UK Muslim community issue statement on Govt’s criminalisation of Islam

A joint statement has been signed by numerous heads of Muslim organisations, scholars and journalists against the Government’s witch-hunt of particular groups, speakers and activists.

The following statement was issued at 12pm today:

“This joint statement expresses a position with respect to the ongoing demonisation of Muslims in Britain, their values as well as prominent scholars, speakers and organisations.

We, the undersigned Imams, sheikhs, advocates, activists, community leaders, community organisations and student bodies of the Muslim community, make the following points in this regard:

1) We reject the exploitation of Muslim issues and the ‘terror threat’ for political capital, in particular in the run up to a general election. Exploiting public fears about security is as dishonourable as exploiting public fears about immigration. Both deflect attention from crises in the economy and health service, but are crude and divisive tactics, where the big parties inevitably try to outdo each other in their nastiness.

2) We deplore the continued public targeting of Muslims through endless ‘anti-terror’ laws. There have been around ten pieces of legislation since the year 2000, all giving huge powers to the state, which have fuelled a media hysteria even though in most cases no crime was committed. This has created a distressing and harmful backlash towards Muslims, especially women and children.

3) We reject the portrayal of Muslims and the Muslim community as a security threat. The latest Act of Parliament, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, threatens to create a ‘McCarthyite’ witch-hunt against Muslims, with nursery workers, schoolteachers and Universities expected to look out for signs of increased Islamic practice as signs of ‘radicalisation’. Such a narrative will only further damage social cohesion as it incites suspicion and ill feeling in the broader community.

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4) The expedient use of undefined and politically charged words like ‘radicalisation’ and ‘extremism’ is unacceptable as it criminalises legitimate political discourse and criticism of the stance of successive governments towards Muslims domestically and abroad. We strongly oppose political proposals to further ‘tackle’ and ‘crack down’ on such dissenting voices in the Muslim community despite their disavowal of violence and never having supported terrorist acts.

5) Similarly, it is unacceptable to label as ‘extremist’ numerous normative Islamic opinions on a variety of issues, founded on the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), implying there is a link between them and violence, using such labels as an excuse to silence speakers.

6) We affirm our commitment to robust political and ideological debate and discourse for the betterment of humanity at large. The attempts by the state to undermine this bring into question its commitment to its very own purported values and liberal freedoms.

7) We affirm our concern about peace and security for all. We, however, refuse to be lectured on peace-building and harmony by a government that plays divisive politics and uses fear to elicit uncertainty in the general public, whilst maintaining support for dictators across the Muslim world, who continue to brutalise any legitimate political opposition to their tyranny.

8) We affirm our intention to hold on to our beliefs and values, to speak out for what is right and against what is wrong based on our principles, whether that be on matters such as the securitisation of society, corporate hegemony, war and peace, economic exploitation, social and moral issues in society, nationalism and racism. Not to do so would be dangerous and leave our community unguided.

9) We call on all fair minded people in Britain – including politicians, journalists, academics, bloggers and others concerned about fairness for all – to continue to scrutinise the scare tactics, fear-mongering and machinations of politicians, which do not bode well for societal harmony and only increase the alienation felt and experienced by Britain’s Muslim community.

It is time that politicians stop diverting the attention of the British public away from its domestic crises and disastrous foreign policies by repeatedly playing the ‘Muslim’ or ‘national security’ card.”

Signed:

  1. Abdurraheem Green, iERA
  2. Anjum Anwar, Teacher/Chair of Woman’s Voice
  3. Arzu Merali, Islamic Human Rights Commission
  4. Abdul Wahid, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Britain
  5. Dr Musharraf Hussain, CEO and Chief Imam, Karimia Institute
  6. Dr Reza Pankhurst, Author and academic
  7. Dr Saeed Al-Gadi, Presenter at Islam Channel
  8. Dr Shahrul Hussain, Birmingham
  9. Dr Uthman Lateef, Hittin Institute
  10. Hodan Yusuf, Journalist
  11. Ibrahim Hewitt, Leicester
  12. Ibtihal Bsis, Barrister, Broadcaster
  13. Imam Abdul Wahhab, East London
  14. Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh, Imam & Khatib, London
  15. Imam Abdul Mateen, East London
  16. Imam Aziz Ibraheem, Iman Trust Community Centre, St Helens
  17. Imam Irfan Patel, Jamiah Masjid, Gillngham
  18. Imam Shakeel Begg, Lewisham Islamic Centre
  19. Jahangir Mohammed, Centre for Muslim Affairs
  20. Lauren Booth, Journalist
  21. Mahmud Choudhury – Secretary Poplar Shahjalal Masjid
  22. Massoud Shadjareh, Islamic Human Rights Commission
  23. Moazzam Begg, Director of Outreach for CAGE
  24. Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah, Al Mustaqeem Centre, Bradford
  25. Shaikh Abu Abdissalam, London
  26. Shaikh Haitham Haddad, London
  27. Shaikh Haitham Tamim, Chairman of the Utrujj Foundation
  28. Shaikh Khaled Fekry, Imam, London
  29. Shaikh Omer Hamdoon, Muslim Association of Britain
  30. Shaikh Sulaiman Gani, South London
  31. Shaikh Zuber Karim, Intelligence Finance Consultancy
  32. Shaikh Tauqir Ishaq, CEO Hijaz College
  33. Ustadh Kamal Abu Zahra, Lecturer on Islamic studies, London
  34. Yusuf Chambers – Freelance community activist
  35. Yusuf Patel, SRE Islamic
  36. Azad Ali, Muslim Safety Forum
  37. Asghar Bukhari, Muslim Public Affairs Committee, UK
  38. Roshan Muhammad Salih, Broadcaster and journalist
  39. Ghulam Haydar, Director of Myriad Foundation
  40. Shoaib Khalid Bhatti, Muslim Lobby, Scotland
  41. Dr Daud Abdullah, British Muslim Initiave
  42. Shaikh Chokri Majoli, Imam, London
  43. Yvonne Ridley, Vice President European Muslim League
  44. Muhammad Shafique, Ramadan Foundation, Rochdale
  45. Hasan Alkatib, Journalist
  46. Mazhar Khan, Manchester Muslim Forum
  47. Saaqib Abu Ishaaq, Project Medinah, Rochdale
  48. Omar Ali, Chair of Brighton and Hove Muslim Community
  49. Sofia Ahmed, Activist & founder of Muslim Women Against Femen
  50. Nalini Naidoo,  Newham Muslim Women’s Association
  51. Irfan Hussain, Bradford Dawah Centre
  52. Leyla Habibti,  humanitarian activist
  53. Tasmin Nazeer, freelance journalist
  54. Ali Anees, Eccles Mosque
  55. Saeed Akhtar, Cheadle Mosque
  56. Yousef Dar, Community Safety Forum, Manchester
  57. Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, Humanitarian campaigner
  58. Majid Freeman, Humanitarian aid worker, friend of Alan Henning
  59. Laura Stuart, Humanitarian aid worker, journalist and activist
  60. Fatima Barkatula, Scholar and Director of Seeds of Change
  61. Salman Sayyid, Author and Academic
  62. Shezana Hafiz, Humanitarian Activist
  63. Abdus Samad, IQRA TV / TV Producer
  64. Alomgir Ali, MDRF, London
  65. Shamsuz zaman, CYCD Chairperson, Luton
  66. Tahir Talati, Imam Zakariya Academy, London
  67. Abdul Razaq, Principal Iqra Academy, Peterborough
  68. Fahad Ansari, Human Rights Solicitor
  69. Adullah al Andalusi, Muslim Debate Initiative
  70. Yusuf Shabbir, Blackburn Muslim Association
  71. Suhail Akubat, Imam, Masjid e Salaam, Preston
  72. Bilal Toorawa, Imam, Blackburn
  73. Councillor Salim Mulla, Blackburn
  74. Mohammed Alsheikh Mousa Attari Alhijazy, Alhuda Prophetic Medical Centre, London
  75. Haji Mohammed Walayat, Sunni Council of Mosques, Luton
  76. Edris Seth, Political Activist, Bolton
  77. Ali Ahmad, Imam, East London
  78. Zahid Akhtar, Founder Documenting Oppression Against Muslims, Walsall
  79. Shirajul Haque, Imam, London
  80. Ismail Rawat, Preston Muslim Forum, Preston
  81. Khaleel Ur Rahman, The Deen Project / Activist, Derby
  82. Ilyas Abu Yusuf, Imam, Bolton
  83. Yaseen Ahmedabadi, General Secretary, Nuneaton Muslim Society
  84. Munir Aya, Volunteer, Zakaria Mosque, Bolton
  85. Raheema Bux, Community Worker, Blackburn
  86. Nasima Begum, Solicitor, Luton
  87. Mustafa Mustafa, Youth Worker, South London
  88. Amanpaul Dhaliwal, Islam21c.com, London
  89. Tahir Alam, PHD Student, SOAS, London
  90. Dr Ajmal Hussain, GP, Stoke on Trent
  91. Hafiz Kasim Javed, Community Activist, Rochdale
  92. Ahmed Desai, Imam, Bradford
  93. Muhammad Hansrot, Imam, Croydon, London
  94. Muhammad Rahman, Teacher, Ilford, London
  95. Rizwan Ahmed, Imam, Sheffield
  96. Abdul Rehman Saleem, Khateeb / Activist, London
  97. Inamul Hussain Yusuf, Teacher, Bolton
  98. Dr Suhel Ahmed, GP, Bolton
  99. Nasar Khan, Quran Project Volunteer, Birmingham
  100. Asad Zaman, Imam & Chair Inter-Mosque Sports Association, Cheadle
  101. Dr Siema Iqbal, GP, Manchester
  102. Professor Yasin Patel, Senior Professor and Academic, London
  103. Mohammed Makeen Salloo, Imam, Walsall
  104. Qasim Asad, Community Voice, Blackburn
  105. Ibrahim Bismillah, Director of Darul Ihsan Academy, Bradford
  106. Faisal Mahmood, President, UKIM Peterborough
  107. Muhammad Haque, Imam, Romford
  108. Juwel Mahmud, Activist, London
  109. Kosser Mohammed, College Lecturer, Newham, London
  110. Suhail Rafique, Lecturer, Bolton
  111. Majed Iqbal, Freelance Journalist and Blogger, Rochdale
  112. Mufti Hussain Mohammed Sultan, Imam, London
  113. Dr Imran Rafiq, Ilford, Essex
  114. Dr Colin Turner, Reader in Islamic Thought, University of Durham
  115. Nabeela Siddiqui, Barrister, Derby
  116. Nadeem Khan, Normanton Youth Association
  117. Mahmud Amirat, Chair Preston Gujarat Muslim Welfare Society, Preston
  118. Mohammed Tahir, Teacher, Oldham
  119. Imran Khan, Youth Worker, Birmingham
  120. Syed Nurul Islam, Community Activist, Bedford
  121. Hamid Chaudry, Chair,  Bayyina Foundation, Blackburn
  122. Muhammad Rashid, Imam, Peterborough
  123. Sadiyya Ali, Teacher, Oldham
  124. Mohammed Tahir, Teacher, Oldham
  125. Muhammed ibn Ayub, Director MBYG, Blackburn
  126. Aisha Mirza, Author / Activist, Manchester
  127. Sajid Varda, Producer / Broadcaster, London
  128. Paul, Muslim Blogger at bloggingtheology.net, London

If you agree with this statement are an Imam, sheikh, advocate, activist, community leader, community organisation, student body of the Muslim community and would like to become a signatory, email: [email protected]

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