Muslim community leaders and activists are continuing to put their names to a joint statement against the government’s witch-hunt of particular groups, speakers and activists.
When the statement was originally released on Wednesday afternoon it had garnered around 60 signatures from a diverse range of Muslim activists with different theological and political stances.
But the statement has now been signed by 210 people in an unprecedented show of unity amongst British Muslims and a reflection of the concern the whole community feels about government policies.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is the only prominent British Muslim organisation not to have signed this letter although several MCB affiliates have done so.
This is the statement in full:
“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:
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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.
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.”
- Abdurraheem Green, Chairman of the Islamic Education and Research Academy
- Anjum Anwar, Teacher/Chair of Woman’s Voice
- Arzu Merali, Islamic Human Rights Commission
- Dr Abdul Wahid, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Britain
- Dr Musharraf Hussain, CEO and Chief Imam, Karimia Institute
- Dr Reza Pankhurst, Author and academic
- Dr Saeed Al-Gadi, Presenter at Islam Channel
- Dr Shahrul Hussain, Birmingham
- Dr Uthman Lateef, Hittin Institute
- Hodan Yusuf, Journalist
- Ibrahim Hewitt, Leicester
- Ibtihal Bsis, Barrister, Broadcaster,
- Imam Abdul Wahhab, East London
- Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh, Imam & Khatib, London
- Imam Abdul Mateen, East London
- Imam Aziz Ibraheem, Iman Trust Community Centre, St Helens
- Imam Irfan Patel, Jamiah Masjid, Gillngham
- Imam Shakeel Begg, Lewisham Islamic Centre
- Jahangir Mohammed, Centre for Muslim Affairs
- Lauren Booth, Journalist
- Mahmud Choudhury – Secretary Poplar Shahjalal Masjid
- Massoud Shadjareh, Islamic Human Rights Commission
- Moazzam Begg, Director of Outreach for CAGE
- Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah, Al Mustaqeem Centre, Bradford
- Shaikh Abu Abdissalam, London
- Shaikh Haitham Haddad, London
- Shaikh Haitham Tamim, Chairman of the Utrujj Foundation
- Shaikh Khaled Fekry, Imam, London
- Shaikh Omer Hamdoon, Muslim Association of Britain
- Shaikh Sulaiman Gani, South London
- Shaikh Zuber Karim, Intelligence Finance Consultancy
- Shaikh Tauqir Ishaq, CEO Hijaz College
- Ustadh Kamal Abu Zahra, Lecturer on Islamic studies, London
- Yusuf Chambers – Freelance community activist
- Yusuf Patel, SRE Islamic
- Azad Ali, Muslim Safety Forum
- Asghar Bukhari, Muslim Public Affairs Committee, UK
- Roshan Muhammad Salih, Broadcaster and journalist
- Ghulam Haydar, Director of Myriad Foundation
- Shoaib Khalid Bhatti, Muslim Lobby, Scotland
- Dr Daud Abdullah, British Muslim Initiave
- Shaikh Chokri Majoli, Imam, London
- Yvonne Ridley, Vice President European Muslim League
- Muhammad Shafique, Ramadan Foundation, Rochdale
- Hasan Alkatib, Journalist
- Mazhar Khan, Manchester Muslim Forum
- Saaqib Abu Ishaaq, Project Medinah, Rochdale
- Omar Ali, Chair of Brighton and Hove Muslim Community
- Sofia Ahmed, Activist & founder of Muslim Women Against Femen
- Nalini Naidoo, Newham Muslim Women’s Association
- Irfan Hussain, Bradford Dawah Centre
- Leyla Habibti, humanitarian activist
- Tasmin Nazeer, freelance journalist
- Ali Anees, Eccles Mosque
- Saeed Akhtar, Cheadle Mosque
- Yousef Dar, Community Safety Forum, Manchester
- Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, Humanitarian campaigner
- Majid Freeman, Humanitarian aid worker, friend of Alan Henning
- Laura Stuart, Humanitarian aid worker, journalist and activist
- Salman Sayyid, Author and Academic
- Shezana Hafiz, Humanitarian Activist
- Abdus Samad, IQRA TV / TV Producer
- Alomgir Ali, MDRF, London
- Shamsuz zaman, CYCD Chairperson, Luton
- Tahir Talati, Imam Zakariya Academy, London
- Abdul Razaq, Principal Iqra Academy, Peterborough
- Fahad Ansari, Human Rights Solicitor
- Abdullah al Andalusi , Muslim Debate Initiative
- Yusuf Shabbir, Blackburn Muslim Association
- Suhail Akubat, Imam, Masjid e Salaam, Preston
- Bilal Toorawa, Imam, Blackburn
- Councillor Salim Mulla, Blackburn
- Mohammed Alsheikh Mousa Attari Alhijazy, Alhuda Prophetic Medical Centre, London
- Haji Mohammed Walayat, Sunni Council of Mosques, Luton
- Edris Seth, Political Activist, Bolton
- Ali Ahmad, Imam, East London
- Zahid Akhtar, Founder Documenting Oppression Against Muslims, Walsall
- Shirajul Haque, Imam, London
- Ismail Rawat, Preston Muslim Forum, Preston
- Khaleel Ur Rahman, The Deen Project / Activist, Derby
- Ilyas Abu Yusuf, Imam, Bolton
- Yaseen Ahmedabadi, General Secretary, Nuneaton Muslim Society
- Munir Aya, Volunteer, Zakaria Mosque, Bolton
- Raheema Bux, Community Worker, Blackburn
- Nasima Begum, Solicitor, Luton
- Mustafa Mustafa, Youth Worker, South London
- Amanpaul Dhaliwal, Islam21c.com, London
- Tahir Alam, PHD Student, SOAS, London
- Dr Ajmal Hussain, GP, Stoke on Trent
- Hafiz Kasim Javed, Community Activist, Rochdale
- Ahmed Desai, Imam, Bradford
- Muhammad Hansrot, Imam, Croydon, London
- Muhammad Rahman, Teacher, Ilford, London
- Rizwan Ahmed, Imam, Sheffield
- Abdul Rehman Saleem, Khateeb / Activist, London
- Inamul Hussain Yusuf, Teacher, Bolton
- Dr Suhel Ahmed, GP, Bolton
- Nasar Khan, Quran Project Volunteer, Birmingham
- Asad Zaman, Imam & Chair Inter-Mosque Sports Association, Cheadle
- Dr Siema Iqbal, GP, Manchester
- Professor Yasin Patel, Senior Professor and Academic, London
- Mohammed Makeen Salloo, Imam, Walsall
- Qasim Asad, Community Voice, Blackburn
- Ibrahim Bismillah, Director of Darul Ihsan Academy, Bradford
- Faisal Mahmood, President, UKIM Peterborough
- Muhammad Haque, Imam, Romford
- Juwel Mahmud, Activist, London
- Kosser Mohammed, College Lecturer, Newham, London
- Suhail Rafique, Lecturer, Bolton
- Majed Iqbal, Freelance Journalist and Blogger, Rochdale
- Mufti Hussain Mohammed Sultan, Imam, London
- Dr Imran Rafiq, Ilford, Essex
- Dr Colin Turner, Reader in Islamic Thought, University of Durham
- Nabeela Siddiqui, Barrister, Derby
- Nadeem Khan, Normanton Youth Association
- Mahmud Amirat, Chair Preston Gujarat Muslim Welfare Society, Preston
- Mohammed Tahir, Teacher, Oldham
- Imran Khan, Youth Worker, Birmingham
- Syed Nurul Islam, Community Activist, Bedford
- Hamid Chaudry, Chair, Bayyina Foundation, Blackburn
- Muhammad Rashid, Imam, Peterborough
- Sadiyya Ali, Teacher, Oldham
- Mohammed Tahir, Teacher, Oldham
- Muhammed ibn Ayub, Director MBYG, Blackburn
- Aisha Mirza, Author / Activist, Manchester
- Sajid Varda, Producer / Broadcaster, London
- Paul, Muslim Blogger at bloggingtheology.net, London
- Belal Ballali, Muslim Association of Britain, Birmingham
- Zaid Mohammad, Imam, Central Mosque Rochdale
- Abyd Quinn Aziz, Lecturer, Cardiff
- Dr Zavid Chariwala, GP, Bolton
- Rahim Jung, Broadcaster / TV presenter, London
- Badr. J. Akhter, Teacher, Stockport
- Mumtaz Malik, Imam, London
- Shaban Ul Haq, CEO The Reflections Institute, Luton
- Lukman Harees, Social Activist / Author, Reading
- Moinul Abu Hamza, The Qur’an Initiative, London
- Shujah Hamid, Deputy Head Teacher, Slough
- Usman Qureshi, Norbury Muslim Centre, London
- Mohammad Quraishi, Principal, Quantum Ruqya Education Trust
- Imam Khalid Hussain, Masjid Tajdar E Madina & Jamia Sufia, Leicester
- Dr Zeshan Ali, Doctor, Manchester
- Moulana Afrooz ali, Al Hikmah Trustee, Bradford
- Nabil Khan, Hemel Muslims, Hemel Hempstead
- Muhammad Rubel Amin, Community Worker, Bedford
- Abdul Munaim, Journey to Islam, Derby
- Sadat Hussain, Founder- Street Dawah Walsall, Walsall
- Mubarak Patel, Teacher, Blackburn
- Asif Batha, Lecturer, Bolton
- Abid Khan, Imam, Cheadle Mosque, Manchester
- Faisal Khan, Councillor, Bradford
- Shah Asad Ahmed, Director, Oxford Muslim Society, Oxford
- Abu Isa, Inquisitive Minds Tuition, Leeds
- Abd As Sabur, Activist, Rochdale
- Mohammed Imran, Teacher, Wakefield
- Shah Shuaib Ahmed, Vice Principal, Imam Zakariya Academy & Al-Ashraaf Islamic College, London
- Mohammed Amjad, Councillor and Human Rights Lawyer, Aylesbury
- Adnan Ahmad, Actvist, Uxbridge
- Dr Imran Satia, Chair, Blackburn Muslim Association, Blackburn
- Dee Jenoch, Youth Club co-ordinator, Bedford
- Dawud Islam, Former Deputy Leader, RESPECT, Rochdale
- Zubeir Hassam,Principal, Muslim School Oadby, Leicester
- Rehana Parveen, Lecturer, Birmingham
- Aminur Rahman, Imam, Birmingham
- Latif Rajput, Trustee, Cambridge
- Abdul-Samad Billoo, Community Activist, London
- Sajaad Rauf, Youth worker, Sheffield
- Leonie Campbell, Teacher, London
- Riyadhul Haque, Nottingham Muslim Community (FB), Nottingham
- Imran Patel, Quwaat-ul-islam School, London
- Ridwaan Haris, Solicitor / Activist, Bradford
- Abbas Khan, Islam Invite, Bradford
- Abdullah Shahid, Alhikmah Learning Centre, Bradford
- Amjid Mahmood, Ghazali Trust, Oldham
- Mamoon Al-Hassan, President, Young Muslim Organisation UK, London
- Dr Anas Altikriti, CEO & Founder, The Cordoba Foundation, London
- Sufyan Ismail – CEO of Muslim Engagement and Development
- Salim Bhorat, Community/Peace activist, Bolton
- Shohana Khan, Writer / Blogger, London
- Saghir Hussain, Solicitor, London
- Dilly Hussain, 5Pillars News
- Yasmin Khatun, Journalist
- Nabil Robbins, Teacher, London
- Shakil Chaudhary, President of Islamic Society, Chigwell
- Joynal Ahmed, Imam, East Ham Islamic Academy, London
- Shohab Ali, Trustee, Muhammadi Masjid, Keighley
- Amar Alam, Research Psychologist / Activist / Writer, London
- Abdul Jabbar, Journalist, Bradford
- Louisa Butt, Speaker Newspaper, Manchester
- Asma Begam, Teacher, London
- Ibrar Ali, Community Activist, Bradford
- Tariq Mahmood, Independent Muslim Forum, Bolton
- Jamal Uddin, Moulana / Social Worker, Sheffield
- Farzana Shaheen, Stepping Stones 2 Wisdom, Bradford
- Abdul Majid, Need4Deen, Bolton
- Haleema Begum, Stepping Stones 2 Wisdom, Bradford
- Hamer Youth Group, Rochdale
- Atif Hussain Khan, Economist/ex-president of University of Kent Islamic Society, Manchester
- Qari Mubashir Anwar, Founder, The Blessed Hub, Manchester
- Rojin Khairul, Director, Living Madina, Manchester
- Zeshan Rehmani, Pharmacist / Actavist, Manchester
- Amer Rashid, CEO, Afghan Orphans, Birmingham
- Amelia Al, Activists / Writer, London
- Dr Isa Malik, Youth Activist, London
- Adnan Rashid, Head, Hittin Institute, London
- Arafath Ahmed, Youth and Community Worker, Leicester
- Amer Hamed, Chairman, Welsh Islamic Cultural Association, Swansea
- Dr Patricia McManus, Lecturer / UCU activist, Brighton
- Shabaz Ahmed, Solicitor, Blackburn
- Shabir Qamar, CEO, Paigham Radio, Bradford
