Luton Muslims Highlight Plight of our Time

THE MUSLIM WEEKLY 2004
On Monday 13th April, Luton Muslims hosted a community conference entitled "Time for Justice" at Bury Park Community Centre Luton, highlighting the mounting tension affecting the Muslim Community. The audience was both mixed and diverse in terms of young and old, Muslim and Non-Muslim, men and women (separate) and included local politicians as well as national media.

Perhaps befittingly, Azmat Begg (father of Guantanamo Detainee Muazzam Begg) began proceedings by giving a concerned description of what his son maybe going through. He appealed passionately for the fundamental right to trial for all those held under the same pretext wherever they maybe in the world. The strife and ongoing torment that he and his family are going through was very apparent.

This was followed by Abu Yusuf (a Human Rights Lawyer) who explained how anti-terrorism legislation had effectively led to the arrest and detention of many a 'presumed guilty terrorist'

He alluded to the existence of a hostile environment by drawing on examples of 'psychological warfare' in US history including McCarthy's 'Everyone's a witch' farce and the virtual elimination of the Innuit Indians. The UK on it's part appears to impress upon us that it is a 'State under siege' he thought.

This was followed by a stirring speech in Urdu by Iqbal Awan (Imaam at Oak Rd. Mosque Luton). He opened by opining that, "Those that are being terrorised are branded as terrorists while those that perpetrate terrorism stand as accusers." Emphasis was on the Islamic principle of justice and an example of the second caliph of Islam Umar (RA) was put forward, who when told about someone threatening to kill him explained, "He has only threatened to kill me, on the basis that he hasn't carried out his intention, I cannot take action against him"

Comparing this with the stark contrast presented by the US's 'War on terrorism' where many an innocent have fallen victim only further perpetuates the gulf between Islam (As it should be practiced) and the vanguards of Western civilization.

At this juncture, a break was followed with a presentation courtesy of: www.stoppoliceterror.com

A moving slideshow showed the conditions and circumstances in which over 600 Muslims have been arrested/detained since 9/11, opening with the harrowing narrative of Suleyman ZainalAbideen who died under mysterious circumstances after having refused to work for British Intelligence.

The final speech was presented by Qari Isma'il (Imam of Birmingham Central Mosque and OFFSTED Inspector). Tackling the issue of terrorism, he regarded it as a problem which came into existence well before 9/11, citing examples of atrocities being rife in Muslim countries in particular and other Non-Muslim countries in general, further indicating that the issue of terrorism had an inherent and unbreakable link with 'Globalisation' .

Muslims are expressly forbidden from harming themselves or anybody else. Indeed, that would be counter to the prophet Muhammed's (SAW) teaching and example, who Muslims believe to have come into this world as 'Mercy onto Mankind'.

He acknowledged that there was a growing rift in the community and argued that the government was failing to take responsibility for many of its actions that have proved ingenuous and ill-informed, resulting in injustice.

He closed by asking everybody in the audience to pray for peace for all humanity.
Afterwards, I decided to converse with Azmat Begg who explained that in his opinion, this 'War on terrorism' has little to do with Islam and Muslims, albeit Muslims have been the net victims of its execution. "Islam and Muslims globally, condemn terrorism in all forms, it is totally at odds with the philosophy of Islam."
The conference saw the unveiling of draft proposals for a Muslim Community Liaisons Unit (MCLU), which would liaise with the police, local government, Luton Mosques and other agencies to combat the factors, which lead to hate crimes, unfair arrest and detainment.

website for further details: www.lutonmuslims.co.uk