Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Kamran Bokhari : Stratfor's "resident jihadist" organises radical Islamist Caliphate conference Kamran Bokhari : Stratfor's "resident jihadist" organises radical Islamist Caliphate conferenceDecember 19, 2006 Stratfor analyst Kamran Bokhari promotes the Khalifate at AMSS Istanbul conference Being the ‘in house Jihadist' and Senior Middle East analyst for the "leading consulting security agency" Strafor should be enough to keep Kamran Bokhari busy full time Last year his he coauthored a piece with his boss Strategic Forecasting CEO George Friedman entitled "The crisis in US Pakistan Relations in which they blamed the failure to dismantle the infrastructure of Al Qaeda on. "The…professional rivalry behind the CIA, Department of Defense and the FBI, as well as other security agencies which continues to do the post 9-11 effort in intelligence sharing". Adding that "Pakistan should not be expected to eliminate the group since "the lines between those "useful" militant groups and Al Qaeda members can be blurry". The implied ambivalence towards militant groups echoed an op ed of Bokhari's praising Al Qaeda as spokesman of Al Muhajiroun in which he compared America's founding fathers to Al Qaeda terrorists. The blurry lines between militants and terrorists could explain why Bokhair's boss George Friedman does not see a ‘conflict of interests' between Bokhari's work as Stratfor's ‘in house Jihadist' and his outside role as the treasurer of the radical Islamist Association of Muslim Social Scientists. The AMSS is a Saudi funded ‘think tank' aimed at the Islamising the social sciences and implementing shari'a through public policy. The AMSS's motto, displayed on their website reads in Arabic and english"Thee alone do we worship –Thine aid do we seek". In addition to legal Islamism the group also helps out physical Jihadist, and was raided by the JTTF in 2003 in connection with terrorism funding during Operation Greenquest. This September, Bokhari, appears to have taken time off from Stratfor to act as the U.S. liason for the AMSS conference in Istanbul..The conference themes -"Citzenship, Security and Democracy' belied the real purpose of the event aimed at mapping out the future progress of the Caliphate both literally and figuratively. The choice of Turkey as a venue was symbolic the country is regarded by Islamists as the Trojan Horse whose entry into the EU would lead to Islamisation by demography. Turkey was "an deal location"because "it is along the ‘fault line' between ‘East and West' ‘Christendom and Islam' …as the only Muslim majority country being able to make a case for inclusion in Europe." This symbiosis of physical and political Jihad was highlighted in the conference agenda which read " the events of 9/11 in the USA and 7/7 in the UK"…have created within circles of Muslim social scientists, especially in North America and Europe an opportunity…to provide the necessary research, analysis, and understanding to those who wish to enact social change…" The conference aims "to provide a basis for the conceptual , critical and strategic thinking for the future." In response to an earlier expose of Bokhari's connections to global Jihadists and his employment at Stratfor someone who claimed to have known Bokhari as Al Muhajiroun spokesman in Missouri wrote:"Bokhari is a clear and present danger to both Muslims and U. S. citizens…" The validity of this assessment is evidenced by Bokhari's own online posting dated February 13, 1998 which read: as Salamoalaikum Ittagallah Ya Abu Kadja!!! For Allah's sake stop attacking Hizbut (sic) Tahrir and Al Muhajiroun and instead attack these rulers in the muslim world that are responsible for the misery of the uummmah (sic) and the world at large. These kufr regimes are the obstacles to the rise of Islam as the dominant way of life in the world. Yours in Islam, Kamran Bokhari Springfield, MO, USA Kamran Bokhari current status as Stratfor analyst and ‘legal Islamist' in the service of the AMSS grants him the legitimacy to promoting the same views which he voiced as spokesman for Al Muhajiroun disguised as intelligence analysis. Bokhari just published a book about Jihad aptly entitled "Voices of Jihad" New writings on Radical Islam", In it he gives a forum to his fellow Jihadists worldwide under the guise of a scholarly introduction to "radical Islamist thinking on issues such as their perception of Western concepts of democracy and their skepticism of the Middle East peace process." NBC News analyst Fawaz Gerges was also full of praise for his friend Bokhari and thanked him because "he read the entire manuscript and made extensive notes throughout" for his new book "The Far Enemy, Why Jihad Went Global". Equally as disturbing as Bokhari's role as professional Jihadist is the potential for confidential information which as Strategic Forecasting analyst being passed on to his ‘brothers'and ‘sisters' in the global Jihadist network which includes the AMSS/IIIT. Stratfor CEO George Friedman (who is proud of the company's depiction as a ‘shadow CIA') also has a book to his name , entitled "America's Secret War" which purports to "identify the United States most dangerous enemies" and "reveals the real reasons behind the attack of 9/11". Kamran Bokhari's Stratfor colleagues reference to the Al Muhajiroun spokesman as their ‘in house Jihadist' is an affront to terrorism victims. His position as Stratfor analyst affords him access to sensitive information which he could potentially share with radical Islamist organisations such as the AMSS and IIIT both of which have been to linked terrorism support and funding. It's time for Stratfor subscribers to tell CEO George Friedman that they will no longer support an enterprise where employees like Kamran Bokhari can aid and abet radical Islamists while on the company payroll. -------------------------------------- MIM: The announcement for the AMSS conference in Turkey "Citizenship, Security and Democracy in Istanbul" was actually a discussiona about the future Caliphate. Stratfor analyst Kamran Bokhari was the liason (and is the treasurer) for the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS) who co sponsored the event together with the Saudi funded Wahhabist think tank the IIIT. From: Mahir Zeynal <mahirzey...@gmail.com> Call for Papers Citizenship, Security and Democracy Istanbul, Turkey: Friday 1st September - Sunday 3rd September 2006 The Association of Muslim Social Scientists (UK) and the Foundation for Patron: The International Institute of Islamic Thought The time for an international gathering of Muslim social scientists is at The events of 9/11 in the US and 7/7 in the UK have created within circles The notion of citizenship and security as they relate to democracy and Muslim social scientists need, therefore, to develop evidence –based Turkey is an ideal location to host this conference. Sitting along the Papers are invited along the following themes: 1) Citizenship: New Paradigms and Challenges . Challenges of plural citizenship. . Status of minorities in multicultural societies in a transnational world. . Transnational Muslim organisations . Political participation of Muslims in Europe and USA . Muslim women citizenship, empowerment, and discrimination. . From tolerance to recognition: The processes of integration within the . Faith and secularism. . Muslim youth: Experiences, realities and challenges. . Islamic ethics across multiple cultures in a global environment. . European models of unity: cultural and political challenges. . Turkey's cultural identity and EU membership. 2) Security, Violence and Peace . Security, Integration and Muslim minorities. . Alternatives to violence: Dissent in civil society. . Communities' conflict and coexistence. . Security and Islamophobia. . Terrorism and extremism in Muslim societies. . Violence : transnational and national. . State violence and urban violence . Islamophobia in the Muslim World? . Intercultural and interfaith dialogue and the future of peace. . The Muslim world and the West: New paradigms of communication based on 3) Democracy, democratisation: Prospects for Civil Society . Unity without unification in future cross-cultural society. . Models for peace in fundamental texts of faiths and cultures. . Muslim scholars in the West: prospects for renewal and mediation. . Imagining a Europe with Turkey. . Revival and reform in a fragmented Muslim world . Europe and the Middle East: Historical and strategic issues. . The Nation-state and its Future. . The experience (s) of democracy in Muslim countries. . Democracy and democratisation : Imposition or persuasion? **************************************************************************** Abstracts February 1st 2006 Papers June 15th 2006 Submission of abstracts (150 words) to be sent to: From Turkey: seta...@gmail.com From the Arab World: confa...@yahoo.com From North and South America: conferen...@amss.net From Europe and the Rest of the World: c...@amssuk.comPlease supply a short English Turkish ------- Kamran A. Bokhari Fri, Feb 13 1998 12:00 am as-Salamoalaikum Ittaqallah Ya Abu Khadaja!!!!!!!!! For Allah's sake stop attacking HizbutTahrir and Al-Muhajiroun and instead Yours-in-Islam THE ATTACHED TRANSCRIPT WAS TYPED FROM A RECORDING AND NOT COPIED ...
Kamran A. Bokhari is an intelligence analyst with Strategic (Stratfor) Forecasting, Inc, appraising geopolitics of the Middle East, South/Central Asia. He is also a second year doctoral student in the Department of Political Science at Howard University, Washington, DC. Bokhari's areas of specialization include international affairs, comparative political systems, Islam and democracy, modern Islamic political thought, and Islamist movements. He also serves as the Secretary/Acting Treasurer of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS), and is a member of the Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID). On June 4, 2000, Bokhari founded the email-based Political Islam Discussion List (PIDL), which is currently housed on the University of Texas server. http://www.post-islamist.info/ Curriculum Vitae Rutherford, Kenneth R., Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, SMSU, Springfield, MO 65804, Tel. # (417) 836-6428. http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg01678.html Kamran A. Bokhari MSA-EC - http://sunnah.org AAWRWB Brother Hani Al-Khatib wrote: <<1) Material pertaining to the *religious sciences*, such as his so-called >Tafsir, his fatwas about Hijab (Burda), birth-control, etc. All such >material is to be thrown out the window. Mawdudi was never a scholar, so he >can never teach others Islam. Many Barelwi, Deobandi, and non-Hanafi >scholars have rejected Mawdudi and refuted his errors.>> On the contrary Sayyid Maududi did in fact have ijazas in the Hanafi fiqh from Deobandi madaris in Pre-partition India. the thing is he never flaubnted his Islamic credentilas as he began his career as ajournalist and in other literary works It is another thing he was never a career/rpofessional a'lim. As for other Barelvi, Deobandi, and non-Hanafi u'lema not considering him an a'lim only those who have aprtisan and sectarian bias and are downright Taleban style mullahs have such a grudge and jealousy for him. I myself am from am orthodox barelvi background. in fcat I am from a family of pirs, auliya, sufis, etc. and I have seen the literature churned out by the barelvis against him. It is sheer nonsense and fabrications and most of ther diatribe is nothing more than maliciously taking his statements out of context. In fact Sayyid Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (ra), Amin Ahsan Islahi (ra), Sadr Al-Deen Al-Rifai', Yusuf Islahi, etc. are top of the line u'lema who recognized Maududi as an a'lim. It was in fact Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (ra) who translated his works into Arabic and introduced him to Sayyid Qutb. The problem is that he is more well knwon for being a mufakir and his Tafheem-ul-Qur'an is not an exegesis per se but in fact a summarization of the works of previous mufassireen that he wrote for the benefit of the common man who only understood Urdu. I say the above as a former member of IJT (student wing of JI) during the late 80s. Yours-in-Islam, Kamran A. Bokhari Teaching/Research Assistant Masters of Int'l Affairs & Admn. Program Department of Political Science College of Public Affairs & Humanities Southwest Missouri State University PACB 321, 900, S. Holland, Springfield, MO-65804 Tel: (417) 836-5924 Fax: (417) 836-6655 http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg01709.html Mawlana Abul Ala Maududi needed! ahmed irfani MSA-EC - http://sunnah.org >From: "Kamran A. Bokhari" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: MSA-EC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: MSA-EC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: RE: Information on Mawlana Abul Ala Maududi needed! >Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2000 11:30:48 -0600 Walaikumsalaam I dont know if you are from the subcontinent, esp India. Talking about Maudodi spurns resentment against that man who had no deep knowledge and unfortunately slipped from the correct path. I am not cricising for that purpose. I happen to sramble thru one book titled as "Dastoor E Jamaat Islami" while at my friend Dr.Tanveer Altaf's house in Hyderabad, who is associated with JI. On the back of the front page there were few lines as to the Dastoor/terms of Maududi's new front Jamaat. "Apart from Allah and Rasool, no one is above criticism". With this one line alone, this man kicked himself out of the pale of Islam, becos after that he went on a spree of slandering, doubting and making criticism of every one, incle Suhabas. I know one lawyer who has seen and I presume even met Maududi, the moment I uttered Maududi's name, his face changed and he who otherwise if very humble, religious and kind person, started to hurl abuse at Maududi, also told me that Maududi was an insane person. Maududi, was in Hyderabad, India for some while, his parents were pious and Sunni Muslims, he requested the then Nawab for assistance and a place to carry on his work, so he was given a place in a mosque where he spent time in reading and writing. (this news I heard from few mouths and long ago). He did read a lot, but unfortunately, this man started to analyse then arrive on his own conclusion, this happens when anyone thinks he dont need anyone to teach him or to clear doubts or to elaborate on certain issues. Ilm is a must so is an Aalim to impart the Ilm, this is where Maudodi failed so miserably that he started to cast doubts about any one starting RAsool Allah (SAWS), Suhabas and others thru his pen. And the JI still follows the number one rule penned by Maududi, no one is above citicism. If you are getting offended that I am criticisig an Aalim, then rest assured I am just doing what he mentioned...'no one is above....'. As far as Maududi's books are concerned, I happened to note that those who read his books, their thoughts and etiquette changed, they become more and more vocal, rude, temperamental, and started to practice in a different ways. The best way to do is to leave alone the books of this man, this man has caused much fitna with his Aqaids, teachings, writings and misguidance, and above all he died in a toilet. What his followers did was to mass produce his books, and I doubt some of them were not written by Maudodi at all, and then spread them accross the globe so as to create an image, place and respect in the heart of ignorant muslims. May Allah save the beseiged Ummah from such fitnas. Amen. Sayyadi Anta Habibi Wa Tabeeb E Qalabi Amada Su E To Qudsi Pae Darmaan Talabi Ahmed Irfani Sabri ----------------------------------------------- http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg01727.html
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim As salamu alaykum, Muslimeen and Mohmineen: Recently there has been a hate campaign launched on the Internet which My name is Cynthia Ruben. I am an American convert to Islam who took Some weeks ago, a coward by the name of Amer al-Shawa launched a When the daughters of Sayyidina Abu Bakr Siddiq and Sayyidina 'Umar (r) We reverts to Islam need support. We can't turn to our parents or our Do not dilude yourself, trying to chase me from Islam. And don't fool For those of you who would like to know about "Cynthia Ruben," without More Truth: In 1996 I served as Director of the Islamic Chamber of Among Kamilat's many projects, each with a focus on strengthening the For now, I am content knowing that you, along with your friend Kamran I thank Allah swt for paying me the highest compliment, that my work is Hajjah Talibah Jilani as-salamu 'alaykum. mate...@sybase.com (Mateen Siddiqui) wrote: [apparently forwarding a message to s.r.i.] >My name is Cynthia Ruben. I am an American convert to Islam who took My wife and I have had the privilege of knowing Sr. Talibah for some AbdulraHman Lomax ---------------------------------
Note: All feedback will passed to author. "An analytical paper summarising the rise and global ramifications of Assalamoalaikum NOTE: The following is a term paper that I submitted as partial fulfillment of The Global Islamic Movement by Kamran A. Bokhari The translation of the meaning (TMQ) of the 104th verse of the third chapter The very first Islamic state was established by Rasul (saws) in 623 CE in On March 3rd, 1924, however, the unthinkable happened, Turkish nationalists Different groups under the leadership of different scholars, have different The resurgence of Islam has passed the crucial phase of the where the question A. Islamic state via "democratic process": 1. The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in Egypt and it's various branches throughout B. Islamic state via "militant activities": 1. The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) of Algeria; C. Islamic state via revolution/coup de'teat: 1. National Islamic Front (NIF) headed by Hasan al-Turabi which is currently There are also other groups such as those of the central Asian states (former The first category refers to those groups that are willing to work within the In the second category are those organizations that have resorted to the path The groups in third and last category are those that more or less subscribe to Any ideological state has a world view of it's own, which in turn renders it Both Islam & democratic capitalism are in opposition to each other, therefore Although there is no monolithic "Islamintern" per se, that is working unitedly Nationalism is another western notion that is rapidly coming under attack from This is the sociology and psychology of the some 1.5 billion Muslims from the What will be the exact political situation as a result of the growing flux on Bibliography Abu-Amr, Ziad. Islamic Fundamentalism in the West Bank and Gaza. Indiana: MIM: Bokhari falsely claimed to the BBC he left Al Muhajrioun because he didnt want to be part of a group that was violent. Yet the first rally organised by the group in 1996 was a Who's Who' of global Jihad. http://artsweb.bham.ac.uk/bmms/1996/08August96.html#Rally%20for%20Revival Features A great many papers have carried news and comment on the Rally for Revival planned for 8 September [subsequently cancelled], organised by Al-Muhajiroun, the group led by Omar Bakri Mohammed, formerly of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (see British Muslims Monthly Survey for February 1996). The East London Advertiser (22.08.96) had an article expressing concern that the event was due to take place at the London Arena. According to this local paper, the manager of the venue, Alec McCrinley, said: "If there is any transgression of the law this event will not take place" and Scotland Yard had issued a statement saying: "We are aware of the event. We are not prepared to discuss policing arrangements" (East London Advertiser, 22.08.96). Some MPs have made representations to the Home Office, asking Michael Howard to investigate. Conservative MP David Wilshire said: "If Mr Mohammed [Omar Bakri] does have the right to be here, I will ask whether what he is doing is a criminal offence, in which case, he should be charged. If it involves incitement to violence, the police should act." Another Conservative MP, Terry Dicks' view was that: "The government ought to stop it taking place. The local authority ought to say enough is enough" (Liverpool Daily Post, 23.08.96). The Jewish Chronicle (23.08.96) claimed that to promote the event, Hizb ut-Tahrir had distributed advertising material in London with the slogan "Peace with Israel is Haram". On the same day, the Evening Standard had an editorial headed "Test of tolerance", which outlined a variety of Omar Bakri Mohammed's more forceful statements, and concluded: "We should treat extravagant rhetoric about a ‘holy war' as simply that - rhetoric. But where there is clear evidence of active support for terrorism, or incitement to hatred, our tolerance comes to an abrupt halt". By 27 August (USA Today, Aberdeen Press & Journal, Guardian, Shropshire Star), news started to appear about Egyptian governmental concern regarding the rally. The Egyptian foreign minister, Amre Moussa (Guardian, Shropshire Star, 27.08.96) said: "There is a question mark over this issue. We, and many other countries, don't understand this (Britain's) position. Egypt will contact the British government to find out the truth of the matter and to discuss the possible consequences of such an unfortunate step". By 29 August, President Mubarak had expressed his disapproval: "I am surprised that this conference, which includes many of the elements which support terrorism, will convene. This does not serve the fight against international terrorism" (Bolton Evening News). The Guardian (30.08.96) noted that, in addition to Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Israel and British Jewish organisations had all made formal representations to the British government against the rally. This paper quoted Malcolm Rifkind, the Foreign Secretary, speaking from Pakistan: "People who wish to hold conferences of course don't need to seek permission from the government in Britain". The Daily Mail (29.08.96) was indignant that Omar Bakri Mohammed is in receipt of welfare benefits, and headed its article: "Militant ‘sheikh' gets £300 handout - Refugee on the dole, plotting revolution". Conservative MP William Powell, chair of the Gulf Region Parliamentary Group, said: "There should be an investigation as to whether benefits are being properly paid." Omar Bakri Mohammed replied to the Daily Mail's criticisms: "There's no contradiction at all. If I am living under a system Islam allows me to take the benefit that system offers. I am fully eligible - I am disabled, with no ankle joint on my left leg. And the negative publicity I get makes it very difficult for me to get a job. Most of the Islamic leadership is on benefit." The Board of Deputies of British Jews asked the Home Secretary to deny entry to Britain for the rally to many of those invited, particularly speakers from Palestine and Lebanon and all members and suspected members of Hamas and Hizbullah. The Board of Deputies called for their exclusion on the grounds that their presence would be "contrary to the public good" (Jewish Chronicle, 09.08.96, Time Out, 14.08.96). Well-known speakers who were invited included: Osama Bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi national who has funded one of the groups in the Afghanistan conflict; Sheikh Muhammad Fadhlallah, of the Lebanese Hizbullah; and the Saudi dissident, Dr Al-Mas'ari. Some speakers, who would have been unable to attend in person due to reasons beyond their control, would have sent films of their speeches. These included: Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, jailed for conspiracy to bomb the World Trade Centre in New York; Sheikh Obeid, who was abducted in 1989 from Lebanon and has been held since without trial in Israel; and imprisoned members of the FIS in Algeria (Q-News, 02.08.96, Sunday Times, 18.08.96). The Evening Standard (22.08.96) carries a full-page feature interview with Omar Bakri Mohammed at his London School of Shariah, where he teaches Islamic jurisprudence. Commenting on the speeches from prison, particularly that of Sheikh Obeid, he pointed out that: "When someone goes to prison he doesn't lose his right to speak out." Muslim News (30.08.96) saw the Jewish Board of Deputies' representations to the government demanding that it stop the rally as being part of a wider context of anti-Muslim actions. This article quotes Iqbal Sacranie, spokesman for the UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs: "The Board of Deputies of British Jews should seriously consider what action they take on this matter because of the detrimental effect on community relations which could result. Taking a hostile view towards scholars who wish to come to this country to present their points of view at a conference will not serve good community relations..." The Jewish Chronicle (30.08.96) reported on the concern of some Middle Eastern governments that the rally would be allowed to take place, and the Home Office's refusal to ban it. An editorial in that paper called for vigilant policing of the rally. On this subject, the Daily Telegraph (31.08.96) says that: "Police could arrest anyone who calls for attacks on Jews, or shows a video that does so". The same paper also claims that: "The Board of Deputies of British Jews...has won a promise that no-one known to have links with terrorist organisations will be allowed into the country to attend". Q-News (30.08.96) asserts that, in fact, eight delegates to the conference, amongst them two EU citizens, were banned from entry to Britain on the grounds that their presence was not conducive to the public good [The EU citizens were presumably banned at point of entry, since they would not need visas. This implies that the authorities would have had foreknowledge of their arrival. Ed.]. Makbool Javaid, for the Society of Muslim Lawyers, regarded this as an abuse of its powers by the Home Office: "There is nothing illegal about the conference. If there was anything untoward the government would have banned it by now. Thousands of British Muslims are going to participate. They, like their French counterparts, are also members of the European Community. If the Home Office wants to be consistent then it should also stop every other participant on the same grounds". A similar view was expressed by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants. Muslim News (30.08.96) and the Church of England Newspaper (30.08.96) both see the reporting of the rally as likely to contribute to a deterioration in inter-faith relations. The Sunday Times (01.09.96), the Times (02.09.96), and the Independent (02.09.96), all review a small number of Middle Eastern papers which condemn the rally, principally Egypt's Akhbar Al-Yom. [BMMS August 1996 Vol. IV, No. 8, p. 1/2] The new leader of the National Union of Students (NUS), Douglas Trainer, has reaffirmed his intention to have Hizb ut-Tahrir and what he calls "other such organisations" banned from university campuses in Britain (see BMMS for October and December 1995; January, February, March and May 1996). He also praised the Campus Watch project, which is a telephone advice service run by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) and the anti-racist organisation, Searchlight. Claiming that Campus Watch had taken hundreds of phone calls from students who had been verbally abused by far-right groups and Islamist groups, Douglas Trainer said: "It is a massively important project. NUS has a great relationship with the UJS and I am confident that together we can continue with Campus Watch and bring forward new ideas" (Jewish Chronicle, 23.08.96). Omar Bakri Mohammed, former leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir and now leader of Al-Muhajiroun, in an interview with the Guardian (23.08.96), said that his group intends to organise on university campuses under different names and through existing student societies. He said: "They will not be able to ban peace and human societies. If they do, it will only backfire...We will use other people". Lucy Manning, the Guardian journalist, claimed that Al-Muhajiroun planned to target Oxford, Cambridge and Durham universities, and that it had already established a presence at the School of African and Oriental Studies, University College London, and the London School of Economics. Jennie Bristow, a student at Sussex University, wrote an article for the Times Higher Education Supplement (02.08.96) pointing out the dangers of NUS' attitude for civil and human rights in Britain. She details the history of the NUS ban on Hizb ut-Tahrir and shows how the NUS' actions have contributed to the rise of Islamophobia in Britain. She writes: "Creating a distinction between ‘acceptable' and ‘unacceptable' forms of Islam has done nothing to lessen anti-Muslim prejudice, and everything to intensify it. Now religious freedom in colleges has become conditional on what a particular religion preaches, and it is acceptable for NUS to impose rules on Muslim groups, dictating what they should say and how they should organise". A letter to the New Christian Herald (10.08.96) from Sohail Nakhooda, director of Islamica, the Journal of the Islamic Society of the London School of Economics, makes similar points. His letter is in answer to an article by Dr Sookhdeo, of the London based International Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity, who suggested in an earlier article in the New Christian Herald (13.07.96), that the marginalisation of Muslims could lead to violence. Mr Nakhooda refutes this, saying: "The problems of marginalisation that Muslims face in inner cities are no different from the ones which other religious/ethnic/economic groups also suffer". According to a report by the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE), extremist Islamic groups such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir pose the most serious threat to lesbian and gay staff and students in universities and colleges in Britain. The report, entitled Fighting Extremist Homophobia, by Peter Purton, describes Hizb-ut-Tahrir as "in equal measure anti-democratic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hindu, anti-feminist and homophobic". The report urges NATFHE branches to support the ban on groups involved in homophobic and other oppressive activities (The Times Higher Educational Supplement, 16.08.96). Hizb ut-Tahrir posters, denouncing the Middle East peace process, have been stuck on lamp posts across the Old Trafford area of Manchester (Manchester Evening News, 22.08.96). [BMMS August 1996 Vol. IV, No. 8, p. 2/3] My weekend with the enemy (May 30) -- When Aaron Klein traveled to London to observe an Islamic extremist 'The sheikh has agreed to be interviewed by you," I read. I had waited eagerly for that e-mail. Forty-eight hours later, I boarded a plane to London. In the air, I reviewed In my written request I had explained how I thought it would be fascinating for The next day I nervously arrived at Ross Wyde Hall in Eastern London for the At first it seemed curious that Al-Muhajiroun had decided to base their group Middle Eastern states tend to see fundamentalist Moslems as their most After I had been searched for recording devices a dark-skinned man ushered me The many signs that decorated the walls immediately struck me. "Jewish Occupiers: Kill Them Where You See Them," read the type on a bold-faced Other posters read, "Clinton: The Most Wanted Terrorist," "Islam Will Dominate AFTER A brief introduction the sheikh took the stage and began his speech, "With thanks to Allah we have come together," he started, "with thanks to Allah Brief applause. The sheikh started off by differentiating between the Islamic definition of "Terrorism according to the West is defined as 'the systemic use of violence to "Al-Muhajiroun define terrorism as 'to attack without the divine right.' That "We support the jihad, which is waged with the divine right," the sheikh "You all have an obligation to support the jihad," he continued. "Or you will "We consider Israel the aggressors. Even if they don't fight they occupy the "We must support Hamas and Hizbullah even though they have other ideologies. We DURING the speech a man sitting next to me asked why I had not put money in a "Are you from the CIA?" he asked. I could tell that he was serious. "No." I replied. "The Mossad?" "No." "Then why didn't you give a donation?" "I'm a little offended by some of the signs in the room." He looked confused. "I'm Jewish," I said, biting back my words the moment I mustered them. The man appeared shocked, but didn't say another word to me for the remainder Meanwhile, Sheikh Omar was insisting that those in the room join their brethren "You all have a duty to defend Islam. Whoever dies fighting the jihad, he is a "I will now open the floor to questions. There will be a man walking around After answering the first question the sheikh pointed to the back and I "Yes. The young man beside me seems to have a problem with the signs." My heart "You see, he's Jewish," the man said. Eight hundred faces turned back and "Settle down, my brothers," said the sheikh, who seemed aware of my presence. "We direct those signs at Jewish occupiers, not all Jews," the sheikh dutifully "Israel can build bombs, shoot our houses, rape our wives, kill our children. "He said to fight occupiers and kill them wherever you meet them. Engage in war "But the land does not belong to you." I said, almost instinctively. MY NEIGHBOR handed me the microphone, and, before I knew it, the sheikh had "I do believe we existed before you, from the time of the first khilafah," "But if you read the Bible, which you believe in, it should prove that Jews "Jews and Moslems were living together during the time of the Bible," retorted "What about the biblical account of how the Hebrew slaves of Egypt were "It is true that Jews are people of the area. And they have the right to live After about three minutes of circular conversation, Sheikh Omar suggested that After the conference I was approached by several curious yet peaceful Moslems "Are you interested in converting to Islam?" "How can you support a government that allows Israel to kill its Arab "What will you do when Israel is defeated by the Arabs?" I spent the next 15 minutes trying my best to respond to the questions being THE NEXT day I met in private with Sheikh Omar and four senior members of "Would you like anything to drink?" asked one of the members. "I'm fine," I replied. "I would like to tape the interview, if that's okay." The sheikh agreed. He started to explain that Al-Muhajiroun actively recruits "Yesterday we discussed the poster about killing Jewish occupiers." I said. "Definitely. His hands are full of blood," replied the sheikh. "Many have "As far as that is concerned Clinton is a target of the jihad, and American "American people must reconsider their foreign policy or their children will be The sheikh went on to explain that there are, in effect, multiple political He then argued that America was founded on the basis of terrorism. He conjured He described a country that planted an atomic bomb in Hiroshima and engaged in He outlined the arrogance and bigotry that he felt permeated America's foreign Of course he neglected to mention that in an attempt to establish the Islamic I DECIDED to focus next on the Middle East. "You stated yesterday that jihad is the 'only Islamic way to liberate Moslem "Yasser Arafat is a terrorist. We believe so," the sheikh answered, "What about the existence of Israel?" "It is a crime. Israel must be removed." The simplicity of his words sent I asked him to describe an ideal picture of the khilafah. He surprised me again "Al-Muhajiroun have branches around the world and our duty is to work to He clarified that Jews who wish to live in the khilafah need not convert to "In fact," added the Sheikh, "life is protected under us. "There will be no minorities and majorities as in America. Anti-Semitism in the "Do you have a message for me to bring back to the American Jewish community?" "Yes. I believe Jews must understand that we are not at war with them because "And what Clinton and Barak are doing is putting themselves in a position of The sheikh then left the room and allowed me to converse with the other leaders One was a convert, the other three were Moslem-born and felt it their duty to One of them, Ohmad Saleem, a lawyer, impressed me greatly with his knowledge of At times, I felt as though I were talking to a group of friends and had Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed seemed different from the other members, though. He is a controversial man, a fanatic seeking to test the London rivers to His rhetoric often extends beyond the limit of the law. In 1993 he led a rally He has been arrested before and will probably be arrested again, but he easily DURING my time with Al-Muhajiroun we compared Islam to Judaism - the three They recommended the readings of Kamran Bokhari; I acquainted them with the They pointed out the tensions that exist between the various factions of Islam; Next day my plane took off to America - a country I have come to view through It may sound simple, but that is the basis for all human action. Every one of Our perspective can lead us to believe that every Moslem is a terrorist, and In this light, it is easy to see why Sheikh Omar and Osama bin Laden have waged Until that changes, there simply cannot be peace between our nations. ------------------------------------------- http://observer.guardian.co.uk/islam/story/0,,587375,00.html We will replace the Bible with the Koran in Britain Fiercely uncompromising in their interpretation of Islam, the members of al-Muhajiroun are dedicated to their faith. But there can be a price to pay. Last week the group announced the death of at least three of its British members in Afghanistan. It said they had joined the Taliban to defend Islam, but were killed by an American bomb. Qassim and Salim walked into the mosque and began to wash before prayer, removing their socks and shoes at a sink. Salim looked approvingly at the bearded Bakri, dressed in white robes and seated by the microphone. 'I have pledged myself to what he says. It's a promise and one that I intend to keep. I'd do anything he'd ask me to,' he said. The duo listened as Bakri began to condemn, with characteristic flair, Britain's war against terrorism. 'The British Government has to be stopped,' said Bakri. 'Blair knows that he is wrong. And he will pay for it. We will remodel this country in an Islamic image.' Waiting until his followers stopped giggling at the vision of an Islamic state of Great Britain, Bakri continued: 'We will replace the Bible with the Koran.' Salim leaned inwards, whispering of his intention to fly to Lahore within weeks. 'I have managed to save some money from my job in a shop and I'll use that to get over there.' He looked round at Qassim in encouragement. 'You're going to do it as well, aren't you?' he asked. 'I think we should both go and fight. It's our duty to do it.' He glanced up at Bakri, who was now vociferously condemning Britain to an internal intifada . 'Christians have to learn that they cannot do this to Islam. We will not allow our brothers to be colonialised. If they try it, Britain will turn into Bosnia.' Al-Muhajiroun was founded in Jeddah in 1983 by the charismatic, Syrian-born Bakri. It promises to re-establish 'true' Islam throughout the world to the extent of wiping out other religious faiths. It is extremely anti-Semitic. Bakri, who was expelled from Saudi Arabia and has lived in London since 1986, calls for young Muslims to take up arms against the opponents of Islam. The organisation has offices across the developed world - in Kuwait, France, South Africa, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Syria and Algeria - and regularly asks its members for donations to fund its work. It funnels its British supporters to conflicts around the world by providing them with guides and contacts, but volunteers almost always have to pay their own way. Many commentators have previously written off Bakri and his tiny band of followers as an unpleasant joke. Bakri was even the subject of a documentary by the humorist Jon Ronson. But after the deaths last week, few people now see al-Muhajiroun as funny. Suddenly it is a threat. To Al-Muhajiroun, Afzal Munir, Aftab Manzoor and Yasir Khan are martyrs who died defending their Islamic brothers against an attack by the infidel. They are to be glorified. To many Britons, including government politicians, they are traitors, willing to take up arms to fight the armed forces of the country they grew up in. They are to be feared. But to their parents, they were idealistic but perhaps mistaken young men, who gave up a life of suburban normality to die in a foreign field. They are to be mourned. For Chudry Manzoor, who last week buried his son in the village of Sakria just outside Islamabad, it is a tragedy. He had repeatedly warned him about the risks, forbidding him to fight several times over the past three years. 'I never wanted him to fight a holy war against anybody,' he said at the burial. For many, the most shocking thing about the three young men is the suburban normality of their lives. Chudry Manzoor is a Luton grocer who has lived in Britain for 20 years and brought Aftab up to be a respectful family man. Aftab, 25, had a variety of part-time jobs, including one as a driver. The family home - like those of the other two dead men - is on a quiet residential backstreet, leafy and modestly prosperous. Aftab divided his time between Pakistan, where he had a wife and young daughter, and Luton, where he had gone to Denbigh High School and took his GCSEs. He worked hard and sent much of his earnings to Pakistan for his young family. He had left Luton for Pakistan for the last time before the 11 September attacks. But three weeks ago he telephoned his father and spoke of his plans to join the Taliban. Afzal Munir, 25, was also from Luton. He still lived with his father - a builder - and his mother, three sisters and 11-year-old twin brothers. The crowded family home was less than a mile from Aftab's house. He was known as a quiet, friendly young man. He too had gone to a local school, Challney Secondary, before going on to do A levels at Barnfield College and a computer course at Luton University. He was a regular mosque goer and attended Friday al-Muhajiroun meetings. But even three weeks ago - when he was still in Luton - many of his friends had known little of his intentions to head for Afghanistan. Some did, however. Mohamed Abdullah, 22, said the bombing of Afghanistan had affected him deeply. 'He may have lived in Luton but he felt the pain of his Muslim brothers and he wanted to do something about it,' he said. When Munir left for Pakistan he did not even tell his wife where he was going. The third man in the trio, Yasir Khan, was from the Sussex commuter town of Crawley. He may have lived across the other side of London from the Luton pair, but Khan inhabited the same, seemingly quiet, suburban world. He lived with his mother in a maisonette. He was also a regular worshipper at the local mosque and had recently helped out with some renovation work. He was a keen cricketer with the Eagles Cricket Club, whose players come from Asian backgrounds. Three years ago a picture was taken at a club presentation night. The only hint of Khan's religious conviction was a t-shirt bearing the slogan: 'The Final Revelation, The Final Message, The Final System, The Final Conquest: Islam.' Like scores of Crawley residents, Khan worked at Gatwick Airport. He had spent the last five months as a driver and loader for LSG Sky Chefs but, ironically, lost his job due to the downturn following the New York attacks. He had been asked to change his work schedule and refused. He is believed to have left for Pakistan shortly afterwards. His family insist that he was only on a mission to carry out aid work. No one should have been surprised that Luton and Crawley produced Taliban fighters. Last year a Crawley family went to Pakistan to search for 18-year-old Omar Kyam. Al-Muhajiroun had sent him to fight in Kashmir. A Briton jailed in Yemen on bombing charges hailed from Luton. A suicide bomber in Kashmir was from Birmingham. Al-Muhajiroun are effective because they exploit a sense of Asian victimisation, a feeling that - despite their qualifications, jobs and families - Asians will never be seen as properly British. It is a situation the older generation have tolerated. But young Asians like Manzoor, Munir and Khan, are less willing to accept the status quo. 'There is a sense that Asians have to be twice as good to be accepted as an equal, whether in accounting or football,' said Professor Tariq Modood of the University of Bristol's Ethnicity Research Centre. That gives al-Muhajiroun an opening. Islam is the answer, they say. The West will not accept you, therefore reject the West. The Muslim world is where you belong. Come home to Islam. Come home to Afghanistan. Near the banks of the River Ravi workers, hawkers and beggars push and shove down Lahore's traffic-clogged streets. In the din it is difficult to pick out the call to prayer. But in the plush suburb of Garden City the wail of 'Allah-u-Akhbar' can be heard loud and clear. And the men in the al-Muhajiroun office are listening. One of their leaders is Hassan Butt, a 21-year-old Luton-born former student. He helped the three on their move to Afghanistan. Butt has been in Pakistan for the past eight months. He has been involved in al-Muhajiroun for far longer. Butt, who grew up in Manchester and has A levels in media studies, computing and English, has been busy recently. There has been a steady flow of donations, including a cheque for £6,500 from a British-based doctor, and new people to be processed and sent to war. Some are from Britain. Abdul Momin, a 25-year-old from east London - where al-Muhajiroun is known to have recruited among university students - arrived a month ago. Now the former civil engineer is preparing himself for jihad. 'I did not like London because it is spiritually rotten,' he said. 'I want to live a proper Muslim life.' Despite the claims of al-Muhajiroun to have recruited up to 600 Britons to fight for the Taliban, the true numbers are much smaller, perhaps no more than a few dozen. Spokesmen for several Islamic groups with offices near to al-Muhajiroun headquarters all said there has been no flood of British volunteers. But the fact remains that a few are making it through. The Britons killed in Kabul two weeks ago were with a group of Islamic fighters diverted from the guerrilla war in Kashmir. It had been simple to join them and head into Afghanistan through the gateway of Peshawar. From there it's a short ride in a pickup and a few hours' mountain hiking. The handful of British volunteers for the Taliban are unlikely to have any material impact on the war in Afghanistan. They are poorly trained, poorly equipped and few in number. A British deserter last week described the problems he had faced when he was taken to the front line with other overseas novices and told to shoot at Northern Alliance soldiers. The result had been a bloody shoot-out, with the Taliban losing. But the real danger from the British volunteers lies in the impact they can have on race relations. That is why the Government has threatened prosecution against any found to have fought and rumours have circulated about reviving long-dormant treason laws. The nightmare scenario would involve British soldiers clashing with British Muslim volunteers, which experts warn could spark a disastrous breakdown in race relations. 'The ripple effect upon social attitudes, community segregation and race gang fights would be enormous, especially as many white people can't tell who is a Muslim and who just has Asian or Middle Eastern appearance,' said Modood. But the divisive impact has already begun. In Luton the vast majority of Muslim leaders were outright in their condemnation of al-Muhajiroun. The group's leader in the town, a man known only by the name Shahed, has been forced into hiding. 'We cannot allow this generation to fall off our radar and leave them in the hands of extremist lunatic groups like al-Muhajiroun. That would be to condemn them to certain death,' said Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain. Yet many young Muslims may not be listening to their elders any more. At the Finsbury mosque Mohamed Salim now hears only the words of al-Muhajiroun. 'It seems to have given me a place in life. I was never very religious before, until I met someone from al-Muhajiroun. Now I think of the good of Muslims everywhere in the world.'
Forwarded message ---------- Call for Papers Citizenship, Security and Democracy Istanbul, Turkey: Friday 1st September - Sunday 3rd September 2006 The Association of Muslim Social Scientists (UK) and the Foundation for Patron: The International Institute of Islamic Thought The time for an international gathering of Muslim social scientists is at The events of 9/11 in the US and 7/7 in the UK have created within circles The notion of citizenship and security as they relate to democracy and Muslim social scientists need, therefore, to develop evidence-based and Turkey is an ideal location to host this conference. Sitting along the Papers are invited along the following themes: 1) Citizenship: New Paradigms and Challenges . Challenges of plural citizenship. . Status of minorities in multicultural societies in a transnational world. . Transnational Muslim organisations . Political participation of Muslims in Europe and USA . Muslim women citizenship, empowerment, and discrimination. . From tolerance to recognition: The processes of integration within the . Faith and secularism. . Muslim youth: Experiences, realities and challenges. . Islamic ethics across multiple cultures in a global environment. . European models of unity: cultural and political challenges. . Turkey's cultural identity and EU membership. 2) Security, Violence and Peace . Security, Integration and Muslim minorities. . Alternatives to violence: Dissent in civil society. . Communities' conflict and coexistence. . Security and Islamophobia. . Terrorism and extremism in Muslim societies. . Violence : transnational and national. . State violence and urban violence . Islamophobia in the Muslim World? . Intercultural and interfaith dialogue and the future of peace. . The Muslim world and the West: New paradigms of communication based on 3) Democracy, democratisation: Prospects for Civil Society . Unity without unification in future cross-cultural society. . Models for peace in fundamental texts of faiths and cultures. . Muslim scholars in the West: prospects for renewal and mediation. . Imagining a Europe with Turkey. . Revival and reform in a fragmented Muslim world . Europe and the Middle East: Historical and strategic issues. . The Nation-state and its Future. . The experience (s) of democracy in Muslim countries. . Democracy and democratisation : Imposition or persuasion? **************************************************************************** Abstracts February 1st 2006 Papers June 15th 2006 Submission of abstracts (150 words) to be sent to: From Turkey: seta...@gmail.com From the Arab World: confa...@yahoo.com From North and South America: conferen...@amss.net From Europe and the Rest of the World: c...@amssuk.comPlease supply a short English Turkish ------- Kamran A. Bokhari Yahoo! Groups Links |