London Central Mosque has cancelled an event with the pro-Israel Board of Deputies of British Jews after a letter from several mosques and Islamic centres was sent to the masjid in protest.
The event at the mosque (also known as Regent’s Park Mosque) on January 30 – “A Warning for Humanity” – was due to focus on the dire situation of the Uyghur Muslims in China.
The World Uyghur Congress was also due to participate as well as the government’s adviser on Islamophobia, Qari Asim.
But the Board of Deputies, which is a proudly Zionist organisation, tweeted last week that the meeting would now take place on the same date at the House of Commons. There was no mention of London Central Mosque in the tweet.
The news came after a letter of complaint was sent to London Central Mosque by several British Muslim institutions.
The letter, which was addressed to mosque director Ahmad Dubayan, said: “The Board, and not the British Jewish community, actively support the Israeli government – an Israeli government that is involved in human rights abuses, colonisation, apartheid policies and disregard for UN Resolutions.
“The Board has also shown support for the annexation of East Jerusalem, and in December 2018 tweeted: ‘Great to see recognition of the simple truth of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital gaining pace. Thank you Australia! Time for @foreignoffice to follow suit!’ making clear that they support Donald Trump’s condemnable decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
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“The Board’s activities have included supporting the censuring of events in the United Kingdom that highlight Israeli abuses. Furthermore, the Board has on 19 December 2019, welcomed calls to make unlawful the Palestinian civil rights movement of BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions).
“It is important to remember that the Board’s views are not representative of all British Jews and in March 2018, more than 500 Jews added their names to a petition telling the Board that they ‘deeply misrepresented’ them over the reaction to Palestinian deaths and their one-sided reaction to the violence in Gaza.
“It is the connection of the Board supporting Israel, who are renowned for human rights abuses against the Palestinians, and them being part of your event to overcome human rights abuses against the Uyghurs, that is difficult to reconcile. In order to seek freedom and justice for the Uyghur, no event/organisation/individual should partner with any organisation that is seen as publicly expressing and supporting human rights abuses in other parts of the world.
“We… therefore call upon our brothers and sisters of the Regent’s Park Mosque to reconsider its decision to host this event with the Board until such time that the Board distances itself from the Israeli occupation of Palestine and its apartheid policies.”
5Pillars contacted London Central Mosque to ask them why they cancelled the event but we have not received a reply so far.
Below is the original event poster with the London Central Mosque logo on it and underneath is the new event poster without the mosque logo:
The Board of Deputies says it is holding the joint meeting in Parliament with representatives of the Uyghur people to “urge protection of China’s beleaguered Uyghur Muslim minority.”
Edwin Shuker, Board vice-president, who will be one of the speakers at the event, said: “Interfaith cooperation is extremely important, in the struggle against the oppression and persecution faced by the Uyghur people in China. Because of our history, British Jews will refuse to turn a blind eye to the persecution of an entire community, anywhere.”
Meanwhile, Dolkan Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, thanked the meeting’s organisers “for pushing forward with this event against the oppression and persecution faced by the Uyghur people in China. In this time of grave crisis, it is essential to build a stronger cooperation between different groups. Uyghurs need global support from all human beings.”
