Joint UK Muslim Statement

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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.

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. Abbas Khan, Islam Invite, Bradford
2. Abdul Munaim, Journey to Islam, Derby
3. Abdul Razaq, Principal Iqra Academy, Peterborough
4. Abdul Rehman Saleem, Khateeb / Activist, London
5. Abdullah al Andalusi, Muslim Debate Initiative
6. Abdullah Shahid, Alhikmah Learning Centre, Bradford
7. Abdul Jabbar, Journalist, Bradford
8. Abdul Majid, Need4Deen, Bolton
9. Abdul-Samad Billoo, Community Activist, London
10. Abdul Sami, Heatons Muslims Community Trust, Heaton Mersey
11. Abdurraheem Green, Chairman of the Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA)
12. Abdus Samad, IQRA TV / TV Producer
13. Abid Khan, Imam, Cheadle Mosque, Manchester
14. Abu Isa, Inquisitive Minds Tuition, Leeds
15. Abyd Quinn Aziz, Lecturer, Cardiff
16. Adeel Mahmood, Myriad Foundation, Manchester
17. Adnan Ahmad, Actvist, Uxbridge
18. Adnan Rashid, Head, Hittin Institute, London
19. Ahmed Desai, Imam, Bradford
20. Ahmet Dursun, Chairman,  Edinburgh Turkish Cultural Association, Edinburgh
21. Aisha Mirza, Author / Activist, Manchester
22. Ali Ahmad, Imam, East London
23. Ali Anees, Eccles Mosque
24. Alomgir Ali, Muslim Research and Development Foundation (MRDF), London
25. Amanpaul Dhaliwal, Islam21c
26. Amar Alam, Research Psychologist / Activist / Writer, London
27. Amelia Al, Activists / Writer,
28. Amer Hamed, Chairman, Welsh Islamic Cultural Association, Swansea
29. Amer Rashid, CEO, Afghan Orphans, Birmingham
30. Aminur Rahman, Imam, Birmingham
31. Amjid Mahmood, Ghazali Trust, Oldham
32. Anjum Anwar, Teacher/Chair of Woman’s Voice
33. Arafath Ahmed, Youth and Community Worker, Leicester
34. Arzu Merali, Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
35. Asad Zaman, Imam & Chair Inter-Mosque Sports Association, Cheadle
36. Asghar Bukhari, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK)
37. Asif Batha, Lecturer, Bolton
38. Asik Miah, President, IFE London Central East Branch, London
39. Asma Begam, Teacher, London
40. Atif Hussain Khan, Economist/ex-president of University of Kent Islamic Society
41. Azad Ali, Muslim Safety Forum
42. Azhar Khan, Teacher, Bradford
43. Azizul Choudhury, Chairman, Youth Connections, Rochdale
44. Ayub Patel, Imam , Masjid Falah, Preston
45. Aysha Boshor, founder of Rosebuds, Bedford
46. J. Akhter, Teacher, Stockport
47. Belal Ballali, Muslim Association of Britain, Birmingham
48. Bilal Toorawa, Imam, Blackburn
49. Councillor Salim Mulla, Blackburn
50. Dawud Islam, Former Deputy Leader, RESPECT, Rochdale
51. Dee Jenoch, Youth Club co-ordinator, Bedford
52. Dilly Hussain, 5Pillars News
53. Dr Abdul Wahid, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Britain
54. Dr Anas Altikriti, CEO & Founder, The Cordoba Foundation, London
55. Dr Ajmal Hussain, GP, Stoke on Trent
56. Dr Colin Turner, Reader in Islamic Thought, University of Durham
57. Dr Daud Abdullah, British Muslim Initiative
58. Dr Imran Rafiq, Ilford, Essex
59. Dr Imran Satia, Chair, Blackburn Muslim Association, Blackburn
60. Dr Musharraf Hussain, CEO and Chief Imam, Karimia Institute
61. Dr Patricia McManus, Lecturer / UCU activist, Brighton
62. Dr Reza Pankhurst, Author and academic
63. Dr Saeed Al-Gadi, Presenter at Islam Channel
64. Dr Shahrul Hussain, Birmingham
65. Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, Humanitarian campaigner
66. Dr Siema Iqbal, GP, Manchester
67. Dr Suhel Ahmed, GP, Bolton
68. Dr Uthman Lateef, Hittin Institute
69. Dr Zavid Chariwala, GP, Bolton
70. Dr Zeshan Ali, Doctor, Manchester
71. Dr Isa Malik, Youth Activist, London
72. Dr Sultan Farouk, Teacher, Birmingham
73. Dawood Masood, Founder of Quba Trust
74. Edris Seth, Political Activist, Bolton
75. Fahad Ansari, Human Rights Solicitor
76. Faisal Khan, Councillor, Bradford
77. Faisal Mahmood, President, UKIM Peterborough
78. Farzana Shaheen, Stepping Stones 2 Wisdom, Bradford
79. Fazilla Abdulla, Teacher, Essex
80. Ghulam Haydar, Director of Myriad Foundation
81. Hafiz Kasim Javed, Community Activist, Rochdale
82. Haji Mohammed Walayat, Sunni Council of Mosques, Luton
83. Haleema Begum, Stepping Stones 2 Wisdom, Bradford
84. Hamer Youth Group, Rochdale
85. Hamid Chaudry, Chair,  Bayyina Foundation, Blackburn
86. Haroon Vawda, Manager, Rahma Mercy, Bolton
87. Hassan Alkatib, Journalist
88. Hodan Yusuf, Journalist
89. Ibrahim Bismillah, Director of Darul Ihsan Academy, Bradford
90. Ibrahim Hewitt, Leicester
91. Ibrar Ali, Community Activist, Bradford
92. Ibtihal Bsis, Barrister, Broadcaster,
93. Ilyas Abu Yusuf, Imam, Bolton
94. Imam Abdul Wahhab, East London
95. Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh, Imam & Khatib, London
96. Imam Abdul Mateen, East London
97. Imam Aziz Ibraheem, Iman Trust Community Centre, St Helens
98. Imam Irfan Patel, Jamiah Masjid, Gillngham
99. Imam Khalid Hussain, Masjid Tajdar E Madina & Jamia Sufia, Leicester
100. Imam Shakeel Begg, Lewisham Islamic Centre
101. Imran Khan, Youth Worker, Birmingham
102. Imran Patel, Quwaat-ul-islam School, London
103. Inamul Hussain Yusuf, Teacher, Bolton
104. Irfan Hussain, Bradford Dawah Centre
105. Irfanullah Irfan, UKIM, Peterborough
106. Ismail Rawat, Preston Muslim Forum, Preston
107. Jahangir Mohammed, Centre for Muslim Affairs
108. Jamal Uddin, Moulana / Social Worker, Sheffield
109. Jim Board, Branch Secretary (UNISON), Doncaster
110. John Molyneux, Senior Lecturer, Portsmouth University (Retired), Portsmouth
111. John Rees, Counterfire
112. Joynal Ahmed, Imam, East Ham Islamic Academy, London
113. Juwel Mahmud, Activist, London
114. Kashif Ali, Commitee Member, University of Bradford Islamic Society
115. Katrina Mayer, GMB, Leeds
116. Khaleel Ur Rahman, The Deen Project / Activist, Derby
117. Kosser Mohammed, College Lecturer, Newham, London
118. Latif Rajput, Trustee, Cambridge
119. Laura Stuart, Humanitarian aid worker, journalist and activist
120. Lauren Booth, Journalist
121. Leonie Campbell, Teacher, London
122. Leyla Habibti, humanitarian activist
123. Liam Reynolds, Scottish Green Party Activist, Edinburgh
124. Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition
125. Louisa Butt, Speaker Newspaper, Manchester
126. Lukman Harees, Social Activist / Author, Reading
127. Mahmud Amirat, Chair Preston Gujarat Muslim Welfare Society, Preston
128. Mahmud Choudhury – Secretary Poplar Shahjalal Masjid
129. Majed Iqbal, Freelance Journalist and Blogger, Rochdale
130. Majid Freeman, Humanitarian aid worker, friend of Alan Henning
131. Mamoon Al-Hassan, President, Young Muslim Organisation UK, London
132. Marium Begg, Daughter of Moazzam Begg, Birmingham
133. Massoud Shadjareh, Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
134. Mazhar Khan, Manchester Muslim Forum
135. Mina Morris, Director, The Orphan Trust, London
136. Moazzam Begg, Director of Outreach for CAGE
137. Mohammed Abdussamad, Teacher, Jalalia Jaame Masjid, Rochdale
138. Mohammed Alsheikh Mousa Attari Alhijazy, Alhuda Prophetic Medical Centre, London
139. Mohammed Amjad, Councillor and Human Rights Lawyer, Aylesbury
140. Mohammed Ansar, Broadcaster, political commentator and activist
141. Mohammad Ashraf, CEO, Islamic Education & Cultural Centre, Bradford
142. Mohammad Attique, University Researcher, Bradford
143. Mohammed Makeen Salloo, Imam, Walsall
144. Mohammad Quraishi, Principal, Quantum Ruqya Education Trust
145. Mohammed Tahir, Teacher, Oldham
146. Moinul Abu Hamza, The Qur’an Initiative, London
147. Moinuddin Kolia, Chairman, Leicestershire Islamic Medical Association, Leicester
148. Mohammed Kozbar, Chairman, Finsbury Park Mosque, London
149. Moulana Afrooz ali, Al Hikmah Trustee, Bradford
150. Mubarak Patel, Teacher, Blackburn
151. Mufti Hussain Mohammed Sultan, Imam, London
152. Muhammad Hansrot, Imam, Croydon, London
153. Muhammad Haque, Imam, Romford
154. Muhammed ibn Ayub, Director MBYG, Blackburn
155. Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah, Al Mustaqeem Centre, Bradford
156. Muhammad Rahman, Teacher, Ilford, London
157. Muhammad Rashid, Imam, Peterborough
158. Muhammad Rubel Amin, Community Worker, Bedford
159. Muhammad Shafique, Ramadan Foundation, Rochdale
160. Mumtaz Malik, Imam, London
161. Munir Aya, Volunteer, Zakaria Mosque, Bolton
162. Mustafa Mustafa, Youth Worker, South London
163. Nabeela Siddiqui, Barrister, Derby
164. Nabil Khan, Hemel Muslims, Hemel Hempstead
165. Nabil Robbins, Teacher, London
166. Nadeem Khan, Normanton Youth Association
167. Nahella Ashraf, Community Activist, Manchester
168. Omar Ali, Chair of Brighton and Hove Muslim Community
169. Nalini Naidoo,  Newham Muslim Women’s Association
170. Nasar Khan, Quran Project Volunteer, Birmingham
171. Nasima Begum, Solicitor, Luton
172. Nfaly Jarju, Hayes Muslim Centre, Hayes and Harlington
173. Paul, Muslim Blogger at net, London
174. Professor Yasin Patel, Senior Professor and Academic, London
175. Qari Mubashir Anwar, Founder, The Blessed Hub, Manchester
176. Qasim Asad, Community Voice, Blackburn
177. Raheema Bux, Community Worker, Blackburn
178. Rahim Jung, Broadcaster / TV presenter, London
179. Rehana Parveen, Lecturer, Birmingham
180. Ridwaan Haris, Solicitor / Activist, Bradford
181. Riyadhul Haque, Nottingham Muslim Community (FB), Nottingham
182. Rizwan Ahmed, Imam, Sheffield
183. Rob Ferguson, Activist, East London
184. Rojin Khairul, Director, Living Madina, Manchester
185. Roshan Muhammad Salih, Broadcaster and journalist
186. Saaqib Abu Ishaaq, Project Medinah, Rochdale
187. Sadat Hussain, Founder- Street Dawah Walsall, Walsall
188. Sadiyya Ali, Teacher, Oldham
189. Saeed Akhtar, Cheadle Mosque
190. Saghir Hussain, Solicitor, London
191. Sajaad Rauf, Youth worker, Sheffield
192. Sajid Varda, Producer/Broadcaster, London
193. Sajjad Ali, Chairperson, Al-Amin Jame Masjid, Rochdale
194. Salim Bhorat, Community/Peace activist, Bolton
195. Salman Sayyid, Author and Academic
196. Sarah Robertson, Lawyer, London
197. Shah Shuaib Ahmed, Vice Principal, Imam Zakariya Academy & Al-Ashraaf Islamic College, London
198. Shaikh Abu Abdissalam, London
199. Shaban Ul Haq, CEO The Reflections Institute, Luton
200. Shabaz Ahmed, Solicitor, Blackburn
201. Shabir Qamar, CEO, Paigham Radio, Bradford
202. Shah Asad Ahmed, Director, Oxford Muslim Society, Oxford
203. Shaikh Chokri Majoli, Imam, London
204. Shaikh Haitham Haddad, London
205. Shaikh Haitham Tamim, Chairman of the Utrujj Foundation
206. Shaikh Khaled Fekry, Imam, London
207. Sheikh Mufti Shah Sadruddin, Imam Zakariya Academy, London
208. Shaikh Omer Hamdoon, Muslim Association of Britain
209. Shaikh Sulaiman Gani, South London
210. Shaikh Tauqir Ishaq, CEO Hijaz College
211. Shaikh Zuber Karim, Intelligence Finance Consultancy
212. Shakil Chaudhary, President of Islamic Society, Chigwell
213. Shamsuz Zaman, CYCD Chairperson, Luton
214. Shezana Hafiz, Humanitarian Activist
215. Shirajul Haque, Imam, London
216. Shoaib Khalid Bhatti, Muslim Lobby, Scotland
217. Shohab Ali, Trustee, Muhammadi Masjid, Keighley
218. Shohana Khan, Writer/Blogger, London
219. Shujah Hamid, Deputy Head Teacher, Slough
220. Sofia Ahmed, Activist & founder of Muslim Women Against Femen
221. Sofiya Ahmed, Co-Chair London Young Greens, Hemel Hempstead
222. Sufyan Ismail – CEO of Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND)
223. Suhail Akubat, Imam, Masjid e Salaam, Preston
224. Suhail Rafique, Lecturer, Bolton
225. Tahir Alam, PHD Student, SOAS, London
226. Tahir Talati, Imam Zakariya Academy, London
227. Tariq Mahmood, Independent Muslim Forum, Bolton
228. Tasmin Nazeer, freelance journalist
229. Umar Iqbal, Chaiman, ANO (Charity), Leicester
230. Usman Qureshi,  Norbury Muslim Centre, London
231. Ustadh Kamal Abu Zahra, Aduha Institute, London
232. Yaseen Ahmedabadi, General Secretary, Nuneaton Muslim Society
233. Yasmin Khatun, Journalist
234. Yousef Dar, Community Safety Forum, Manchester
235. Yusuf Chambers – Freelance community activist
236. Yusuf Patel, SRE Islamic
237. Yusuf Shabbir, Blackburn Muslim Association
238. Yvonne Ridley, Vice President European Muslim League
239. Zahid Akhtar, Founder Documenting Oppression Against Muslims, Walsall
240. Zaid Mohammad, Imam, Central Mosque Rochdale
241. Zubeir Hassam, Principal, Muslim School Oadby, Leicester
242. Zeshan Rehmani, Pharmacist/Activist, Manchester

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