An Islamic human rights organization has called upon Muslims in Britain to unite against sectarianism by signing a “pledge of unity”.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission issued an urgent message today to all Islamic groups and organizations to sign a petition which outlaws those who support and preach sectarianism within the Muslim community.
This has come as a result of the Woolwich murder domestically and the conflict in Syria which has increased sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shia worldwide.
The petition which is named “Charter 3:103” after a well known verse from the Qur’an that calls for unity amongst Muslims:
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers.”
(Surah Al-Imran)
Charter 3:103
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The Charter was initially established in 1997 by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, with the support of other organisations. Concerned individuals and organizations committed to the charter to show unity between different schools of thought and methodologies against all forms of disunity, including sectarianism, racism and nationalism.
IHRC considered the matter so serious in recent times that they have been circulating the Charter to all Muslim groups, inviting them to support this initiative. IHRC stated that “Disunity is a scourge, which benefits no-one except the enemies of Islam. This should be clear to all those Muslims who genuinely wish the plight of the Ummah to improve. In inviting the support of different organisations, we note that those who do not respond, or wish not to be involved are in fact choosing to oppose the Islamic call for unity by default.”
IHRC believe that all schools of Islamic thought that sincerely believe in the Qur’an and the Sunnah will come forward to show their support. It has encouraged all Muslim organisations to sign up to the petition to ensure unity and practically working against sectarianism in the Muslim community.
Organizations like the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) have already signed up to the charter, and IHRC are urging others to do the same by putting their differences aside. IHRC stated that this charter will give “a voice to the silent majority”, and will counter those that provoke disunity and hatred. Groups and personalities that preach sectarianism will be openly challenged and exposed, regardless of the backgrounds they may come from.
A recent increase in sectarian incidents like the civil war in Syria which has cost nearly 100,00 lives and millions displaced. In Pakistan and Afghanistan there has been carnage and destruction on sectarian lines.
Chairman of IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh said: “We need to stand united against sectarianism and expose those few individuals and organisations that exploit and promote it.”
