Minhaj-ul-Quran UK says it is hosting an “anti-terror” training camp in Staffordshire to equip more than 500 young British Muslims with the theological tools to counter extremist narratives.
The organisation’s founder, the Pakistani scholar Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, who has authored a “Fatwa on Terrorism & Suicide Bombings” is the keynote speaker who will train young Muslims to recognise extremist narratives on jihad.
Dr Qadri issued his fatwa in 2010. It condemns suicide bombings and terrorist acts, along with their perpetrators. He also launched a comprehensive “counter-terrorism curriculum” in June 2015 that is being taught at numerous mosques across the UK.
Minhaj-ul-Quran UK says the issues that are being addressed at the conference at Keele University include:
– “Misconstrued theological ideas about Jihad.”
– “The misinterpretation of the Qur’anic verses of the sword used by extremists to justify their violence.”
– “The concept of establishing a global Caliphate for Muslims.”
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Speaking ahead of the camp, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said: “I have announced an intellectual and spiritual war against extremism and terrorism. It is vital to train young people how ISIS and other groups are giving them the wrong interpretations of Islamic concepts such as jihad.”
Minhaj-ul-Quran UK have come in for criticism in the past for putting the emphasis on Muslims to resolve the issue of terrorism. Numerous British Muslim organisations have criticised this approach which they feel further stigmatises the Muslim community and ignores major issues behind radicalisation and political violence such as foreign policy, Islamophobia, racism and marginalisation.
