Khair Foundation
5. Al-Khair Educational & Cultural Centre
6. Al-Khair Primary & Secondary School
7. Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
8. Amal Trust
9. An-Nisa Society
10. Algerian Community in Britain – Supporters of FIS
11. Association of Muslim Lawyers
12. At-Tawheed Network,
13. At-Tawheed Network Media.
14. At-Tawheed Network Publications
15. Bangla 2000
16. Bangladeshi Community Centre (S Leeds)
17. Bolton Link Youth Forum (BLYF)
18. BHMF – Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum
19. Cageprisoners
20. Centre of Muslim Affairs
21. City Circle
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. Mindsprings
39. Mosque and Islamic Centre of Harrow
40. Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK
41. Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)
42. Muslim Directory
43. Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony UK
44. Muslim Community Trust, Leyton
45. Muslim Professionals UK
46. Motamar Al Alam Al Islami (World Muslim Congress )
47. Masjid At-Tauwheed, Great Yarmouth
48. Muslim Wefare Association of the Vale of Glamorgan
49. Masjid Ikram al-Muslimeen Barry
50. National Association of British Pakistanis (NABPAK)
51. Norfolk & Suffolk Islamic Mission, Great Yarmouth
52. Norfolk and Fenland Muslims
53. New Civilization Foundation
54. Party for Islamic Renewal
55. Pakistani Resource Centre
56. Pakistan Muslim Organisation (Bolton)
57. Prisoners of the West
58. Q-News
59. Racial Attacks & Harassment Monitoring Association (RAHMA)
60. Ramadhan Foundation
61. Reading Islamic Centre, South Street
62. Reading Muslim Council
63. The Revival Magazine - Voice of the Muslim Youth
64. Salam Magazine
65. Stop Political Terror
66. Sussex Muslim Society Trust UK
67. Thinkers Forum UK
68. UK Islam Mission
69. UK Islam Events and Notices
70. Waltham Forest Islamic Association
71. WF Noor Ul Islam Trust - Leyton
72. 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 Mohammad Jamil – Conservative Bowling and Bakerend ward Bradford.
4. Councillor Mohammad Idrees (Bolton Cons)
5. Councillor Ismail Ibrahim (Bolton Lab)
6. Councillor Riaz Ahmed – Liberal Democrats Bradford Moor ward.
7. Daud R Matthews ex-Director International Council for Islamic Information
8. Dr Usama Hasan
9. Dr Abduljalil Sajid
10. Dr Rafaqut Rashid – Local GP and executive member of Islamic Cultural Association.
11. Ejaz Ahmed, IT Tutor, Learn Direct
12. Hasan al-Thaqafi - Islam Channel
13. Haji Kamran Bashir – Imam and Khatib of Girlington Mosque.
14. Mr Hamza Soren – Solicitor specialising in discrimination law from Manchester.
15. Imam Shakeel Begg - Kent & Lewisham Islamic Centre
16. Ilyas Sherif, IT Tutor, Learn Direct
17. Khaliq Sharif, IT Tutor, Learn Direct
18. Mohammad Azad Jaral – Chairman Kashmir Art Council UK.
19. Mohammad Jan – Community leader who built 1st Rochdale mosque in 1964.
20. Mr Mohammed Iqbal – Management and Marketing consultant Liverpool.
21. Munir Ahmed – Councillor
22. Dr Muhammad al-Massari
23. M. Hussain – Chairman, Reading Private Hire Association
24. M. Jahmani, Business, Motor Trade
25. Nabeel Ul-Haq - Teacher of Islamic subjects - Croydon
26. Nageeb Khan, Teacher & Imam, Bristol Thaleem Islamic Trust (BTIT)
27. Omair Zaman – Station Manager, Ramadan Radio Reading
28. Refi Abu Rumyasah Teacher of Islamic studies- High Wycombe
29. S.Hassan – Secretary, Sri Lanka Islamic Forum
30. Sajid Varda - Islam Channel Presenter & Businessman
31. Salim Bhorat (Just4Peace
32. Shahid Saddiq- Teacher
33. Shahid Younis – Councillor Reading
34. Sharmeen Suleman - Founder of International Muslims Women's Clothing Company
35. Sheykh Haitham al-Haddad - Shariah Council UK
36. Sheykh Suliman Gani
37. Mr Sikander Mahmood – Chair of Karmand Community Centre, ex-Labour and trade unionist.
38. Yvonne Ridley – Political Editor, Islam Channel
2005-09-13
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