British Muslims divided in fight against terrorism
Blair Hints at Id Cards in Anti-Terror Move
1st April 2004
Prime Minister Tony Blair today signalled that the Government was preparing to draw up further anti-terrorist legislation in the wake of a suspected al Qaida plot to bomb Britain.
Following the alleged bid to use half a ton of ammonium nitrate fertiliser in a terror campaign Mr Blair indicated he was prepared to bring forward measures to introduce identity cards.
The Muslim Council of Britain, meanwhile, said it had received an “overwhelmingly positive response” from the Islamic community after it reacted to news of the alleged plot by writing to 1,000 mosques urging them to guard against terrorists.
But the outspoken London-based group Al-Muhajiroun said Muslims should not cooperate with their local authorities against other members of the faith.
Its leader, controversial cleric Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, said: “Co-operating with the authorities against any other Muslims, that is an act of apostasy in Islam.”
He also accused Britain and the United States of “terrorist activity” in Afghanistan and Iraq.
At his monthly Downing Street news conference Mr Blair said: “I think that we will need to readjust our terrorism laws still further.
“I think that the whole issue of identity cards, which a few years ago were not on anyone’s agenda, are very much on the political agenda here, probably more quickly even than we anticipated.”
Sheikh says Muslims must be tight-lipped
Omar Bakri Muhammad demanded a wall of silence after the mainstream Muslim Council of Britain urged the Islamic community to play its part in the fight to defend the UK.
Bakri accused them of apostasy — betrayal of religious beliefs — and branded them government stooges.
Bakri, who rants against Britain despite being allowed to live here, said: “Co-operating with authorities against other Muslims is an act of apostasy in Islam.
“The Muslim Council represents the British Government, not Muslims in the UK, because they are not an Islamic council.”
He accused the British press of demonising Muslims, adding: “The culture of terrorism has become the fashion of the 21st Century when the USA and Britain are involved in terrorist activity in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
UK Muslims split over mosque terror letter
The MCB's appeal to the UK's two million Muslims will be made through imams, chairmen and secretaries of mosques. Hundreds of thousands of booklets will also be sent out.
But Masoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, told Aljazeera.net that the letter's assumptions are false.
As Muslims, we need to challenge stereotyping and injustices, rather than becoming party to them," he said. "I'm not questioning the MCB's intentions but it seems that they are reacting without thinking.
Abu Hamza Attacks Muslim Council as 'Hypocrites'
One of the young men who gathered to hear Hamza’s sermon relayed his message to friends by holding his mobile phones towards his booming voice.
Hamza told them: “The MCB are hypocrites.
“They issued a statement for all mosques in England.
“They claim they speak on our behalf. Nobody cares about them.
“The only person who cares about them is Tony Blair. They are the Blair way introduced by the Labour government to introduce hypocrisy.”
It was all part of a plan to try and make every Muslim an “agent”, he claimed.
He tried to dismiss the huge bomb-making material found by police this week as a “created material” and the arrests as a “conspiracy against these brothers”.
The sermon ended peacefully after 45 minutes and all of Hamza’s followers left without speaking to the press whom they were told were part of the conspiracy that spread lies.
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Blair Hints at Id Cards in Anti-Terror Move
1st April 2004
Prime Minister Tony Blair today signalled that the Government was preparing to draw up further anti-terrorist legislation in the wake of a suspected al Qaida plot to bomb Britain.
Following the alleged bid to use half a ton of ammonium nitrate fertiliser in a terror campaign Mr Blair indicated he was prepared to bring forward measures to introduce identity cards.
The Muslim Council of Britain, meanwhile, said it had received an “overwhelmingly positive response” from the Islamic community after it reacted to news of the alleged plot by writing to 1,000 mosques urging them to guard against terrorists.
But the outspoken London-based group Al-Muhajiroun said Muslims should not cooperate with their local authorities against other members of the faith.
Its leader, controversial cleric Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, said: “Co-operating with the authorities against any other Muslims, that is an act of apostasy in Islam.”
He also accused Britain and the United States of “terrorist activity” in Afghanistan and Iraq.
At his monthly Downing Street news conference Mr Blair said: “I think that we will need to readjust our terrorism laws still further.
“I think that the whole issue of identity cards, which a few years ago were not on anyone’s agenda, are very much on the political agenda here, probably more quickly even than we anticipated.”
Sheikh says Muslims must be tight-lipped
Omar Bakri Muhammad demanded a wall of silence after the mainstream Muslim Council of Britain urged the Islamic community to play its part in the fight to defend the UK.
Bakri accused them of apostasy — betrayal of religious beliefs — and branded them government stooges.
Bakri, who rants against Britain despite being allowed to live here, said: “Co-operating with authorities against other Muslims is an act of apostasy in Islam.
“The Muslim Council represents the British Government, not Muslims in the UK, because they are not an Islamic council.”
He accused the British press of demonising Muslims, adding: “The culture of terrorism has become the fashion of the 21st Century when the USA and Britain are involved in terrorist activity in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
UK Muslims split over mosque terror letter
The MCB's appeal to the UK's two million Muslims will be made through imams, chairmen and secretaries of mosques. Hundreds of thousands of booklets will also be sent out.
But Masoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, told Aljazeera.net that the letter's assumptions are false.
As Muslims, we need to challenge stereotyping and injustices, rather than becoming party to them," he said. "I'm not questioning the MCB's intentions but it seems that they are reacting without thinking.
Abu Hamza Attacks Muslim Council as 'Hypocrites'
One of the young men who gathered to hear Hamza’s sermon relayed his message to friends by holding his mobile phones towards his booming voice.
Hamza told them: “The MCB are hypocrites.
“They issued a statement for all mosques in England.
“They claim they speak on our behalf. Nobody cares about them.
“The only person who cares about them is Tony Blair. They are the Blair way introduced by the Labour government to introduce hypocrisy.”
It was all part of a plan to try and make every Muslim an “agent”, he claimed.
He tried to dismiss the huge bomb-making material found by police this week as a “created material” and the arrests as a “conspiracy against these brothers”.
The sermon ended peacefully after 45 minutes and all of Hamza’s followers left without speaking to the press whom they were told were part of the conspiracy that spread lies.
MORE:....
Muslims 'Must Not Denounce Other Muslims'
Tottenham Ayatollah asks Muslims not to help police
Cleric's 'don't grass' rant
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