Dear Fellow Muslims,
We are deeply saddened to hear about anti-Semitic assaults on British Jews, and a recent arson attack on a London synagogue. Although the perpetrators are yet unknown, we unreservedly condemn attacks on innocent British citizens and the desecration of all places of worship.
The ongoing killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by Israeli forces has angered us all.
However, this does not, and cannot, justify attacks on our fellow citizens of Jewish faith and background here in Britain.
Most Muslims are completely against such behaviour. However, we call on all Muslims to continue to remain vigilant against attempts to bring our own faith and community into disrepute. British Jews should not be held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.
Yours in Islam and peace,
Shaikh Abdal-Hakim Murad, Cambridge
Shaikh Mawlana Shahid Raza, Leicester/London
Shaikh Sayyid-Mohammed Musawi, London
Shaikh Ali Qadiri, Barking
Shaikh Mufti Barkatulla, London
Shaikh Dr Musharraf Hussain MBE, Nottingham
Shaikh Dr Usama Hasan, London
Shaikh Bilal Abdullah, London
Shaikh Aftab Ahmad Malik, Bristol
Shaikh Irfan Chishti MBE, Rochdale
Dr Tahir Abbas, Birmingham
Navid Akhtar, London
Parvin Ali OBE, Leicester
Kamran Fazil, Birmingham
Rokhsana Fiaz, London
Ed Husain, London
Azeem Ibrahim, Glasgow
Maajid Nawaz, London
Dr Zahoor Qureshi, London
Usman Raja, Berkshire
Yasmin Sheikh MBE, London
Zeshan Zafar, London
OK. Got that. The Great and good (look at those MBEs) of British Muslim society don’t want their followers to beat-up Jews or torch synagogues. Great.
Now re-read it…
Immediately after an “unreserved condemnation” comes this line:
The ongoing killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by Israeli forces has angered us all
That is, of course, the classic Islamic “but…”.
However, we call on all Muslims to continue to remain vigilant against attempts to bring our own faith and community into disrepute. British Jews should not be held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.
So… Israel is intrinsically blamed. I mean what of British Jews who think the Israeli government has done the right thing in bad circumstances?
But mainly my issue is with, “we call on all Muslims to continue to remain vigilant against attempts to bring our own faith and community into disrepute.” Typical. They couldn’t give a shit about the Jews. They only care about “Islamophobia”. I mean that’s tantamount to saying “beat the yids up as long as you do it on the sly”.
This is via Harry’s Place where they seem to think this is a positive statement. HP has been great recently on the Gaza conflict and then they publish this shi’ite.
Yes I see what you mean about the “honours” that have been bestowed on a lot of these fuckers Nick, and for what I wonder?
I was listening to Galton and Simpson on the radio this afternoon, celebrating about 50 years of their comedy writing partnership.
For those of you outside the UK or of a young age, these two wrote some of the best, nay seminal British comedies of all time.
Hancocks Half Hour and Steptoe and son.
They were the quintessence of our British culture. They told it like it was back in Railway Cuttings and Oil Drum Lane back in the 50s and 60s, and continue to work to this day.
Are they Knights like Rubberlips Jagger? Do they have a Lordship like Mr Levy whose claim to fame was stealing all Alvin Stardusts money as his manager?
No they have sweet fuck all honours bestowed on them from their own country, not even a CBE
It is an utter friggin disgrace!
Shaikh Ali Qadiri, Barking
I think I scared the cat when I saw this.
I think you are being unfairly critical here Nick, you are reading things into it that I don’t think are there.
Damned if I know what you said over at harrys, but they don’t seem terribly impressed.
Swear blogging again?
I dunno Cats. I did go off on one over at HP but… There’s just something about HP which brings out the evil in me. I dunno what it is. maybe they’re just too bloody rational…
But I shall stand by my comments here. The key line is this:
“we call on all Muslims to continue to remain vigilant against attempts to bring our own faith and community into disrepute.”
The most charitable reading I can make of that is that, once more, the beards have put the Islamophobia cart before the horse. By which I mean they are more concerned about how Islam looks than what it actually is in practice. And quite frankly… that is the beating heart of the problem. If they just said, “We condemn this absolutely” and left out the “we hope it doesn’t lead to a rise in Islamophobia” there wouldn’t be anything like as much Islamophobia.
Sunfish. I hadn’t spotted that. Is the good Sheikh barking. Quite possibly.
I don’t know. When you live in a ‘community’ that is quite capable of killing those who don’t toe the party line, and will dismiss out of hand any statement that doesn’t acknowledge their dogmatic beliefs, I don’t see how such a statement could be made any other way.
Like you, the bit that bothers me is “Most Muslims are completely against such behaviour. However, we call on all Muslims to continue to remain vigilant against attempts to bring our own faith and community into disrepute.” but for a slightly different reason. It seems to say that most Muslims are opposed to and vigilant against such behaviour. I think most Muslims are well aware that that isn’t true. There would be little point in making the statement if it were. That bit seems directed squarely at the kuffar - pushing the ‘Moderate Muslim’ myth a little further.
But if you parse it a little more carefully, you can see that it doesn’t actually admit to anything. It does not admit that any Muslims are carrying out those attacks. It condemns attacks on innocent citizens, but does not say the Jews are innocent. And vigilance against attempts to bring the Muslim faith and community into disrepute doesn’t specify what actions it is talking about - is it those of the people beating up British Jews, or the people telling everybody it has happened?
That interpretation does seem very strained, but it is reminiscent of examples of kitman you find in some of the Islamic texts. I wouldn’t rule it out that they may have some such interpretation ready for when they get questioned about it in the mosque.
However, I couldn’t help but laugh at “we unreservedly condemn [...] the desecration of all places of worship.” Does that include the shrine of Hubal?
I am more miffed by this bit: “However, this does not, and cannot, justify attacks on our fellow citizens of Jewish faith and background here in Britain.”
It does not say that nothing justifies attacks, just that THIS does not. Tune in again for an update for the proper justification for attacks.
Nah.
Too much kremlinology. I suspect that these blokes were trying to be sincere, and too much is being inserted between the lines here.
Maybe Cats… But… You can’t blame us for being sus given the track history of lies and disingenuity and the number of “moderate” Islamic Orgs that have been shown to have links and sympathies with the jihadi loons.
It’s a point that has been commented on before - where ‘moderate’ Muslims say one thing to a Western audience, and then explain what they really mean in Arabic to a Muslim audience. Arafat, for example, was noted for it. The most common example is the condemnation of suicide bombings against “innocent victims” - they never say Jews, Westerners, or whatever. The point is that the Western audience will hear what they want to hear, and the Muslim audience will know they haven’t turned traitor. Unbelievers are by definition not innocent.
And of course there is always a certain psychological dislike of lying - if you can shade the truth, it’s easier on the conscience.
Whether this letter is genuine I don’t know. That’s the point of the language, of course. For all I know the sentiment may be genuine, and the double meanings are taqiyya to protect themselves from Muslim wrath. Given what Sharia law says about munafiq, one can certainly understand even a genuine moderate protecting themselves.
The real question is who is this letter being addressed to? Those Muslims causing trouble will read it, and see the signs. They are well aware that the picture it paints of a RoP isn’t true. Genuine or not, they will not be persuaded, and I’m sure the writers know it. So who is the message for?
Nevertheless, it’s surface message is still a symbol, an example of Muslims not simply taking the opportunity to spew hate. It ought to be encouraged, without letting ourselves be deceived into thinking it’s sufficient, so that more genuine moderates might think they’ll be supported and protected should they decide to shift in that direction. If they know that speaking out will get them nothing but suspicion from us and hatred from their own, they’ll keep quiet. It’s like the Anbar Awakening in Iraq - we are under no illusions that they like us, but they like al Qaida less, and will join our side if we give them our protection.
My feeling exactly Pa.