www.mabonline.net | [email protected] | 0207 272 2888
British Muslim leaders unite
Meeting held to discuss current global crisis
Upon the invitation of MAB, Muslim personalities representing some of the largest national and local Muslim organisations in the UK held a crisis meeting on Friday 7 March. The meeting discussed a number of pressing issues, the most crucial of which clearly was the US-led campaign for war against Iraq. After three hours of deliberation, the conferees arrived at the following conclusions:
First: The war on Iraq
The representatives of Muslim organisations affirmed their unequivocal opposition to any military action against Iraq.
They agreed that the primary victims of this war will be the innocent people of Iraq, many thousands of whom will perish in the first few hours of aerial bombardment by US and British warplanes.
They expressed their concern that the ramifications of the military action are likely to be more catastrophic than anything humanity has witnessed so far by virtue of the employment of weapons and munitions that bring long term human suffering and environmental contamination.
In addition, the Muslim organisations’ representatives warned of the adverse effects the war might have on communal relations in the United Kingdom by virtue of the likelihood of a backlash against the Muslims by xenophobic and racist fringe groups and the possibility of violent expressions of anger by some Muslim individuals whether in the UK or elsewhere.
The Muslim organisations represented in the meeting agreed to join the Muslim Association of Britain and its partners in the alliance against the war (Stop the War Campaign and CND) in mobilizing the British public, and particularly the Muslims of Britain, to take part in the series of protests that have been or will be staged in case the war is waged.
Mosque Imams across the UK will be called on to dedicate the Friday sermons immediately following the start of the war to raise Muslim public awareness of the dangers of the war and to urge worshippers to join protests against the war nationally and in their localities.
MCB Secretary-General Iqbal Sacranie (left) with MAB President Mohammad Sawalha. Click here for more pics.
Second: The Palestinian issue
The representatives of the Muslim organisations condemn in the strongest terms the policies of incursions, assassinations and collective punishments pursued by the Israeli occupation authorities.
The preoccupation by our government in Britain and by the US administration in preparing for war against Iraq has provided the Sharon-led regime with the opportunity to persecute, with impunity, the Palestinian people who are left helpless and defenceless by an international community that has failed its responsibilities toward them.
While regretting the loss of innocent life, whether Muslim or Jewish, it is Israel’s illegal occupation and inhumane treatment of the Palestinians that provoke Palestinians to resort to desperate acts of revenge. Unless, and until, the Israelis withdraw from the occupied territories and undertake not to attack Palestinians, lives will continue to be lost and pain and misery will persist on both sides.
Our government should have dedicated its resources and energies to putting an end to the bloodshed in Palestine instead of joining the United States in a war that will shed the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Iraq.
Thirdly: The case of Dr. Basheer Nafi’
-
The representative of the Muslim organisations stand firmly in support of Dr. Basheer Nafi' against the U.S. attempt to bring legal action against him for no reason other than being a Palestinian. -
The Palestinian academic is a well-known and highly respectable member of the British Muslim community whose alleged involvement in terrorism is utterly baseless and politically motivated. -
The Muslim organisations in British will campaign for British public support for Dr. Basheer Nafi' and hereby urge all justice-loving individuals to write to join them in requesting the British government to deny any future application for extraditing Dr. Basheer Nafi' to the United States of America.
Muslim organisations that attended the crisis meeting:
· Muslim Council of Britain
· Muslim Association of Britain
· Al-Muntada Al-Islami
· City Circle
· Council of Indian Mosques
· Edmonton Islamic Centre
· Federation of Student Islamic Societies
· Friends of Al-Aqsa
· Help the Needy
· Interpal
· Islamic Forum of Europe
· Islamic Human Rights Commission
· Islamic Society of Britain
· Just Peace
· London Open College
· Mayfair Islamic Centre
· Muslim Directory
· Muslim Public Affairs Committee
www.mpacuk.org
· Muslim Solidarity Committee
· Muslim Student Society
· Muslim Welfare House
· Soliderity International
· UK Islamic Mission
· World Assembly of Muslim Youth