LONDON, April 30, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - With general elections around the corner, thousands of British Muslims were set to march Saturday, April 30, in London against anti-terror laws that stigmatized and demonized the Muslim minority in Britain.
Two peaceful demonstrations, which are co-organized by some 100 Islamic entities in the United Kingdom, are expected to be the biggest anti-terror march by Muslims Britain has witnessed.
The first march was to kick off at Marble Arch at 10:30 (GMT) and proceed to Paddington Green police station in west London.
The march will end at the high-security Paddington Green police station, where a number of terror suspects have been held.
A second march, which focuses on the notorious stop-and-search procedure, is also planned at 2:30 (GMT) from Blackburn, the county of Lancashire.
The demonstrators are also set to move into the city center to protest against the area's MP, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the BBC News Online reported.
Chief among the organizers are the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), University of Oxford Islamic Society, the University College London Ahlul-Beyt Islamic Society, Bradford University Islamic Society and the Islamic Observatory Centre.
“Climate of Fear”
The second march basically protests the stop-and-arrest procedure.
Adnan Siddiqui, an IHRC official, said the British Muslims can no longer remain silent.
“We must stand together with strength and confidence to dispel the myths about Islam and the Muslim community,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC News Online.
He said Muslims in Britain are sending a clear message against the “climate of fear” created by the “draconian and disproportionate” laws.
The Muslim activist regretted that such laws have been targeting British Muslims who have “made a significant contribution to this society.”
British Prim Minister Tony Blair’s large majority in the House of Commons ensured the anti-terror bill’s approval last month by 309 votes to 233.
No sooner had the parliament passed the controversial measure, than Home Secretary Charles Clarke swung into action and signed control orders against what he termed “Muslim terror suspects”.
Clarke has angered the Muslim minority by saying that they were the main target of the main legislation.
The House of Lords, however, voted against the new law with peers accusing Blair of playing politics and toying with the country’s civil liberties.
The bill is among of the preoccupations of the British Muslims in the May 5 general elections and is expected to alienate the Muslim voters from the traditional Labour.
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