| MCB writes to the Home Secretary on growing anti-Muslim hatred On 14 January, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain wrote to John Denham, the Secretary of State for Communities, clarifying issues raised between the MCB and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
In the letter the MCB restated its longstanding commitment to work with all faith communities, and to speak out against all forms of racism and anti-semitism. It also affirmed its deeply held belief that its disagreements over illegal and inhumane Israeli occupation policies and its concerns for the plight and sufferings of Palestinians under the might of the Israeli state have not detracted it from its work with others where it finds common purpose. Whilst MCB is committed to faithfully represent the views of its affiliates on the Palestinian question, it has always stood, and continue to stand, firmly against any forms of Anti-Semitism or indeed any other forms of racism. It does not accept that speaking out against the actions of Israel means supporting attacks on Jewish communities around the world.
Finally, the letter reiterated the basis of the MCB, a broad-based democratic organisation representing a cross-section of Muslim civil society and a multiplicity of views. The MCB actively encourages diverse views while balancing the overall ethos of upholding the common good. Moving forward, the MCB has expressed the need to revisit its governance protocols in order to be able to address such matters and ensure that personal actions of senior leaders also remain true to the organisation's agreed policies.
In his reply the Secretary of State said," I am grateful for your reassurances at this stage and suggest my officials make contact to discuss how the MCB can contribute to the ongoing dialogue."
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Notes to Editors:
The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body with around 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.
For further information contact:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330
London
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
media@mcb.org.uk
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