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Militant Islam Monitor > Satire > UK government funded 'Muslim task force' attacks Anti terror laws - says they 'will cause radicalisation' concludes Iraq war caused London bombings

UK government funded 'Muslim task force' attacks Anti terror laws - says they 'will cause radicalisation' concludes Iraq war caused London bombings

UK anti terror laws "chilling" to Muslims
November 11, 2005

Under Blair Plan Brits Turn Security over to Islamists

By Beila Rabinowitz, Director Wahhabi Watch & Militant Islam Monitor

November 11, 2005 - Washington, DC - PipeLineNews - In another case of multicultural diversity run amok, the UK government has funded a consortium of radical Muslims to act as a "police and security working group."

This task force has authored a controversial statement ripping Britain's anti-terror laws as being excessive and specifically objecting to new prohibitions against "incitement to violence," claiming that this would hamper Muslim free speech.

They expressed concern that their member's support of suicide bombers would be mischaracterized and criminalized, "creating a criminal offence of glorifying terrorism could stifle legitimate support for self-determination struggles around the world."

The group is warning that stronger anti terror laws would "drive the terrorists underground" - seemingly a veiled threat that they will not work with law enforcement - and claims that the causative factor for Muslim unrest is the "inherent injustices" in British foreign policy which are a contributory factor in triggering "radical impulses" among British Muslims.

Members of the task force want to reserve the right for Muslim's to continue to advocate violence, clarifying their objection to the new laws on the grounds that "a speech on jihad could easily be misunderstood as glorifying terrorism, and the "extremely thin line" between empathizing with the Palestinian cause and justifying the actions of suicide bombers could not be drawn with any legal certainty."

In furtherance of this group's attempt to scuttle what to most seem a sensible response to Britain's recent Islamist sponsored bombings, this group is organizing a road show to challenge the laws headed by the likes of Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi who has issued a fatwa condoning suicide bombings by women.

Responding to that imminent campaign, the apparently clueless UK Home Office Minister explained, "The roadshow might include controversial figures such Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, but Ms Blears said it was important to have people who were trusted in the Muslim community or it would be a sham."

http://www.pipelinenews.org/index.cfm?page=pn2.11.11.05blair%2Ehtm

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MIM comment: More outrageous then Blear's justification of the Muslims inclusion of Qaradawi,( who was dubbed the 'Theologian of Terror') in a government funded anti extremism initative, is her praise for the Muslim fifth columnist attack on the government and it's policies, since according to her:

"...They are telling the Government some fairly challenging things and not just telling the Government what they think we wanted to hear..."

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http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,11026,1640206,00.html

Terror bill chilling for Muslims, Blair warned

Alan Travis and Patrick Wintour
Friday November 11, 2005
The Guardian

The fears were voiced by the Muslim community working groups set up by the Home Office to prevent the growth of extremism after the July terror attacks. The warning centres on the remaining provisions in the proposed legislation - such as the ban on the "glorification" of terrorist acts - that are likely to become the next focus of parliamentary dissent after Tony Blair's defeat on holding terrorist suspects for 90 days without charge.

The Muslim community's police and security working group report makes clear that many believe the present anti-terror regime is already excessive, and that the measures risk provoking further radicalisation of young British Muslims.

It says the proposal to make "inciting, justifying or glorifying terrorism" a criminal offence "could lead to a significant chill factor in the Muslim community in expressing legitimate support for self-determination struggles around the world". It could also lead to a fear of using "legitimate concepts and terminology" because of the anxiety of being misunderstood by authorities ignorant of Arabic/Islamic vocabulary. For instance, a speech on jihad could easily be misunderstood as glorifying terrorism, and the "extremely thin line" between empathising with the Palestinian cause and justifying the actions of suicide bombers could not be drawn with any legal certainty.

It fears that a proposed Foreign Office database of "foreign extremists" and a Home Office list of extremist websites, bookshops and organisations of concern will lead to a clampdown that will be seen as "censorship of all those who might criticise British foreign policy or call for political unity among Muslims: 'This is disingenuous to say the least, carrying the dual risk of radicalisation and driving the extremists further underground'."

The reports published by the Home Office yesterday said British foreign policy had been "a key contributory factor" in driving extremist groups, and perceptions of injustices inherent in western foreign policy were triggering "radical impulses" among British Muslims.

Ifath Nafwaz, the deputy convenor of the security and policing working group, said: "There is huge concern about the anti-terrorism legislation - that it is excessive and is going to drive people underground. We ask for a dialogue to be opened up with the community."

The anti-terrorism minister, Hazel Blears, admitted that the Muslim community was telling the government "some fairly challenging things", but insisted that the legislation was aimed at terrorists and not at the Muslim community. Ministers this week strengthened the test necessary to bring a prosecution for "glorifying terrorism", with prosecutors now having to demonstrate "reckless intent" to make a charge stick. It is expected that this will prove the main battleground when the terror bill goes to the Lords in 10 days' time.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-1866460,00.html

Times Online November 10, 2005 Muslim task force attacks Government anti-terror plans By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent, for Times Online

The Government's embattled anti-terror policy came under renewed attack from ministers' own Muslim advisers today with the publication of the final report from a task force set up after the July 7 London bombings. The task force, which was split into seven different panels, made various recommendations, including that Britain's Muslim Imams take to the streets and the internet to fight extemism. Its report was published the day after Tony Blair's Government suffered its first Commons defeat over a proposal to allow police to hold terror suspects for up to 90 days without trial. If the task force's own proposals are accepted, leaders of the Muslim community will launch roadshows and set up websites to tackle the extremists, who have themselves used the web and public meetings as tools to recruit disaffected young adults to their cause. But the task force, which included prominent Muslim figures ranging from members of the House of Lords to Yusuf Islam - the former pop singer Cat Stevens - was critical of UK foreign policy, which it said was a factor in stoking anger among Muslims. The tast force report was also critical of Government plans to ban certain Islamic organisations, warning that this would send the organisations underground and make them "more problematic in the future". Two radical Islamist organisations, Hizb ut-Tahrir and al-Muhajiroun, are among those to be banned under the Terrorism Bill. The report also attacked the Bill's controversial plan for a new offence of "glorifying terrorism". "The proposal ... as currently formulated could lead to a significant chill factor in the Muslim community in expressing legitimate support for self-determination struggles around the world and in using legitimate concepts and terminology because of fear of being misunderstood and implicated for terrorism by authorities ignorant of Arabic/Islamic vocabulary," said the report. "This would not only result in an inappropriate restriction around the practice of Islam but also its development in the present context." It was also unclear why the Government needed to create another new offence of "acts preparatory to terrorism", the report went on. The task force concluded that extremists have found recruits among young Muslims "fuelled by anger, alienation and disaffection from mainstream British society". Extremist groups are operating in schools, prisons and universities where they are shouting down "mainstream Muslim organisations that are perceived as pedestrian, ineffective and part of the system," says the 100-page report. It sets out practical steps to be taken to counter extremism and its underlying causes. It is hoped that it represents a first step in a longer-term partnership between the Government and Muslim communities. The proposals include a new National Advisory Council of Imams and Mosques, a national forum against extremism and Islamophobia and a country-wide "roadshow" of influential populist religious scholars. The recommendations focus on ways to help Muslim communities engage with wider society. Examples include a professional development programme for the developing the skills of imams and other mosque staff and a citizenship "toolkit" to equip Islamic societies, mosques, parents and youth to deal with extremist tendencies. In addition, an Islamic "way of life" exhibition will tour schools to increase understanding of Islam. There will be active efforts to develop opportunities for young British Muslims to be leaders and active citizens. The quality of religious education will also be improved, with an emphasis of life-skills and citizenship. There will also be a campaign to increase the visibility of Muslim women and empower them to become informed and active citizens. Mosques will be encourage to become community "hubs". Among the recommendations was a roadshow of Islamic scholars who would visit towns and cities and explain mainstream Muslim teachings. In addition, Islam Online will be a website for British Muslims looking to understand their faith. Both steps would give young Muslims opportunities to learn from recognised scholars with mainstream views, said Muslim Council of Britain spokesman Inayat Bunglawala, who convened one of the committees that made up the task force. "What this roadshow would hopefully do is to highlight that the answers extremists give are no answers whatsoever. There is nothing Islamic about committing mass murder," he said. "There is no doubt that the Internet has opened opportunities for all sorts of people and groups. And some are extremist groups who have used the internet as a means of propaganda to spread their hate and division. There is a need to ensure that mainstream Islamic teachings are also disseminated." The task force also criticised a Government plan for a new police power to close down mosques which are being used by Islamic extremists were also condemned - a power that the the panel said could be arbitrary and open to misuse. "The proposal on closing certain mosques rather than simply prosecuting the criminality in those mosques could deprive a whole congregation from benefiting from a provision they may have heavily invested in because of a few fanatics misusing their facilities," it said. Ifath Nawaz, deputy convenor of one of the working groups, said: "There is huge concern about the anti-terrorism legislation, that it is excessive and it is going to drive people underground. "We have expressed concern and ask for a dialogue to be opened up with the community." Home Office minister Hazel Blears said: "They are telling the Government some fairly challenging things and not just telling the Government what they think we wanted to hear. "In terms of foreign policy issues, what the report shows you is that this isn't a Government afraid of people to say sometimes things that are challenging. "One of the important things for us is that people will disagree fundamentally with decisions that the Government takes but the way of changing that in a democracy is through the democratic process.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/11/ntask11.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/11/11/ixhome.html

Blair's Muslim task force attacks terror crackdown
By Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor
(Filed: 11/11/2005)

Tony Blair's counter-terror crackdown came under fire yesterday from a Muslim task force set up by the Home Office to combat extremism.

group of Islamic experts appointed after the July 7 suicide attacks in London said the measures risked alienating law-abiding Muslims and driving fanatics underground.

They were especially critical of plans to outlaw groups such as Hizb-ut-tahrir and al-Muhajiroun.

The report concluded that British foreign policy was a "key contributory factor" in spurring British Muslims to extremism. Ifath Nawaz, the deputy convenor of one of the seven working groups, said: "There is huge concern about the anti-terrorism legislation, that it is excessive and it is going to drive people underground. We have expressed concern and ask for a dialogue to be opened up."

Leading Muslims want a public inquiry into the July attacks that they believe will expose a deep well of resentment at Government policy in Iraq and the Middle East. A Home Office spokesman said the request was still under consideration.

The report argued that radical impulses among the Muslim community were often triggered by "perceptions of injustices inherent in western foreign policy". It added: "British foreign policy - especially in the Middle East - cannot be left unconsidered as a factor in the motivations of criminal radical extremists. We believe it is a key contributory factor."

Other measures in the Terrorism Bill, including plans to compile a list of extremist Muslim websites, bookshops and centres, could be perceived as "censorship of those who might criticise British foreign policy or call for political unity among Muslims".

The report denounced the Bill's plan for a new offence of "glorifying terrorism".

It said: "The proposal... could lead to a significant chill factor in the Muslim community in expressing legitimate support for self-determination struggles around the world, and in using legitimate concepts and terminology because of fear of being misunderstood and implicated for terrorism by authorities ignorant of Arabic/Islamic vocabulary.

"This would not only result in an inappropriate restriction around the practice of Islam but also its development in the present context."

Government plans for a new police power to close mosques being used by Islamic extremists were criticised as arbitrary and open to abuse.

"The proposal on closing certain mosques rather than simply prosecuting the criminality in those mosques could deprive a whole congregation," the report said.

Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, said: "People will disagree with decisions that the Government takes but the way of changing that in a democracy is through the democratic process."

The task force proposed a number of initiatives, including a national tour by mainstream imams to preach against extremism and a British-Islam website to counter fanatical Muslim sites.

13 October 2005: Terror Bill 'too weak to prevent human rights challenge'

23 September 2005: Clarke considers a public inquiry into Muslim extremists

6 August 2005: Muslims attack ban on Islamist party

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