Islamophobia News - Backlash

Muslim Council of Britain: Know Your Rights & Responsibilities A pocket guide http://www.mcb.org.uk/mcbdirect/community.php?ann_id=436

1) Muslim anti terror guide : Muslim alert on threat of British 9/11 The
Sunday Times



August 15, 2004

Muslim alert on threat of British 9/11
Nicholas Rufford and Abul Taher

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1217432,00.html

BRITAIN'S most senior Muslim clerics have secretly met to prepare their
communities for the aftermath of a September 11-style terrorist attack in
Britain.

In an acknowledgment of the imminent danger of an Al-Qaeda atrocity, the 13
leading imams have held emergency mashwarahs (consultations) in London over
the summer. They have warned Britain's 1.6m Muslims of a likely backlash in
the event of an attack and told communities to be vigilant for terrorists in
their midst.

They have concluded that some sections of the Muslim community in Britain
have become more sympathetic to terrorism because of the continuing Iraq
war. As a result of the meetings, a guide is to be sent in September to
every Muslim household, calling on them to report suspicious activities on a
police anti-terrorist hotline.

"For Muslims, averting a terrorist attack that could harm many innocents is
an Islamic imperative," it says. "If you are aware of any suspected
terror-related activity, then bring that information to the immediate
attention of the police."

Abdul Jalil Sajid, the imam of Brighton Islamic Mission and one of the
country's most senior clerics, said the imams were responding to warnings
from police and the recent arrests of terror suspects. "It is the police and
the government that have been telling us that an attack is on the way," he
said.

The imams warn in the guide that Muslims should be ready for revenge attacks
from non-Muslims in the wake of a terrorist incident. It advises women who
wear the hijab not to go outside unaccompanied if an attack occurs and says
mosques and Islamic schools should install CCTV cameras.

As an interim measure, the imams have prepared a model sermon, which will be
sent to all mosques and Islamic centres for delivery at Friday prayers. The
sermon will make a clear distinction between jihad (holy war) and terrorism.
It will point out that Muslims have a covenant of security not to attack the
country in which they live.

The meetings were organised by the grand shura (ruling body) of the Muslim
Council of Britain (MCB), the country's biggest Muslim body. With more than
350 Islamic organisations affiliated to it.

Inayat Bunglawala, an official of the MCB who was at a meeting of imams,
said the concept of jihad had been debased by terrorists. "Jihad is a noble
endeavour to defend your country and society from attack, while terror is
the indiscriminate killing of innocents."

The MCB is to publish half a million copies of the guide, called Know Your
Rights and Responsibilities, so that at least one member of each Muslim
household in Britain will have a copy. In the event of a terrorist attack,
the guide advises Muslim households to "remain calm and follow the global
safety rule: go in, stay in and tune in".

Mosque officials and worshippers are told regularly to "check their bins and
look for any suspicious packages left outside and inside the buildings".
Fearing racist groups will exploit a terror attack, the guide tells Muslims:
"Do not allow yourself to be provoked by the far right into responding in a
violent manner."

The guide also advises Muslims on what their rights are if they are stopped
and searched, arrested, or if anti-terrorist police knock on their door to
search their property.

Ibrahim Mogra, a senior imam based in Leicester, said: "After the Madrid
bombings and the arrest of terror suspects here, the possibility of an
attack has come closer to home, and we as Muslims have to be prepared for
such an eventuality, and its consequences. The wise thing to do is to put
things in place before an attack. After what we saw after 9/11, it's likely
that a backlash will follow."

In addition to peaceful Muslim leaders preparing for a possible bombing,
there are signs that militants may even have been working to prevent one.
According to an associate of Al-Qaeda in Pakistan, attacks on Britain have
twice been postponed after representations from British Islamic
terrorist-linked groups.

The man said Osama Bin Laden's organisation had received a specific request
"not to disturb London or any other British cities". He added: "They feel
any such attack would greatly hamper their ideological work."

Additional reporting by Ghulam Hasnain, Karachi
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1217432_2,00.html

 

2) MCB's pocket guide for the British Muslims

Tue 17 Aug 2004

http://www.mcb.org.uk/mcbdirect/community.php?ann_id=436

The Muslim Council of Britain's Media Committee is currently preparing a
Pocket Guide on 'Know Your Rights and Responsibilities' to be launched, God
Willing, at the MCB Media Seminar on Saturday 25th September 2004.



The Pocket Guide which is being drawn up after consultation with senior
figures in the Muslim community and the Association of Chief Police Officers
seeks to inform British Muslims of their basic rights and also their
responsibilities concerning the media portrayal of their faith, educational
underachievement, political participation, the terror threat facing the UK
and maintaining the safety and security of places of worship from external
attack.



For press coverage of the Pocket guide click on the external links as
follows.



3) Muslims prepare for post-attack backlash

Tania Branigan
Monday August 16, 2004
The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1283793,00.html

Islamic leaders alarmed at increasing harassment since the September 11
atrocities are to warn community members to prepare for a backlash if
terrorists target Britain.

Every Muslim household in Britain will receive a special booklet this autumn
warning them that they may face revenge attacks. Those whose faith is
visible - such as women who wear hijab - will be warned to take care before
going out alone.

The leaflet says that mosques and other Islamic institutions should already
be checking for suspicious packages and should think about installing CCTV.

The Muslim Council of Britain prepared the pamphlet, Know Your Rights and
Responsibilities, in consultation with leading clerics and the Association
of Chief Police Officers.

The wallet-sized guide also repeats the organisation's call for anyone who
suspects possible terrorism-related activity to report it. "After September
11 we saw a number of attacks against mosques, Muslim individuals and even
cemeteries, which were desecrated - and that was because of what happened in
another country," said Inayat Bunglawala, spokesman for the MCB.

"Really incendiary comments have been made about British Muslims, even in
the press. If, God forbid, an attack happened here, we know that there are
elements who would want to incite trouble. We urge Muslims not to allow
themselves to be provoked by those who might create strife."

The MCB - an umbrella organisation to which more than 350 Islamic
organisations are affiliated - is printing 500,000 copies of the guide.

Mr Bunglawala added: "It is far wider than terror; it tackles issues such as
education and political participation as well. Parts of the Muslim community
are underachieving, so it encourages parents to take a greater interest in
their children's education. People feel they are being ignored, so it urges
people to join mainstream political parties and get their voices heard
instead of being disheartened."

He said the guide reiterated the MCB's message that Muslims should
immediately contact police if they suspected possible terror-related
activity, despite attempts to mischaracterise a similar letter sent out in
March - following the Madrid train bombings - as a call for Muslims to spy
on others in the community.

"Many Muslims feel they have to do even more than average citizens to prove
they are seeking the well-being of everyone in the country," he said.

The MCB has already issued a model sermon for imams to draw on, which draws
a clear distinction between jihad and terrorism, to prevent disaffected
young people from being seduced by extremists.

"Certain figures are trying to deliberately confuse the minds of Muslim
youth about what jihad is and make it analogous to terrorism," said Abdul
Jalil Sajid, the imam of Brighton Islamic Mission and one of those who took
the lead in writing the sermon.

The sermon points out that jihad is the noble struggle to defend one's
homeland from external attacks, while terrorism is an attack on innocents.
"Many of the youngsters are frustrated, because they opposed the war in Iraq
and marched against it and were ignored for instance, and that may have made
some of them more susceptible," Imam Sajid added.

Muslim leaders have also been making concentrated efforts to educate the
wider public about Islam in recent months in an attempt to tackle the
increased prejudice following September 11 head-on.

The MCB will launch a project to send books on Islam to schools next month,
and the Muslim Welfare House in north London is distributing £1 million
worth of books, DVDs and videos on the subject to 300 public libraries
across the country.

They have also expressed concern about the treatment of British Muslims by
police. The number of Asians stopped by officers, often under powers granted
by the 2000 Terrorism Act, has increased by almost 300% in the last two
years.

4) British Muslims prepare for terror backlash

Top clerics fear attacks against Muslims as eight terror suspects appear in
court

By Alfred Lee

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,268032,00.html?

LONDON - 20 August 2004 - Senior Islamic clerics have decided to prepare
all 1.7 million Muslims in Britain for a massive and furious public backlash
in the event of a Sept 11, 2001-style terrorist attack in the country.

The influential Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) told The Straits Times the
preparations had taken on added importance following the appearance in court
on Wednesday of eight Muslim terrorist suspects.

The imams fear that there will be widespread public anger when the trials of
the men start and the prosecution outlines its evidence to back up charges
that they plotted to use radioactive materials, toxic gases, chemicals and
explosives in Al-Qaeda attacks in Britain.

Evidence will also be given in London's famous Old Bailey court on how one
of the men had carried out reconnaissance for possible attacks on the Stock
Exchange and the Citigroup building in New York and the International
Monetary Fund's headquarters in Washington.

The imams believe that as the evidence unravels and is given expected huge
publicity in newspapers and on television, some sections of the British
society will launch attacks on Muslims, mosques and Islamic schools, shops
and other buildings.

'There could be serious repercussions once the trial starts. But we also
believe - just as the British government, security services and the police
believe - that there will be an attempt to carry out a massive Sept 11-style
Al-Qaeda terrorist attack in Britain,' senior MCB director Inayat Bunglawala
told The Straits Times.

'If that happens, there could be a huge backlash against many sections of
the Muslim community. We must prepare our people for that,' he added.

The MCB has more than 350 affiliates and representatives.

In cooperation with 13 of the most senior imams in Britain, it has decided
after a series of meetings to publish a 12-section pocket guide on how to
deal with the backlash from a terrorist attack in Britain or any other
event.

The booklet will be launched next month and delivered to every Muslim home
in Britain.

The guide warns that if a terrorist attack in Britain takes place, those
whose Islamic faith is visible - such as women wearing the hijab - should
not go out in the streets alone.

All families, mosques and other Islamic institutions should check their mail
carefully for letter or parcel bombs.

Closed-circuit television surveillance cameras should be set up at strategic
points, especially outside mosques, areas where Muslims live, gather and
shop and even outside homes.

Muslims were warned they should not be provoked by people who would be
anxious to start trouble.

And the pocket guide asks people to report to the police any Muslim they
think may be involved in any terrorist activity.

Mr Bunglawala said: 'Our council strongly opposed the war against Iraq,
warning at the time that a military attack could turn many Muslims,
especially younger men, against Britain.

'Our fear is that the continued presence of British troops in Iraq may be
playing a big part in pointing some young Muslims towards terrorist
activities.

'We want our people to spy on others in the community to prevent any
atrocity.'

Mr Abdul Jalil Sajid of the Brighton Islamic Mission said: 'A massive
backlash against our community is inevitable if the predicted Sept 11-style
attack takes place. Our people must know how to react.'

Meanwhile, a Reuters report quoted police as saying a man was arrested in
Birmingham yesterday under Britain's Terrorism Act 2000.

He was being held in custody and was due to be questioned by police.

5) Muslim anti-terror guide
By Andrew Clennell

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,170-1218754,00.html

EVERY Muslim household in Britain is to receive a guide advising them how to
react to a terrorist attack and warning them of possible revenge attacks.

The guide, produced by the Muslim Council of Britain in consultation with
the Association of Chief Police Officers, is titled Know Your Rights and
Responsibilities.

It comes after the distribution this summer of 25 million Home Office
booklets Preparing for Emergencies, What You Need to Know, which instructs
people on what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.

There have been emergency meetings of 13 leading imams who fear a backlash
against Muslims in the event of an attack in Britain by al-Qaeda. The latest
guide recommends that in the event of an attack, Muslim women should refrain
from going outdoors unaccompanied while wearing a hijab, or headscarf.

"For Muslims, averting a terrorist attack that could harm many innocents is
an imperative," the guide says. "If you are aware of any suspected
terror-related activity, then bring that information to the immediate
attention of the police."

It also advises Muslims of their rights if they are stopped and searched by
police, or if anti-terrorist detectives turn up at the door. The guide,
which is due to be sent out next month, also urges Muslims not to be
provoked by racist groups.

Inayat Bunglawala, a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, said:
"After September 11 we saw attacks against mosques, Muslim individuals and
even cemeteries . . . and that was because of what happened in another
country.

"If, God forbid, an attack happened here, we know that there are elements
who would want to incite trouble. We urge Muslims not to allow themselves to
be provoked by those who might create strife."

There are an estimated two million Muslims in Britain. The council
represents more than 350 Islamic organisations and mosques in the UK.

On the guide's advice to report people suspected of terrorist-related
activity, Mr Bunglawala said: "Many Muslims feel they have to do even more
than average citizens to prove that they are seeking the well-being of
everyone in the country."



----- Original Message -----
 

Condemnation of terrorist attacks


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,171-1047997,00.html

From Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid

Sir, Mr P. W. Giles says (letter, March 18) that he has not been able to
find in any of the broadsheets any senior British Muslim representatives
condemning the horrors of Madrid. On the day of the bombings, the Muslim
Council of Britain (MCB) released a press release, part of which read:

"The Muslim Council of Britain condemns these atrocities totally and
unequivocally. The hearts of Muslims and all peoples of conscience go out to
families of those whose loved ones have been murdered and those who have
been wounded in these appalling atrocities. Our heartfelt condolences go out
to the Spanish people at this time of shock and grief. The MCB also condemns
the use of the term "Islamic terrorists" (in the media) to describe these
clearly evil people who carried out these heinous crimes. (We) hope that the
organisers and perpetrators of these monumental crimes against humanity will
soon be identified and held to account."

You have since reported (March 19) that the MCB is "urgently consulting its
members and mosques on proposals for a rally to underline Muslim
condemnation of the Madrid bombings and al-Qaeda violence".

Yours sincerely,
IMAM Dr ABDULJALIL SAJID,
8 Caburn Road,
Hove, East Sussex BN3 6EF.
sajid@imamsajid.com, imamsajid@yahoo.co.uk
March 19. 2004-03-23



http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,171,00.html