A coalition of British Muslim organisations have condemned the Drumlanrig Accords, a Zionist-led Muslim-Jewish reconciliation agreement, and blasted the Muslim signatories as “self appointed Imams” with no supporters.
Grassroots Muslim groups including Friends of Al Aqsa and The Cordoba Foundation voiced their strong opposition and rejection to the recent accords which they say was signed without any consultation from Muslim leaders of any prominence.
The outrage was sparked over the initiative’s inclusion of prominent Zionists and Israel lobbyists in the UK, including Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis who has expressed strong support for Israel during its genocide in Gaza.
Speaking on behalf of Legal Action for Peace, one of the groups which condemns the pro-Israel Drumlanrig Accords, Miriam Khan said: “In the first month of Israel’s assault, 85,000 tonnes of explosives were dropped on Gaza, an open-air prison. There can be no support or justification for the ethnic cleansing of a people that are occupied by a military state supported by our government and the USA.
“We say firmly that this was a racist war supported by imperialist powers. We cannot join hands with anyone that supports Israel’s actions in Gaza where at least 61,709 Palestinians have been slaughtered.”
The participants of the Drumlanrig Accords, named after the Scottish castle where their details were thrashed out in January, 2025, claim they aim to establish unity between Jewish and Muslim communities in Britain to “help tackle both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, as well as poverty and isolation.”
The Muslim participants in the widely condemned accords include Imam Qari Asim, Imam Sheikh Muhammad Ismail and Imam Dr Sheikh Khalifa Ezzat.
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Qari Asim has faced serious backlash from within his own community after 5Pillars reported that twenty nine Barelwi Sunni imams called on Leeds Makkah Mosque to sack him and have urged Muslims to dissociate themselves from him due to his controversial work with the British government and Zionists.
The accord came amid continued Israeli aggression on Gaza and the West Bank and massive international and legal pressure on the Israeli regime over war crimes, genocide charges and arrest warrants for senior leaders including PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a public letter published on March 3, 2025, the coalition explained why they oppose the initiative and condemn its members.
5Pillars has published the full letter which can be read below.
Joint statement
We, the undersigned, as representatives of the Muslim Community make this statement with respect to the recent signing of the joint Accords between the self-appointed leaders of the Muslim Community and the Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis.
Dr Sayed Razawi, Imam Qari Asim MBE and the other Muslim signatories, failed to consult widely with grassroot organisations supported by the Muslim Community before they signed these Accords with the Chief Rabbi, a staunch Zionist.
Rabbi Mirvis has supported Israel’s war on the Palestinians in Gaza (part of the ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’) where 61,709 Palestinian civilians have been killed, wiping out entire family bloodlines and 111,588 civilians injured. Israel has dropped over 85,000 tonnes of bombs over one of the world’s most populated areas in the world where over 50% of the population are children. The whole of Gaza has been completely levelled including churches, mosques, the entire health system and the housing infrastructure.
We cannot in good faith acknowledge these Accords when the Chief Rabbi has made public statements supporting Israel despite the horrific actions of the Israeli Occupation Forces. This is even more so when Israeli leaders, Knesset members, Israel’s Ambassador to the UK and the defence minister have made genocidal statements against Christians and Muslims only because they are Palestinian Arabs.
These self-appointed Muslims were fully aware that they only represent a small minority of the overall British Muslim population. As an example, one of the signatories, the “Chief Imam” represents less than 1% of the entire British Muslim Community.
Imam Qari Asim, a senior Imam at Makkah Mosque and co-chair of the recently launched, British Muslim Network, represents even less Muslims. Yet despite this, they proceeded to sign the Accords with an individual who condemned the UK blocking minor arm sales to Israel during its genocide of the Palestinians. The majority of the British Muslim Community do not even know who these individual Muslim signatories are.
Their actions and decisions were made independently without consulting the wider Muslim Community. Of course, should the Chief Rabbi’s position change and he condemn the genocide and apartheid being enacted against the Palestinian people, we would welcome a collective multi-faith movement against oppression led jointly with the Rabbi.
Until then, we wholly reject these Accords made purportedly on behalf of the Muslim Community. A central facet of Islam is the complete rejection of oppression. As a Community, we do not shy away from rejecting oppression in all its forms against anyone.
We strongly advise that both representatives of the Government and leaders of other faith groups do not attempt to select Muslims by holding them up as key leaders representing the Muslim Community when this is far from the truth. Only the Muslim Community chooses who represents them.
We are wholly supportive of interfaith relations where it is carried out in good faith. We note the significant rise in anti-Muslim hatred within the Jewish community and support engagement on challenging hatred in all its forms.
We urge all parties involved to seek proper consultation and dialogue with grassroot leadership organisations supported by the British Muslim Community before taking such decisions in the future.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Signed: 3rd March 2025
Legal Action for Peace (LAFP)
Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC)
Friends of Al Aqsa (FOA)
The Cordoba Foundation
Islamic Human Rights Commission
The Palestinian Forum in Britain
European Palestinian Communication Forum
Healthworkers and allies for Palestine
Dudley Palestine Solidarity Group
The British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association
Redbridge Community Action Group (RCAG)
Alum Rock Friends of Palestine
Campaign Against Anti-Muslim Hate
Parents United
Bradford Friends of Palestine
Bradford Independent Group of Councillors
Newham Palestine Solidarity Network
Barking and Dagenham Palestine Solidarity Network
Newham Muslim Forum
Masjid Al Habib Canning Town Muslim Trust
Darul Ihsaan, Barking
Motala Foundation
Tower Hamlets Palestine Solidarity Network
Darul Jannah Community Centre
Windsor Muslim Association
Solihull Solidarity
Ealing Friends of Palestine
Birmingham4Palestine
