Category Archives: UK

Mass protest against Khatami at St Andrews

Posted on by Bob Pitt

St Andrews protestAbout a dozen protesters gathered outside Younger Hall, where the university principal, Brian Lang, presented the former president with his degree.

Among the protesters was Maryam Namazie, of the Iranian Women’s Liberation group, who fled the country in 1980. “It is disgusting that St Andrews University is conferring an honour on this man, he is responsible for more than 1,300 deaths during his presidency,” she said.

The university defended its decision to invite Mr Khatami, citing his moderate views and willingness to talk with the west as reason to engage with him. The students’ association backed that decision.

“What we can offer is acknowledgment of a courageous stand against insularity and congratulations on real and persistent efforts to reach out and engage with nations of the west,” said history professor Michael Bentley, speaking after the former president received his honorary degree.

Associated Press, 1 November 2006

The Global Peace and Unity Event

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Global Peace and Unity Event
25th & 26th November 2006

The wait is over! Islam Channel brings back to you the long awaited Global Peace & Unity Event. This year it’s even more spectacular, with a vision which is ahead of its time.

The Global Peace & Unity event, the first of its kind originated in Europe, was organised to highlight and promote the need for global peace and unity among Britain’s varied and distinct communities.

This family event also seeks to break barriers and open bridges between the variety of cultures and groups that follow the Islamic faith, as well as with other communities with whom we share our space.

The Global Peace & Unity Event aims:

• To provide a platform for entertainment and knowledge.
• To encourage understanding and positive interaction between the Muslims and Non Muslims.
• To introduce the British Muslims and Non Muslims to the true face of Islam.
• Dispel the myths surrounding the Islamic faith and to promote dialogue.
• To build bridges across faiths, communities and societies.
• To promote Muslim businesses, Islamic culture and art.

Further details on The Global Peace and Unity Event website.

Veiled Muslim stopped from boarding a bus

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Muslim woman was prevented from getting on a bus in Greater Manchester because she would not remove her veil. The 22-year-old Manchester University student from Oldham says other passengers laughed when the driver refused to let her on because he could not check her identity with her bus pass.

Now the driver’s bosses at First Manchester are to meet with their trade association, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), to seek advice on how to deal with the problem if other passengers with photo passes refuse to lift their veils. They say they have received no complaint from the woman and have been unable to track down the driver concerned.

The student, who didn’t want to be named, tried to board the 59 bus to Oldham. She said: “The driver asked to see my pass, but it has my photo on and he couldn’t see my face. I told him I would not remove my veil and he said I couldn’t get on.” She is now offering to help the company draw up guidance to drivers.

She said: “It is understandable because the driver has his duty, although he said it in quite a rude manner. It wasn’t nice and other passengers were laughing. Bus drivers should be told how to deal with this situation. The veil is my choice and my religious duty. I am willing to go in and help the company so everyone knows what to do.”

Manchester Evening News, 2 November 2006

One day in the life of Muslim Britain

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Criticised for their beliefs, clothing and attitudes; accused of not being British enough; reviled as the enemy within – not a day passes without Muslims being attacked in the media. So how does it feel to be Muslim in Britain today? Guardian writers asked people around the country – from a rear admiral to an organic farmer, a rapper to a gay rights campaigner, an accountant to a niqab-wearing teacher – to tell us how they spent last Friday.

Guardian, 1 November 2006

Revealed: how Murdoch press smears Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

How Murdoch Smears MuslimsTwo smears, forming part of the barrage of attacks on Britain’s Muslims, fell apart last week. Both were splashed over the pages of the Murdoch press. Both proved to be completely baseless.

The first centred on claims that Muslims tried to scare four British soldiers from moving to a home in wealthy Datchet near Windsor. The second smeared Mohammed Abdul Kahar, the young Muslim shot by police during a “terror” raid on his home in Forest Gate, east London, in June.

Despite lurid headlines about the house being a “bomb-making factory”, Mohammed and his brother walked free from police custody. But that did not stop attempts to smear Mohammed, including lurid claims about child pornography.

Socialist Worker, 4 November 2006

We won’t become spies for the state, says UCU leader

Posted on by Bob Pitt

We won’t become spies for the state

By Paul Mackney

Morning Star, 1 November 2006

SOMETIMES, you wake up to the Today programme and have to pinch yourself because it seems as though you’re stuck in a nightmare. Labour ministers have been queuing up to parade their political virility on questions of race and Islam – all in the name of democracy.

Home Secretary John Reid started it off by enjoining Muslim parents to shop their children to the police. That’s understandable. After all, if there’s “something of the night” about Michael Howard, there’s something of the dawn raid about Reid.

Then, Jack Straw, undoubtedly the best home secretary in terms of race relations, pitched in with the suggestion that Muslim women remove their full-face veils at his surgery.

Next, Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell voiced his support for Imperial College London’s ban on students wearing the veil and suggested that it should be extended to cover lecturers. Gordon Brown explained that this helped “integration.”

Now, the Department for Education and Skills is preparing draft advice to universities and colleges on recognising Islamist extremists and alerting Special Branch.

The University and College Union is concerned that members may be sucked into anti-Muslim McCarthyism, with serious consequences for academic freedom and civil liberties.

The state cannot expect academics to monitor what Muslims say in seminars or download in libraries. Indeed, they could be subject to disciplinary action for discrimination.

Furthermore, DfES proposals to vet student societies suggest that Islamic separatism, enflamed by inspirational leaders, leads to “radicalisation” in a supposedly unstoppable sequence that ends in terrorism.

Radicalisation is not caused by cultural segregation. The Muslim community is at the bottom of the British social pile and you don’t have to be the head of the British army to know that foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan exacerbates frustrations.

But, for Tony Blair, such an explanation is unthinkable. So, the search for a cause ends up casting blame on Islam itself.

The distinction between radicalisation and terrorism is blurred in a way that could prove counterproductive. Radicalism is not terrorism and identifying the former gives no-one the right to contact Special Branch.

Continue reading →

Ruqayyah Collector: ‘Racism is the cause of segregation in society’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ruqayyah CollectorRuqayyah Collector, black students’ officer for the National Union of Students, speaks to Socialist Worker:

“A climate has been created where Muslim students are worried about their safety. I personally know people who are now afraid to travel around, who are only going to their lectures. You hear comments on buses like, ‘You have to speak English here now’, or ‘You’re not allowed to wear those headscarves now’. This is part of a wider shift that has taken place in society.”

Socialist Worker, 4 November 2006

Thugs asked ‘are you a Muslim?’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An eight-year old-boy was left terrified by racist thugs who punched him in the face and pulled off his mosque cap. Mohammed Tamazul was attacked whilst on his way to his uncle’s home on Stockport Road Levenshulme, Manchester where friends and family gathered for special evening Ramadan prayers. As he made his way Mohammed noticed three teenage boys following him on mountain bikes. One of them got off and asked if he was Muslim. When he didn’t reply the lout pulled his cap and started throwing kicks and punches at him before riding off again.

Mohammed’s dad Tamazul Miah said he believed the attack was a result of the negative media coverage of the Muslim community. Father of four, Mr Miah said: “My son was targeted because he is a Muslim, I can’t see any other reason. This has never happened to him or any of my other children before. My son was left shaking after the incident. He told me that whilst they were attacking him, the other two thugs were laughing and encouraging their friend to carry on. They were also saying to their friend ‘get the Muslim’.

“It was nine at night and very dark so nobody saw the incident. When they left, Mohammed called me on my mobile and I went out to get him. He was left shaken and frightened. The boys were much bigger than he was. My son is only eight-years-old – this was a cowardly attack.” Mohammed was left with bruises around his eyes and is now frightened to go out.

Mr Miah added: “Though my son went through a terrifying ordeal, he realises that not all white people are the same. We have some brilliant non-Muslim neighbours who were shocked when they found out.

Asian News, 30 October 2006