The government has suspended ties with Britain's largest Muslim group and demanded that one of its leaders should be removed from office for allegedly supporting violence against Israel.
The news comes on the eve of the launch of a major government strategy aimed at fostering closer ties with Muslims to help counter the threat of Islamist terrorism.
The launch tomorrow of Contest 2, the government's revised counter-terrorism strategy, comes after ministers decided to stop engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).
The council's deputy secretary-general, Daud Abdullah, signed a declaration last month that the government and critics of the MCB have interpreted as calling for violence against Israel and condoning attacks on British troops.
The declaration followed a meeting in Istanbul of clerics and other Muslim leaders from around the world to discuss strategy after Israel's attacks on Gaza.
Hazel Blears, secretary of state for communities and local government, wrote to the MCB saying Abdullah should be asked to "resign his post" for signing a statement that supported Hamas and celebrated its "victory" against "this malicious Jewish Zionist war over Gaza".
Muslims who are sceptical of government anti-terror plans say they cannot think of any other occasion where a cabinet minister has tried to dictate to a religious group about the composition of its leadership.
Abdullah, speaking for the first time about the row, told the Guardian he would not be standing down.
He said of his views: "If British troops were to engage in a breach of international law, it is up to the people of the territory to decide what to do. But as I understand it, under international law, it is their right to resist."
He defended signing the statement, saying: "It made no specific mention of attacks on British troops. The statement does say if foreign troops enter Gaza's territorial waters, it is the duty of Muslims to resist, as it would be seen as assisting the siege."
Later, in an email, Abdullah said: "I did not and do not condone calls for attacks on British troops.
"The British government has not deployed troops to the territorial waters of Gaza and I do not believe it or our parliament would endorse any breach of international law.
"Any discussions about what should or would happen is hypothetical and I cannot speculate."
Blears demanded that the MCB remove Abdullah from office and demanded to know what its leaders planned to do by today.
In her letter, dated 13 March , Blears wrote: "In light of the MCB's unequivocal stance on violence, it would seem that Dr Abdullah's position as the deputy secretary-general would be incompatible with his recent actions."
Blears's letter notes that the MCB would be investigating the matter, but says she was breaking links with the group, which was once seen as vital by the government to building better relations with British Muslims: "Whilst your investigation is ongoing and the matter remains unresolved I feel that it is only appropriate for us to suspend our engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain pending its outcome."
In a statement, the communities and local government department said: "We ... are very concerned that the statement from the event calls for direct support for acts of violence in the Middle East and beyond.
"We are concerned that the MCB have so far not recognised the gravity of this situation. If it is proven that the individual concerned had been a signatory, we would expect them to ask him to resign and for the MCB to confirm their opposition to acts of violent extremism."
An MCB spokesman today condemned the government for trying to interfere in its internal affairs and said the cabinet minister's demand would be ignored: "The MCB is a democratic organisation, with its own affiliates, and they decide who its representatives are, and not Ms Blears."
The Istanbul declaration said: "The obligation of the Islamic Nation [is] to regard the sending of foreign warships into Muslim waters, claiming to control the borders and prevent the smuggling of arms to Gaza, as a declaration of war, a new occupation, sinful aggression, and a clear violation of the sovereignty of the Nation. This must be rejected and fought by all means and ways."
During the Gaza conflict, Gordon Brown suggested sending forces to help stop weapons smuggling into Gaza.
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
Comment by Brian Whitaker:
Alienating British Muslims
Labour's actions against the Muslim Council of Britain destroy any credibility its engagement policy might have had.
Following the recent muddle over Hezbollah, the British government continues to dig itself deeper into the mire with its "anti-extremism" policy.
Hazel Blears, secretary of state for communities and local government, is trying to engineer the resignation of Daud Abdullah, deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain. She may not like Abdullah or agree with his views but, frankly, it's none of her business. The MCB is not a government body and can appoint whoever it wants as its deputy secretary general.
This sort of government interference is condemned by human rights organisations when it happens under dictatorial regimes such as that in Egypt where authorities vet the board members of NGOs and even tell them how they must conduct their meetings.
Of course, the government can choose whether or not to talk to the MCB but, by choosing not to, it will seriously undermine its own policy of engaging with the British Muslim community.
The MCB is an umbrella organisation that claims the support of more than 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools. By definition it needs to include as many strands of British Muslim opinion as possible. In the past it has been criticised for not being representative enough, and now Blears seems determined to make it less representative as a condition of being recognised by the government.
Abdullah's "offence" is that he signed a declaration in Istanbul last month at a meeting called in response to the Israeli bombing of Gaza. This has been interpreted by the government and critics of the MCB as calling for violence against Israel and condoning attacks on British troops.
Whether or not we approve of the Istanbul declaration's content, there is little doubt that it represents a significant strand of Muslim opinion, in Britain and elsewhere. By refusing to acknowledge this and instead bestowing its favours on cuddly but marginal Sufi organisations, the government is destroying whatever credibility its policy of engagement might have had.
This comes against a background of ever-widening government definitions of "extremism" which, as Inayat Bunglawala has pointed out, are counterproductive because they risk alienating the majority of British Muslims. The latest example is the daft – sorry, draft – counterterrorism strategy known as Contest 2 which, among other things, counts as extremists those who believe in "armed resistance, anywhere in the world", or "argue that Islam bans homosexuality and that it is a sin against Allah".
Muslim attitudes towards homosexuality are certainly a problem, but why single out Islam in that respect? If we're going to go down that road, shouldn't Blears also be calling for the pope's resignation and refusing to engage with "extremist" Catholics and evangelicals?
Similarly with violence. Muslim organisations are required to condemn violence while Jewish organisations that aid and abet Israel's warmongering policies don't receive letters of complaint from Hazel Blears or threats to exclude them from meetings with the government.
Part of the problem here is that Israel's propagandists have succeeded in portraying Hamas, Hezbollah and al-Qaida as peas from the same pod, when in fact there are important differences. Unlike al-Qaida, neither Hamas nor Hezbollah poses a global threat, and certainly not a threat to Britain. They have both killed Israeli civilians, though on nothing like the scale of Israel's killing of civilians in Lebanon and Gaza.
One does not have to be a supporter of Hezbollah or Hamas to realise that large numbers of British Muslims are likely to see double standards and injustice here, especially amid the growing evidence of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, and that having their views dismissed out of hand by the government will only increase their sense of alienation.
Brian Whitaker has done a variety of jobs at the Guardian including, most recently, seven years as Middle East editor. He is currently an editor on Comment is Free.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
It is significant in the UK, but it won't have any tangible impact in terms of social cohesion, because matters are pretty fraught anyway. Even moves to set up Muslim advisory bodies were probably ill-judged given that most Muslims were already implacably dissatisfied over the government's intransigence in foregin policy matters.
This decision to decisively disengage just confirms their intent to push on and implement the neo-con agenda that they're so pitifully subordinate to.
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
format_quote Originally Posted by Osman
Slightly off-topic, but I'm not sure that the part I highlighted is actually true.
It seems a reasonable thing to say. Homosexuality is proscribed in Islam, and we're living in a society where many Muslims are deeply resentful of the notion of integrating into British society, let alone engage with Homosexuals.
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
format_quote Originally Posted by nocturnal
It seems a reasonable thing to say. Homosexuality is proscribed in Islam, and we're living in a society where many Muslims are deeply resentful of the notion of integrating into British society, let alone engage with Homosexuals.
It is a problematic scenario to say the least.
Good point actually.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
Osman, you seem to be the resident poster of bad news for Muslims. Can I ask you what you feel about the future, are you perhaps afraid the tensions may increase, that bad things can happen?
Last edited by Whatsthepoint; 03-24-2009 at 07:36 PM.
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
Hi Whatsthepoint,
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
Osman, you seem to be the resident poster of bad news for Muslims. Can I ask you what you feel about the future, are you perhaps afraid the tensions may increase, that bad things can happen?
To be fair, I do post positive news whenever it crosses me! Unfortunately, it just so happens that there tends to be more bad news than good.
Coming on to your question, I think the future is uncertain. Tensions may well increase in the event of another major terrorist attack (Allah forbid). On a political level, people also question the loyalties of Muslims who voice their opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and label them as extremists which is another problem.
One thing that I have been consistent on is that I don't believe it is possible for a practising/active Muslim to ever successfully integrate into mainstream British society since certain Islamic values and the Islamic way of life differ fundamentally from traditional British culture and some British values. This lack of integration can only lead to distrust and alienation. Some British tabloids such as the Daily Express and Daily Mail don't help either by fuelling further distrust of the Muslim community and boy do they have some dedicated readers. I have come to the realisation that Britain really isn't the place for the practising Muslim.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
format_quote Originally Posted by Osman
Hi Whatsthepoint, To be fair, I do post positive news whenever it crosses me! Unfortunately, it just so happens that there tends to be more bad news than good.
Coming on to your question, I think the future is uncertain. Tensions may well increase in the event of another major terrorist attack (Allah forbid). On a political level, people also question the loyalties of Muslims who voice their opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and label them as extremists which is another problem.
One thing that I have been consistent on is that I don't believe it is possible for a practising/active Muslim to ever successfully integrate into mainstream British society since certain Islamic values and the Islamic way of life differ fundamentally from traditional British culture and some British values. This lack of integration can only lead to distrust and alienation. Some British tabloids such as the Daily Express and Daily Mail don't help either by fuelling further distrust of the Muslim community and boy do they have some dedicated readers. I have come to the realisation that Britain really isn't the place for the practising Muslim.
I know, but you can't deny you have a thing for news.
Thats good, I saw you said you anted to move out as soon as possible. Not that I ant you out or anything, but better that than preaching how Britain would make a fine caliphate.
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
I know, but you can't deny you have a thing for news.
You noticed? :X
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
Thats good, I saw you said you anted to move out as soon as possible. Not that I ant you out or anything, but better that than preaching how Britain would make a fine caliphate.
Absolutely. Being 17 years old, it will take a while to become financially independent though and it will take some guts to go ahead and actually do it. Another thing, I'm not sure which country is the most appropriate at this time for the "True Muslim" ™.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
Re: Government suspends links with Muslim Council of Britain over Gaza
format_quote Originally Posted by Osman
You noticed? :X
Absolutely. Being 17 years old, it will take a while to become financially independent though and it will take some guts to go ahead and actually do it. Another thing, I'm not sure which country is the most appropriate at this time for the "True Muslim" ™.
Were you thinking a Muslim majority country or a more toelrant country, say Sweden?
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