The Muslim Opposition to Terror.

[Blu]

I must admit to having been exasperated by the lack of coverage gifven in the media to the major and unequivocal statements made by the Muslim leadership and community against terrorism and the events of last week. many news reprts mentioned the fear of a backlash, but did not give centrestage to the powerful muslim voices in support of the victims (from all races and resligions) and against people who use the name of Islam to justify terror.

The major daily newspapers from across the arab and muslim world condemned the attack, including leading papers from Egypt, the Jordan times, the Arab news in Saudi Arabia, Al-hayat, the London Arab paper, the Pakistan Times.

Britain's Imams and Mullahs and the Muslim Parliament all made statements declaring terrorism to be against islam, and determing that perpetrators of terror should be caught.

I think one of the most important things we can do in these times is to show respect to the ordinary, decent muslim citizens of this country, who are strong in their opposition to those who use violence, whils being subjected to racist backlashes.

You are so right to point out that a lot of positive news from the Muslim community is proving hard to track down blu
Thanks for those latest links

I saw this article in The Independent

Islamic leaders will issue 'fatwa' on terrorists

Britain's top Muslim scholars are to issue a "fatwa" which will condemn the terrorists behind Thursday's bombings, in an unprecedented move to repudiate the Islamist militants suspected of the atrocities.

It is expected that the religious ruling, which will be drafted this week, will effectively outlaw the bombers among Muslims by stating the attacks were a breach of the most basic tenets of Islam.

I've seen a few articles, one in The Sun recently. They have a muslim woman columist all the time.

I stress that I also read The Times , I only get The Sun as dh buys it for the football (so he says).

Sparks - thank you for that link - v interesting.
Good quote in it from Trevor Phillips: "There's not a dividing line between Muslims and Londoners. The dividing line is between those who commit these acts and those who don't."

I see that a Saudi cleric of all nations has also issued such a fatwa. This has been identified as hugely significant too. Good news I think.

Oh Blu, I could kiss you. I just got back from work to see the old thread of wiltshire's back in active conversations, with an even more repulsive update, and felt so depressed. This is what I needed.

This is not really on-topic, as it's not a Muslim response, but I as enormously cheered by an interview on breakfast television yesterday. They were interviewing people in Brick Lane, and got the usual crap from several people. Then they showed an interview with a burly market trader, late middle age. I have to admit (showing my own appalling prejudice here) that I thought oh here we go, but he said: "It wasn't Muslims who did this! It was crazy people. Muslims don't kill people, that's not part of their religion!"

Tamum - there is a similar quote from a in that Independent article from a Muslim member of the Greater London Assembly: "It's important we don't feel we have to apologise for Thursday's attacks. We're not talking about Muslims here. We're talking about a bunch of nutters. The time has come to debunk the idea they are sanctioned by Islam."

Hi i am a Muslim. I read the other thread but did not post as did not want to get into anything.

WHEN SEPT 11th happended my parents (who live outside of london) had their home smashed up for everymonth for 4 months, windwows smashed, half a pig thrown through the window. My mother who CHOOSES to wear a scarf was spat on, had stones thrown at her by children. Last Thursday my sister was on that train a muslim... she thankfully is ok, my mum and dad for the last few nights have slpet dowmstairs in their home incase something happens again... nothing has, she does not wear her scarf alot now.

Thank you for this thread.

Oh slink. If only I could apologise for those people.

Thanks for that Sparks, excellent comment, isn't it?

Slink, I do hope your family will be alright

No need it is just nice and comforting to know that there are people like yorselfs out there.

I am not a strict Muslim i choose not to wear a scarf and well my dh is a pussy cat really. Women wear the tradtional dress as they feel impowered, however their are those who feel the woman is there property and they give the wrong message, my dd 4 is taught to be good to all people colour, religion, disability and have a good heart.

Would help if i could spell though ......

My family are fine, if anything was going to happen it would have done so by now... i hope. but thanks againxx

Blu, mwaah! for starting this. Some great quotes and encouraging ideas here, especially the news about the fatwa - what chance of getting that on the front pages of the Mail and the Sun?

Slink, I'm glad your mum and dad haven't been affected this time. We've made some progress

actually I was thought that muslim condemnation of the bombs had been given far more coverage this time than it was after the WTC.

perhaps that's because I only watch the BBC

Or even the Guardian, Jan!
That's what has amazed me - so many earnest white liberal heads nodding in worry about a backlash - but so few of them in the media actually giving the muslim leaders a chance to make heard the very things that might minimise such a backlash!

SP - I didn't see that much on the BBC - certainly not to begin with.

OK, so it hasn't been that much.

But IIRC it's approxuimately infinty percent more than last time.

I've not been around for a while, as madness currently prevails in the fuzzywuzzy household. Have to say I thought MN would have been less inflammatory about the issue, but then I've just read the thread where the op appears to be suggesting that I am forced to wear clothes of a certain type as my own clothes are now offensive. Personally I was born and bred in london (I even dream in english....).
However I refuse to be dictated to about my dress and religious inclination (my parents don't get a say, so to be perfectly honest nobody else is going to get very far in forcing me into a bikini).

The most hurtful thing happened to me on the bus this morning, a woman sitting opposite me got up and pointedly walked to the back when I sat across from her.......
I dress in Islamic dress OK, big fat huge deal....for some.

I am also the person who always stops to help people on the street. I have to date helped a woman off the floor on a main road when the obviously english white guy in a suit jumped over the woman to get to a bus. English 'gent' did not even stop to ask the obviously distressed woman how she was.
I have stopped to help a woman gather up her gorceries when her bag split and then offered to help her home..... both times I was late for work (these examples are few I have many more).
My husband (also muslim), has helped numerous old dears do their grocery shopping and walked them home, carrying the gorceries (the act has made him late to work too, but our religion dictates we respect our elders and put their needs before ours).

I am not responsible for the bombings. My family, friends, religious leaders and I all obviously deplore the act it is as abhorrent to us as it is to everyone.
But for a quirk of fate I may well have been on one of those tubes on Thursday.......

thanks for this thread Blu, great post. Fuzzywuzzy I am sorry about your experience on the bus, it's demoralising to see the ignorance of some people.

My friend's mum wears a headscarf. She got spat on after Sept 11th. She is very small and one of the kindest people I know, not a threat to anyone. She still wears the scarf. I think she has been staying home a lot these past few days.

Fuzzy - this thread was started as a direct result of the other thread. (although it is something i have been thinking for some days)
Did you think this thread was inflammatory? I really hope it doesn't come across like that?

FuzzyWuzzy, god that is terrrible. I live in a huge Asian commuity and it has been fine here, this time around for my parents they have had alot of friends come over to see how they are etc, I think we are quite placid people (mmm my dh may not think I AM but???? he he)

Blu no not at all, I thought/think this is a really nice thread just could not bring myself to post on the other thread

Actually, ther is good discussion on other thread - but it should be re-started on a separate thread so that it is separated from the op's outright racism.

It sounds on radio, like the police found the identity of the bombers with substantial help from inside the Leeds Muslim community.