Muslim community leaders and activists are continuing to put their names to a joint statement against the government’s witch-hunt of particular groups, speakers and activists.
When the statement was originally released on Wednesday afternoon it had garnered around 60 signatures from a diverse range of Muslim activists with different theological and political stances.
But the statement has now been signed by 210 people in an unprecedented show of unity amongst British Muslims and a reflection of the concern the whole community feels about government policies.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is the only prominent British Muslim organisation not to have signed this letter although several MCB affiliates have done so.
This is the statement in full:
“This joint statement expresses a position with respect to the ongoing demonisation of Muslims in Britain, their values as well as prominent scholars, speakers and organisations.
We, the undersigned Imams, sheikhs, advocates, activists, community leaders, community organisations and student bodies of the Muslim community, make the following points in this regard:
1) We reject the exploitation of Muslim issues and the ‘terror threat’ for political capital, in particular in the run up to a general election. Exploiting public fears about security is as dishonourable as exploiting public fears about immigration. Both deflect attention from crises in the economy and health service, but are crude and divisive tactics, where the big parties inevitably try to outdo each other in their nastiness.
2) We deplore the continued public targeting of Muslims through endless ‘anti-terror’ laws. There have been around ten pieces of legislation since the year 2000, all giving huge powers to the state, which have fuelled a media hysteria even though in most cases no crime was committed. This has created a distressing and harmful backlash towards Muslims, especially women and children.
3) We reject the portrayal of Muslims and the Muslim community as a security threat. The latest Act of Parliament, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, threatens to create a ‘McCarthyite’ witch-hunt against Muslims, with nursery workers, schoolteachers and Universities expected to look out for signs of increased Islamic practice as signs of ‘radicalisation’. Such a narrative will only further damage social cohesion as it incites suspicion and ill feeling in the broader community.
4) The expedient use of undefined and politically charged words like ‘radicalisation’ and ‘extremism’ is unacceptable as it criminalises legitimate political discourse and criticism of the stance of successive governments towards Muslims domestically and abroad. We strongly oppose political proposals to further ‘tackle’ and ‘crack down’ on such dissenting voices in the Muslim community despite their disavowal of violence and never having supported terrorist acts.
Home Secretary Theresa May was recently voted Islamophobe of the Year
5) Similarly, it is unacceptable to label as ‘extremist’ numerous normative Islamic opinions on a variety of issues, founded on the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), implying there is a link between them and violence, using such labels as an excuse to silence speakers.
6) We affirm our commitment to robust political and ideological debate and discourse for the betterment of humanity at large. The attempts by the state to undermine this bring into question its commitment to its very own purported values and liberal freedoms.
7) We affirm our concern about peace and security for all. We, however, refuse to be lectured on peace-building and harmony by a government that plays divisive politics and uses fear to elicit uncertainty in the general public, whilst maintaining support for dictators across the Muslim world, who continue to brutalise any legitimate political opposition to their tyranny.
8) We affirm our intention to hold on to our beliefs and values, to speak out for what is right and against what is wrong based on our principles, whether that be on matters such as the securitisation of society, corporate hegemony, war and peace, economic exploitation, social and moral issues in society, nationalism and racism. Not to do so would be dangerous and leave our community unguided.
9) We call on all fair minded people in Britain – including politicians, journalists, academics, bloggers and others concerned about fairness for all – to continue to scrutinise the scare tactics, fear-mongering and machinations of politicians, which do not bode well for societal harmony and only increase the alienation felt and experienced by Britain’s Muslim community.
It is time that politicians stop diverting the attention of the British public away from its domestic crises and disastrous foreign policies by repeatedly playing the ‘Muslim’ or ‘national security’ card.”
Abdurraheem Green, Chairman of the Islamic Education and Research Academy
Anjum Anwar, Teacher/Chair of Woman’s Voice
Arzu Merali, Islamic Human Rights Commission
Dr Abdul Wahid, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Britain
Dr Musharraf Hussain, CEO and Chief Imam, Karimia Institute
Dr Reza Pankhurst, Author and academic
Dr Saeed Al-Gadi, Presenter at Islam Channel
Dr Shahrul Hussain, Birmingham
Dr Uthman Lateef, Hittin Institute
Hodan Yusuf, Journalist
Ibrahim Hewitt, Leicester
Ibtihal Bsis, Barrister, Broadcaster,
Imam Abdul Wahhab, East London
Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh, Imam & Khatib, London
Imam Abdul Mateen, East London
Imam Aziz Ibraheem, Iman Trust Community Centre, St Helens
Imam Irfan Patel, Jamiah Masjid, Gillngham
Imam Shakeel Begg, Lewisham Islamic Centre
Jahangir Mohammed, Centre for Muslim Affairs
Lauren Booth, Journalist
Mahmud Choudhury – Secretary Poplar Shahjalal Masjid
Massoud Shadjareh, Islamic Human Rights Commission
Moazzam Begg, Director of Outreach for CAGE
Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah, Al Mustaqeem Centre, Bradford
Shaikh Abu Abdissalam, London
Shaikh Haitham Haddad, London
Shaikh Haitham Tamim, Chairman of the Utrujj Foundation
Shaikh Khaled Fekry, Imam, London
Shaikh Omer Hamdoon, Muslim Association of Britain
Shaikh Sulaiman Gani, South London
Shaikh Zuber Karim, Intelligence Finance Consultancy
Shaikh Tauqir Ishaq, CEO Hijaz College
Ustadh Kamal Abu Zahra, Lecturer on Islamic studies, London
Yusuf Chambers – Freelance community activist
Yusuf Patel, SRE Islamic
Azad Ali, Muslim Safety Forum
Asghar Bukhari, Muslim Public Affairs Committee, UK
Roshan Muhammad Salih, Broadcaster and journalist
Ghulam Haydar, Director of Myriad Foundation
Shoaib Khalid Bhatti, Muslim Lobby, Scotland
Dr Daud Abdullah, British Muslim Initiave
Shaikh Chokri Majoli, Imam, London
Yvonne Ridley, Vice President European Muslim League
Muhammad Shafique, Ramadan Foundation, Rochdale
Hasan Alkatib, Journalist
Mazhar Khan, Manchester Muslim Forum
Saaqib Abu Ishaaq, Project Medinah, Rochdale
Omar Ali, Chair of Brighton and Hove Muslim Community
Sofia Ahmed, Activist & founder of Muslim Women Against Femen
Nalini Naidoo, Newham Muslim Women’s Association
Irfan Hussain, Bradford Dawah Centre
Leyla Habibti, humanitarian activist
Tasmin Nazeer, freelance journalist
Ali Anees, Eccles Mosque
Saeed Akhtar, Cheadle Mosque
Yousef Dar, Community Safety Forum, Manchester
Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, Humanitarian campaigner
Majid Freeman, Humanitarian aid worker, friend of Alan Henning
Laura Stuart, Humanitarian aid worker, journalist and activist
Salman Sayyid, Author and Academic
Shezana Hafiz, Humanitarian Activist
Abdus Samad, IQRA TV / TV Producer
Alomgir Ali, MDRF, London
Shamsuz zaman, CYCD Chairperson, Luton
Tahir Talati, Imam Zakariya Academy, London
Abdul Razaq, Principal Iqra Academy, Peterborough
Fahad Ansari, Human Rights Solicitor
Abdullah al Andalusi , Muslim Debate Initiative
Yusuf Shabbir, Blackburn Muslim Association
Suhail Akubat, Imam, Masjid e Salaam, Preston
Bilal Toorawa, Imam, Blackburn
Councillor Salim Mulla, Blackburn
Mohammed Alsheikh Mousa Attari Alhijazy, Alhuda Prophetic Medical Centre, London
Haji Mohammed Walayat, Sunni Council of Mosques, Luton
Edris Seth, Political Activist, Bolton
Ali Ahmad, Imam, East London
Zahid Akhtar, Founder Documenting Oppression Against Muslims, Walsall
Shirajul Haque, Imam, London
Ismail Rawat, Preston Muslim Forum, Preston
Khaleel Ur Rahman, The Deen Project / Activist, Derby
Ilyas Abu Yusuf, Imam, Bolton
Yaseen Ahmedabadi, General Secretary, Nuneaton Muslim Society
Munir Aya, Volunteer, Zakaria Mosque, Bolton
Raheema Bux, Community Worker, Blackburn
Nasima Begum, Solicitor, Luton
Mustafa Mustafa, Youth Worker, South London
Amanpaul Dhaliwal, Islam21c.com, London
Tahir Alam, PHD Student, SOAS, London
Dr Ajmal Hussain, GP, Stoke on Trent
Hafiz Kasim Javed, Community Activist, Rochdale
Ahmed Desai, Imam, Bradford
Muhammad Hansrot, Imam, Croydon, London
Muhammad Rahman, Teacher, Ilford, London
Rizwan Ahmed, Imam, Sheffield
Abdul Rehman Saleem, Khateeb / Activist, London
Inamul Hussain Yusuf, Teacher, Bolton
Dr Suhel Ahmed, GP, Bolton
Nasar Khan, Quran Project Volunteer, Birmingham
Asad Zaman, Imam & Chair Inter-Mosque Sports Association, Cheadle
Dr Siema Iqbal, GP, Manchester
Professor Yasin Patel, Senior Professor and Academic, London
Mohammed Makeen Salloo, Imam, Walsall
Qasim Asad, Community Voice, Blackburn
Ibrahim Bismillah, Director of Darul Ihsan Academy, Bradford
Faisal Mahmood, President, UKIM Peterborough
Muhammad Haque, Imam, Romford
Juwel Mahmud, Activist, London
Kosser Mohammed, College Lecturer, Newham, London
Suhail Rafique, Lecturer, Bolton
Majed Iqbal, Freelance Journalist and Blogger, Rochdale
Mufti Hussain Mohammed Sultan, Imam, London
Dr Imran Rafiq, Ilford, Essex
Dr Colin Turner, Reader in Islamic Thought, University of Durham
Nabeela Siddiqui, Barrister, Derby
Nadeem Khan, Normanton Youth Association
Mahmud Amirat, Chair Preston Gujarat Muslim Welfare Society, Preston
Mohammed Tahir, Teacher, Oldham
Imran Khan, Youth Worker, Birmingham
Syed Nurul Islam, Community Activist, Bedford
Hamid Chaudry, Chair, Bayyina Foundation, Blackburn
Muhammad Rashid, Imam, Peterborough
Sadiyya Ali, Teacher, Oldham
Mohammed Tahir, Teacher, Oldham
Muhammed ibn Ayub, Director MBYG, Blackburn
Aisha Mirza, Author / Activist, Manchester
Sajid Varda, Producer / Broadcaster, London
Paul, Muslim Blogger at bloggingtheology.net, London
Belal Ballali, Muslim Association of Britain, Birmingham
Zaid Mohammad, Imam, Central Mosque Rochdale
Abyd Quinn Aziz, Lecturer, Cardiff
Dr Zavid Chariwala, GP, Bolton
Rahim Jung, Broadcaster / TV presenter, London
Badr. J. Akhter, Teacher, Stockport
Mumtaz Malik, Imam, London
Shaban Ul Haq, CEO The Reflections Institute, Luton
Lukman Harees, Social Activist / Author, Reading
Moinul Abu Hamza, The Qur’an Initiative, London
Shujah Hamid, Deputy Head Teacher, Slough
Usman Qureshi, Norbury Muslim Centre, London
Mohammad Quraishi, Principal, Quantum Ruqya Education Trust
Imam Khalid Hussain, Masjid Tajdar E Madina & Jamia Sufia, Leicester
Dr Zeshan Ali, Doctor, Manchester
Moulana Afrooz ali, Al Hikmah Trustee, Bradford
Nabil Khan, Hemel Muslims, Hemel Hempstead
Muhammad Rubel Amin, Community Worker, Bedford
Abdul Munaim, Journey to Islam, Derby
Sadat Hussain, Founder- Street Dawah Walsall, Walsall
Mubarak Patel, Teacher, Blackburn
Asif Batha, Lecturer, Bolton
Abid Khan, Imam, Cheadle Mosque, Manchester
Faisal Khan, Councillor, Bradford
Shah Asad Ahmed, Director, Oxford Muslim Society, Oxford
Abu Isa, Inquisitive Minds Tuition, Leeds
Abd As Sabur, Activist, Rochdale
Mohammed Imran, Teacher, Wakefield
Shah Shuaib Ahmed, Vice Principal, Imam Zakariya Academy & Al-Ashraaf Islamic College, London
Mohammed Amjad, Councillor and Human Rights Lawyer, Aylesbury
Adnan Ahmad, Actvist, Uxbridge
Dr Imran Satia, Chair, Blackburn Muslim Association, Blackburn
Dee Jenoch, Youth Club co-ordinator, Bedford
Dawud Islam, Former Deputy Leader, RESPECT, Rochdale
Zubeir Hassam,Principal, Muslim School Oadby, Leicester
Rehana Parveen, Lecturer, Birmingham
Aminur Rahman, Imam, Birmingham
Latif Rajput, Trustee, Cambridge
Abdul-Samad Billoo, Community Activist, London
Sajaad Rauf, Youth worker, Sheffield
Leonie Campbell, Teacher, London
Riyadhul Haque, Nottingham Muslim Community (FB), Nottingham
Imran Patel, Quwaat-ul-islam School, London
Ridwaan Haris, Solicitor / Activist, Bradford
Abbas Khan, Islam Invite, Bradford
Abdullah Shahid, Alhikmah Learning Centre, Bradford
Amjid Mahmood, Ghazali Trust, Oldham
Mamoon Al-Hassan, President, Young Muslim Organisation UK, London
Dr Anas Altikriti, CEO & Founder, The Cordoba Foundation, London
Sufyan Ismail – CEO of Muslim Engagement and Development
Salim Bhorat, Community/Peace activist, Bolton
Shohana Khan, Writer / Blogger, London
Saghir Hussain, Solicitor, London
Dilly Hussain, 5Pillars News
Yasmin Khatun, Journalist
Nabil Robbins, Teacher, London
Shakil Chaudhary, President of Islamic Society, Chigwell
Joynal Ahmed, Imam, East Ham Islamic Academy, London
Shohab Ali, Trustee, Muhammadi Masjid, Keighley
Amar Alam, Research Psychologist / Activist / Writer, London
Abdul Jabbar, Journalist, Bradford
Louisa Butt, Speaker Newspaper, Manchester
Asma Begam, Teacher, London
Ibrar Ali, Community Activist, Bradford
Tariq Mahmood, Independent Muslim Forum, Bolton
Jamal Uddin, Moulana / Social Worker, Sheffield
Farzana Shaheen, Stepping Stones 2 Wisdom, Bradford
Abdul Majid, Need4Deen, Bolton
Haleema Begum, Stepping Stones 2 Wisdom, Bradford
Hamer Youth Group, Rochdale
Atif Hussain Khan, Economist/ex-president of University of Kent Islamic Society, Manchester
Qari Mubashir Anwar, Founder, The Blessed Hub, Manchester
Rojin Khairul, Director, Living Madina, Manchester
Zeshan Rehmani, Pharmacist / Actavist, Manchester
Amer Rashid, CEO, Afghan Orphans, Birmingham
Amelia Al, Activists / Writer, London
Dr Isa Malik, Youth Activist, London
Adnan Rashid, Head, Hittin Institute, London
Arafath Ahmed, Youth and Community Worker, Leicester
Amer Hamed, Chairman, Welsh Islamic Cultural Association, Swansea
Dr Patricia McManus, Lecturer / UCU activist, Brighton
Shabaz Ahmed, Solicitor, Blackburn
Shabir Qamar, CEO, Paigham Radio, Bradford