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:
- Abbas Khan, Islam Invite, Bradford
- Abdul Munaim, Journey to Islam, Derby
- Abdul Razaq, Principal Iqra Academy, Peterborough
- Abdul Rehman Saleem, Khateeb / Activist, London
- Abdullah al Andalusi, Muslim Debate Initiative
- Abdullah Shahid, Alhikmah Learning Centre, Bradford
- Abdul Jabbar, Journalist, Bradford
- Abdul Majid, Need4Deen, Bolton
- Abdul-Samad Billoo, Community Activist, London
- Abdul Sami, Heatons Muslims Community Trust, Heaton Mersey
- Abdurraheem Green, Chairman of the Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA)
- Abdus Samad, IQRA TV / TV Producer
- Abid Khan, Imam, Cheadle Mosque, Manchester
- Abu Isa, Inquisitive Minds Tuition, Leeds
- Abyd Quinn Aziz, Lecturer, Cardiff
- Adeel Mahmood, Myriad Foundation, Manchester
- Adnan Ahmad, Actvist, Uxbridge
- Adnan Rashid, Head, Hittin Institute, London
- Ahmed Desai, Imam, Bradford
- Ahmet Dursun, Chairman, Edinburgh Turkish Cultural Association, Edinburgh
- Aisha Mirza, Author / Activist, Manchester
- Ali Ahmad, Imam, East London
- Ali Anees, Eccles Mosque
- Alomgir Ali, Muslim Research and Development Foundation (MRDF), London
- Amanpaul Dhaliwal, Islam21c
- Amar Alam, Research Psychologist / Activist / Writer, London
- Amelia Al, Activists / Writer,
- Amer Hamed, Chairman, Welsh Islamic Cultural Association, Swansea
- Amer Rashid, CEO, Afghan Orphans, Birmingham
- Aminur Rahman, Imam, Birmingham
- Amjid Mahmood, Ghazali Trust, Oldham
- Anjum Anwar, Teacher/Chair of Woman’s Voice
- Arafath Ahmed, Youth and Community Worker, Leicester
- Arzu Merali, Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
- Asad Zaman, Imam & Chair Inter-Mosque Sports Association, Cheadle
- Asghar Bukhari, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK)
- Asif Batha, Lecturer, Bolton
- Asik Miah, President, IFE London Central East Branch, London
- Asma Begam, Teacher, London
- Atif Hussain Khan, Economist/ex-president of University of Kent Islamic Society
- Azad Ali, Muslim Safety Forum
- Azhar Khan, Teacher, Bradford
- Azizul Choudhury, Chairman, Youth Connections, Rochdale
- Ayub Patel, Imam , Masjid Falah, Preston
- Aysha Boshor, founder of Rosebuds, Bedford
- J. Akhter, Teacher, Stockport
- Belal Ballali, Muslim Association of Britain, Birmingham
- Bilal Toorawa, Imam, Blackburn
- Councillor Salim Mulla, Blackburn
- Dawud Islam, Former Deputy Leader, RESPECT, Rochdale
- Dee Jenoch, Youth Club co-ordinator, Bedford
- Dilly Hussain, 5Pillars News
- Dr Abdul Wahid, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Britain
- Dr Anas Altikriti, CEO & Founder, The Cordoba Foundation, London
- Dr Ajmal Hussain, GP, Stoke on Trent
- Dr Colin Turner, Reader in Islamic Thought, University of Durham
- Dr Daud Abdullah, British Muslim Initiative
- Dr Imran Rafiq, Ilford, Essex
- Dr Imran Satia, Chair, Blackburn Muslim Association, Blackburn
- Dr Musharraf Hussain, CEO and Chief Imam, Karimia Institute
- Dr Patricia McManus, Lecturer / UCU activist, Brighton
- Dr Reza Pankhurst, Author and academic
- Dr Saeed Al-Gadi, Presenter at Islam Channel
- Dr Shahrul Hussain, Birmingham
- Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, Humanitarian campaigner
- Dr Siema Iqbal, GP, Manchester
- Dr Suhel Ahmed, GP, Bolton
- Dr Uthman Lateef, Hittin Institute
- Dr Zavid Chariwala, GP, Bolton
- Dr Zeshan Ali, Doctor, Manchester
- Dr Isa Malik, Youth Activist, London
- Dr Sultan Farouk, Teacher, Birmingham
- Dawood Masood, Founder of Quba Trust
- Edris Seth, Political Activist, Bolton
- Fahad Ansari, Human Rights Solicitor
- Faisal Khan, Councillor, Bradford
- Faisal Mahmood, President, UKIM Peterborough
- Farzana Shaheen, Stepping Stones 2 Wisdom, Bradford
- Fazilla Abdulla, Teacher, Essex
- Ghulam Haydar, Director of Myriad Foundation
- Hafiz Kasim Javed, Community Activist, Rochdale
- Haji Mohammed Walayat, Sunni Council of Mosques, Luton
- Haleema Begum, Stepping Stones 2 Wisdom, Bradford
- Hamer Youth Group, Rochdale
- Hamid Chaudry, Chair, Bayyina Foundation, Blackburn
- Haroon Vawda, Manager, Rahma Mercy, Bolton
- Hassan Alkatib, Journalist
- Hodan Yusuf, Journalist
- Ibrahim Bismillah, Director of Darul Ihsan Academy, Bradford
- Ibrahim Hewitt, Leicester
- Ibrar Ali, Community Activist, Bradford
- Ibtihal Bsis, Barrister, Broadcaster,
- Ilyas Abu Yusuf, Imam, Bolton
- 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 Khalid Hussain, Masjid Tajdar E Madina & Jamia Sufia, Leicester
- Imam Shakeel Begg, Lewisham Islamic Centre
- Imran Khan, Youth Worker, Birmingham
- Imran Patel, Quwaat-ul-islam School, London
- Inamul Hussain Yusuf, Teacher, Bolton
- Irfan Hussain, Bradford Dawah Centre
- Irfanullah Irfan, UKIM, Peterborough
- Ismail Rawat, Preston Muslim Forum, Preston
- Jahangir Mohammed, Centre for Muslim Affairs
- Jamal Uddin, Moulana / Social Worker, Sheffield
- Jim Board, Branch Secretary (UNISON), Doncaster
- John Molyneux, Senior Lecturer, Portsmouth University (Retired), Portsmouth
- John Rees, Counterfire
- Joynal Ahmed, Imam, East Ham Islamic Academy, London
- Juwel Mahmud, Activist, London
- Kashif Ali, Commitee Member, University of Bradford Islamic Society
- Katrina Mayer, GMB, Leeds
- Khaleel Ur Rahman, The Deen Project / Activist, Derby
- Kosser Mohammed, College Lecturer, Newham, London
- Latif Rajput, Trustee, Cambridge
- Laura Stuart, Humanitarian aid worker, journalist and activist
- Lauren Booth, Journalist
- Leonie Campbell, Teacher, London
- Leyla Habibti, humanitarian activist
- Liam Reynolds, Scottish Green Party Activist, Edinburgh
- Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition
- Louisa Butt, Speaker Newspaper, Manchester
- Lukman Harees, Social Activist / Author, Reading
- Mahmud Amirat, Chair Preston Gujarat Muslim Welfare Society, Preston
- Mahmud Choudhury – Secretary Poplar Shahjalal Masjid
- Majed Iqbal, Freelance Journalist and Blogger, Rochdale
- Majid Freeman, Humanitarian aid worker, friend of Alan Henning
- Mamoon Al-Hassan, President, Young Muslim Organisation UK, London
- Marium Begg, Daughter of Moazzam Begg, Birmingham
- Massoud Shadjareh, Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
- Mazhar Khan, Manchester Muslim Forum
- Mina Morris, Director, The Orphan Trust, London
- Moazzam Begg, Director of Outreach for CAGE
- Mohammed Abdussamad, Teacher, Jalalia Jaame Masjid, Rochdale
- Mohammed Alsheikh Mousa Attari Alhijazy, Alhuda Prophetic Medical Centre, London
- Mohammed Amjad, Councillor and Human Rights Lawyer, Aylesbury
- Mohammed Ansar, Broadcaster, political commentator and activist
- Mohammad Ashraf, CEO, Islamic Education & Cultural Centre, Bradford
- Mohammad Attique, University Researcher, Bradford
- Mohammed Makeen Salloo, Imam, Walsall
- Mohammad Quraishi, Principal, Quantum Ruqya Education Trust
- Mohammed Tahir, Teacher, Oldham
- Moinul Abu Hamza, The Qur’an Initiative, London
- Moinuddin Kolia, Chairman, Leicestershire Islamic Medical Association, Leicester
- Mohammed Kozbar, Chairman, Finsbury Park Mosque, London
- Moulana Afrooz ali, Al Hikmah Trustee, Bradford
- Mubarak Patel, Teacher, Blackburn
- Mufti Hussain Mohammed Sultan, Imam, London
- Muhammad Hansrot, Imam, Croydon, London
- Muhammad Haque, Imam, Romford
- Muhammed ibn Ayub, Director MBYG, Blackburn
- Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah, Al Mustaqeem Centre, Bradford
- Muhammad Rahman, Teacher, Ilford, London
- Muhammad Rashid, Imam, Peterborough
- Muhammad Rubel Amin, Community Worker, Bedford
- Muhammad Shafique, Ramadan Foundation, Rochdale
- Mumtaz Malik, Imam, London
- Munir Aya, Volunteer, Zakaria Mosque, Bolton
- Mustafa Mustafa, Youth Worker, South London
- Nabeela Siddiqui, Barrister, Derby
- Nabil Khan, Hemel Muslims, Hemel Hempstead
- Nabil Robbins, Teacher, London
- Nadeem Khan, Normanton Youth Association
- Nahella Ashraf, Community Activist, Manchester
- Omar Ali, Chair of Brighton and Hove Muslim Community
- Nalini Naidoo, Newham Muslim Women’s Association
- Nasar Khan, Quran Project Volunteer, Birmingham
- Nasima Begum, Solicitor, Luton
- Nfaly Jarju, Hayes Muslim Centre, Hayes and Harlington
- Paul, Muslim Blogger at net, London
- Professor Yasin Patel, Senior Professor and Academic, London
- Qari Mubashir Anwar, Founder, The Blessed Hub, Manchester
- Qasim Asad, Community Voice, Blackburn
- Raheema Bux, Community Worker, Blackburn
- Rahim Jung, Broadcaster / TV presenter, London
- Rehana Parveen, Lecturer, Birmingham
- Ridwaan Haris, Solicitor / Activist, Bradford
- Riyadhul Haque, Nottingham Muslim Community (FB), Nottingham
- Rizwan Ahmed, Imam, Sheffield
- Rob Ferguson, Activist, East London
- Rojin Khairul, Director, Living Madina, Manchester
- Roshan Muhammad Salih, Broadcaster and journalist
- Saaqib Abu Ishaaq, Project Medinah, Rochdale
- Sadat Hussain, Founder- Street Dawah Walsall, Walsall
- Sadiyya Ali, Teacher, Oldham
- Saeed Akhtar, Cheadle Mosque
- Saghir Hussain, Solicitor, London
- Sajaad Rauf, Youth worker, Sheffield
- Sajid Varda, Producer/Broadcaster, London
- Sajjad Ali, Chairperson, Al-Amin Jame Masjid, Rochdale
- Salim Bhorat, Community/Peace activist, Bolton
- Salman Sayyid, Author and Academic
- Sarah Robertson, Lawyer, London
- Shah Shuaib Ahmed, Vice Principal, Imam Zakariya Academy & Al-Ashraaf Islamic College, London
- Shaikh Abu Abdissalam, London
- Shaban Ul Haq, CEO The Reflections Institute, Luton
- Shabaz Ahmed, Solicitor, Blackburn
- Shabir Qamar, CEO, Paigham Radio, Bradford
- Shah Asad Ahmed, Director, Oxford Muslim Society, Oxford
- Shaikh Chokri Majoli, Imam, London
- Shaikh Haitham Haddad, London
- Shaikh Haitham Tamim, Chairman of the Utrujj Foundation
- Shaikh Khaled Fekry, Imam, London
- Sheikh Mufti Shah Sadruddin, Imam Zakariya Academy, London
- Shaikh Omer Hamdoon, Muslim Association of Britain
- Shaikh Sulaiman Gani, South London
- Shaikh Tauqir Ishaq, CEO Hijaz College
- Shaikh Zuber Karim, Intelligence Finance Consultancy
- Shakil Chaudhary, President of Islamic Society, Chigwell
- Shamsuz Zaman, CYCD Chairperson, Luton
- Shezana Hafiz, Humanitarian Activist
- Shirajul Haque, Imam, London
- Shoaib Khalid Bhatti, Muslim Lobby, Scotland
- Shohab Ali, Trustee, Muhammadi Masjid, Keighley
- Shohana Khan, Writer/Blogger, London
- Shujah Hamid, Deputy Head Teacher, Slough
- Sofia Ahmed, Activist & founder of Muslim Women Against Femen
- Sofiya Ahmed, Co-Chair London Young Greens, Hemel Hempstead
- Sufyan Ismail – CEO of Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND)
- Suhail Akubat, Imam, Masjid e Salaam, Preston
- Suhail Rafique, Lecturer, Bolton
- Tahir Alam, PHD Student, SOAS, London
- Tahir Talati, Imam Zakariya Academy, London
- Tariq Mahmood, Independent Muslim Forum, Bolton
- Tasmin Nazeer, freelance journalist
- Umar Iqbal, Chaiman, ANO (Charity), Leicester
- Usman Qureshi, Norbury Muslim Centre, London
- Ustadh Kamal Abu Zahra, Aduha Institute, London
- Yaseen Ahmedabadi, General Secretary, Nuneaton Muslim Society
- Yasmin Khatun, Journalist
- Yousef Dar, Community Safety Forum, Manchester
- Yusuf Chambers – Freelance community activist
- Yusuf Patel, SRE Islamic
- Yusuf Shabbir, Blackburn Muslim Association
- Yvonne Ridley, Vice President European Muslim League
- Zahid Akhtar, Founder Documenting Oppression Against Muslims, Walsall
- Zaid Mohammad, Imam, Central Mosque Rochdale
- Zubeir Hassam, Principal, Muslim School Oadby, Leicester
- Zeshan Rehmani, Pharmacist/Activist, Manchester
If you agree with this statement, and you are an imam, scholar, activist, community organisation, or Muslim student body, and would like to become a signatory. Click Here
Note : You don’t have to be Muslim to sign!
I fully support this may Allaha pak rewards you all .Ameen. Jzakallha.
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I understand and support this statement
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I stand to be counted -I honor the above statement.
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I wholeheatedly support this message.Jazak Allah Khairun
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Salaam i understand and support this statement.
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I fully support and understand the message. Jazaka-Allah
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Completely support this.
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Well done Muslim Community we need to do more work like this joint effort.
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I agree with all of the above!..
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I’m in support of this petition.
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I understand and support this statement.
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Jazakallah khair. It’s about time we had a joint statment outlining our outrage on government policy against Islam and Muslims
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I fully understand and support the message
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I fully support this petition!
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I fully support this message. Thank you.
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What a brilliant piece of work, please keep it up and may Allah azzawajal bless you and your families, ameen.
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I agree with all of the above
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