The so-called “War on Terror” has made our world a more dangerous place. 85 percent of the British people believe that there is a link between the dreadful bombings in London and the illegal invasion of Iraq. This link is acknowledged by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Chatham House think-tank.

The policy is seen by many as a war on Islam with constant rhetoric by Bush and Blair about “fighting evil ideology”, “sharing our values” and demonising any organisation or person who speaks out against injustice. As a result, an atmosphere of hate and fear is created, attacks on Muslims have recently increased by 600 percent. Furthermore, the onslaught by right-wing extremists on Islam as a religion has crossed every boundary.

Muslims are not in denial, we are in the forefront of fighting terror against innocent civilians which ever the form or shape it takes. But our government is turning a blind eye to continuous oppression, occupation and state-sponsored terrorism around the world.

The first casualty of the “War on Terror” is our own freedom and liberties. We say “don’t take liberties with our liberties”. The new measures proposed by the Prime Minster will remove fundamental freedoms in British society and will not make our country safer.

MAB press release, 1 September 2005

Muslim anger over British foreign policy, particularly the war against Iraq, resurfaced yesterday in a survey of Muslim students.

Almost all of the students who took part in the research said that they were unhappy with Tony Blair’s policy in the Middle East and two thirds said that they felt it had contributed to the London bombings. Half of the respondents in the poll, which was organised by the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, said they had experienced Islamophobia and nine out of 10 objected to the way they were portrayed in the media.

The preliminary results of the survey were revealed at a conference in London’s City Hall addressed by a panel including Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, Government ministers and commentators.

Wakkas Khan, the president of the federation, which represents 90,000 Muslim students, said: “The Prime Minister’s continuing refusal to accept that his decisions could have led to such extreme consequences does nothing to appease the Muslim community, and on the contrary, seems to be causing more resentment amongst young Muslims. It is important now for Mr Blair to accept that foreign policy is a serious concern and to start to do something about it rather than being seen to brush it aside.”

Mr Livingstone said: “Anti-terrorist measures must be directed against those carrying out, planning or supporting such terrorist attacks and not against those who are our allies in dealing with the terrorists. Attempts to criminalise legitimate political views, for example on Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, would destroy the trust, which is essential to isolate and deal with real terrorists.” He told Muslim students that it was their duty to challenge a “rising tide of Islamaphobia” in the media.

Daily Telegraph, 1 September 2005

The Mayor of London and a coalition of politicians, trade unions, faith groups and lawyers have signed a statement expressing grave concern over parts of the Government’s anti-terror proposals.

GLA press release, 26 August 2005

See also Guardian, 26 August 2005

The sizable Muslim minority in Britain decried the government’s new guidelines on deporting and barring Islamists suspected of inciting terrorism as too vague, warning they could further fan Islamophobia in Britain. “The list of ‘unacceptable behaviors’ announced by the Home Secretary as grounds for exclusion of foreign nationals from the UK is considered to be too wide and unclear,” the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said in a statement posted on its web site.

“We are especially concerned that senior Islamic scholars will be barred from the UK purely on the basis of media witch-hunts orchestrated by pro-Israeli elements,” Inayat Bunglawala, MCB media officer, told Agence France Presse (AFP).

Islam Online, 25 August 2005

The Muslim Association of Britain today said that the Home Secretary Charles Clarke should try any terrorist suspects in the UK rather than deporting them. The organisation also queried what the definition of “terror” would be when judging if someone had “justified” or “glorified” it abroad.

Ahmed Al-Sheikh, President of MAB said:

“It’s only right that if someone is suspected of a crime that they should be tried for it. By saying the government is simply going to deport people instead, it leaves the suspicion that they are trying to appear tough on the issue. In reality, it’s not a very clever policy. To fight terrorism, the government needs to win hearts and minds through serious engagement and dialogue rather than introducing draconian measures which will alienate communities and erode civil liberties.

“One added complication seems to be the definition of terror which Mr Clarke has consistently avoided. We are concerned that recently the government has branded legitimate struggles against oppression and occupation as terrorism. This should not be the case, but if it is, then anyone glorifying or justifying the killings on the side of illegal military occupiers should also be guilty of inciting terror. There should not be a different moral standard whether the killing is carried out by homemade bombs or by F16s and tanks.”

MAB press release, 24 August 2005