GORDON BROWN NEEDS TO BE OPEN TO DIALOGUE AND ENGAGEMENT WITH UK MUSLIM COMMUNITIES

Published: 08/09/2006 18:00

In a few days the world will pause and remember the horrific September 11^th attacks on New York and Washington.  On that day thousands of innocent people were killed going about their daily lives, their only crime was living and working in cities at the heart of the United States.  Since that day there has been a huge struggle to re claim the agenda back from the murderers and the politician’s obsessions with spin and sound bites.  Muslims were also attacked on that day and are constantly victims in their own country and we must never forget this.

The Ramadhan Foundation vowed in the aftermath of 7/7 to tackle and confront the small minority of people who are hell bent on killing innocent people in the UK.  We have over the past twelve months led the media campaign to portray the true meaning of Islam and the positive contribution Muslims are making in this country, in that campaign we are constantly being attacked by the Government as not doing enough to deal with this menace; we are deeply offended by this attack on our campaign and work.  Since 9/11 thousands of innocent Muslims have been arrested the Anti Terror legislation, they have never been charged or ever received an apology for the distress that this has caused, many loose their jobs, integrity and honour.  You can never defeat extremism by military means; it is done by hearts and minds.

We hoped that with the imminent departure of Tony Blair, his likely successor the Chancellor Gordon Brown would launch a listening exercise of the British people before announcing the hardening of the Anti Terror laws in the UK.  He has to remember that the Government lost the 90 days detention debate not because of left wing and opposition party’s political games but because it is fundamentally wrong and immoral.  He is seriously mistaken to think that the people or MPs will allow a second attempt to push through this draconian legislation.  The Ramadhan Foundation will be at the forefront when it comes to that battle.  It will be the worst way to start his premiership.

The world has to also remember since 9/11 more than 150 000 people have been killed in Afghanistan, an illegal war in Iraq supported by Gordon Brown; where over 100 000 people were and are still being killed and people live in constant fear, the Israelis have killed over 1000 innocent people displaced a million people and the British Government have allowed arms shipments from the USA to Israel to pass UK airports – these policies were supported by Gordon Brown. 

We are still at this late stage prepared to talk to the Chancellor about our concerns but this should be done with a clear mind not with perceived prejudices towards Muslims.

Mr. Mohammed Shafiq, Press Spokesman for the Foundation comments:

“We welcome Gordon Brown recognising that the Government has to engage in dialogue with the Muslim community and begin the process of wining hearts and minds, this is what the Ramadhan Foundation has been calling for many years, we look forward to the Chancellor carrying this out if he becomes Prime Minister.

There are many areas of policy where we face challenges, this must be dealt with on a cross departmental approach and a structured participations of the communities of the UK.  I am keen for this process to begin soon and the Foundation is willing to work with the Government on this important agenda.

But Gordon Brown must be in no doubt Britain is sick of spin and the obsession with headline grabbing initiatives with no substance, they do not want more of the same under his leadership but a fresh start away from this – can he really deliver this, we hope so”