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Over a 100 community leaders, activists, business leaders and scholars from across the British Muslim community* put their name to a joint letter to David Cameron urging the Government to act decisively to stop the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinians. The civilian casualties are increasing daily, with over 1,400 dead women, children and men.

The letter represents a consensus view from the UK’s diverse Muslim communities who are united in their condemnation of the overwhelming violence afflicted on the Palestinians of Gaza. Leading Muslims from across the theological spectrum have signed the letter, as have Muslims from the worlds of business, politics and the arts.

The joint letter asks the Prime Minister ‘to join other party leaders, and members of your own party who have opposed the Israeli incursion into Gaza. ‘

It states:

“It pains us to write to you under these circumstances at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. As a community we have witnessed the unconscionable suffering of Palestinian Muslims and Christians. And marking the festival of Eid this week, which is supposed to be a happy time, we cannot help but feel the pain of those suffering at the hands of the ruthless Israeli military.

Mosques and Islamic associations up and down the country continue to pray for peace, for the people of Gaza and for a respite to the violence. That has gone hand-in-hand with great feats of charity to help those affected. It saddens us to find that some charities are being pressured or even prevented from delivering much needed aid because of the say-so of the Israel Defence Forces. We ask our government to work in the interests of British charities, not a foreign entity determined to make the life of Palestinians a misery.”

*Update: The MCB have received a letter on 25th September 2014 from Tobias Ellwood MP, the Minister responsible for UK’s relations with the Middle East. See the full letter here.

Full text of the joint letter:

A Letter to the Prime Minister on Gaza

Rt Hon David Cameron MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 0AA

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing to urge Her Majesty’s Government to act decisively to stop the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinians. The civilian casualties are increasing daily, with over 1,400 dead women, children and men, in addition to the wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and mosques.

Those still fortunate to be alive still face the mental turmoil of wondering whether the next Israeli missile, flechette shell or laser guided bomb will be marked for them. And while they wait, they continue to reside, in what you have described, as an “open air prison”.

We condemn all violence taking place in Palestine right now, but it is quite clear that the Palestinian people are bearing the brunt of the brutality.

Sir, we ask you to join other party leaders, and members of your own party who have opposed the Israeli incursion into Gaza. They have spoken out against the “horrifying deaths of hundreds of Palestinians”, calling it a “deliberately disproportionate form of collective punishment”, a term the International Committee of the Red Cross uses to describe war crimes. We ask you to join the international community who has asked Israel to stop the killing and the illegal blockade.

As British citizens, worried about our standing in the world, we are appalled that our government abstained from the UN Human Rights Council resolution on 23 July to look into human rights violations in the Occupied Territories and demanding that Israel ceases its military assaults and lifts the blockade of Gaza. For all those people in that big open prison, let us right this wrong.

Prime Minister, you have taken tough action against Russia for violating the sovereignty of its neighbouring country. We ask you to apply those same standards on Israel, which has killed far more people. Like Russia, we can start by imposing an export ban.

It pains us to write to you under these circumstances at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. As a community we have witnessed the unconscionable suffering of Palestinian Muslims and Christians. And marking the festival of Eid this week, which is supposed to be a happy time, we cannot help but feel the pain of those suffering at the hands of the ruthless Israeli military.

Mosques and Islamic associations up and down the country continue to pray for peace, for the people of Gaza and for a respite to the violence. That has gone hand-in-hand with great feats of charity to help those affected. It saddens us to find that some charities are being pressured or even prevented from delivering much needed aid because of the say-so of the Israel Defence Forces. We ask our government to work in the interests of British charities, not a foreign entity determined to make the life of Palestinians a misery.

Following the murder of innocent children playing on a beach, the bombing of a hospital and the attack on a UN school, the time has come to say enough is enough. A Palestinian life is worth the same as an Israeli life, and we urge you to call for an end to the suffering of all with a mutually negotiated ceasefire that ensures the security and freedom of both the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Signed by:

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Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain

Talha Ahmad, Head of Media and PR, Da’watul Islam UK & Eire

Asiem Ahmad, Senior Consultant Asbestos, Bureau Veritas

Mustapha Akande, Treasurer, Union of Muslim Organisations UK & Eire

Zeeshan Ashraf, Chairman, Muslim Professionals Network

Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, Islamic Cultural Centre and Central London Mosque

Seyyed Yousif Al Khoei OBE, Al Khoei Foundation

Lubaaba Al-Azami, Muslimaat UK

Dr Abdul Aziz, Crescent Community Educational Trust

Abul Ali, Chair, Redbridge Islamic Centre

Enam Ali MBE FIH, Trustee, Shahjalal Islamic Foundation, Surrey

Ibrahim Ali, Vice President, Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS)

Imteyaz Ali, Secretary, Bolton Council of Mosques

Mr Luqman Ali FRSA, Social Entrepreneur, Khayaal TC

Mohammed Asif, Chair, Federation of Redbridge Muslim Organisations

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari MBE, Author and Commentator

Mizan Abdulrouf, Vice Chairman, UK Board of Shariah Councils

Cllr Sohail Bashir,  Watford BoroughCouncil

Dr Salah Beltagui, Chair Parliamentary Committee, Muslim Council of Scotland (MSC)

Shaheeda Blaikie, Accountant, Unique Caribbean Holidays ltd

Lauren Booth, Broadcaster, Writer, Human Rights activist

Rashid Brora, Hon General Secretary, Southampton Medina Mosque Trust Limited

Shifa Shahab Chachia, Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO)

Irak Chowdhury, Trustee, Centre for Youth and Community Development

Naeem Darr, Muslim Directory UK

Hysni Dvorani, Ministry of Health Kosovo

Khurshid Drabu CBE, Chair, Southampton Medina Mosque Trust Limited

Dr Reefat Drabu, Southampton Al-Nisaa Association

Azeem Dossa, Audit Manager, Ernst & Young LLP

Fatema Dossa, Founder, Open Discussions

Mehboob Dossa, Lawyer, International Law Firm

Dr S M A Farooqi, President and Chair, Islamic & Cultural Society of Harrow

Ahmed Fakirmohamed, Vice Treasurer, Medina Mosque Trust Southampton

Abdul Karim Gheewala, Chair, Masjid al Falah Leicester

Muhammad Hafiz, Director, Foundation For Science Technology and Civilisation

Dr Faisal Hanjra, Trustee, Kingston Muslim Association

Dr Shaykh Suhaib Hasan, Chairman, Islamic Sharia Council

Navid Hamid, Worthy Capital

Irfan Hussain, Chairman, Harrow Central Mosque

Naz Hussain, Publishing Director, The Bradfordian Newspaper

Lateef Hussaini, Executive Member, Watford Interfaith Association

Qari Mohammed Ismail, Senior Imam, Birmingham Central Mosque

Shabbar Jaffri, Councillor, Glasgow City Council

Shelina Janmohamed, Author

Dr Sarfraz Jeraj, President, Hyderi Islamic Centre

Dr Husein Jiwa, President, Council of European Jamaats (COEJ)

Daud Juneja, Chair of Trustees, Alnoor Cultural & Educational Trust

Ibrahim Kala, Chief Officer, Bolton Council of Mosques

Mohammed Kanji, Secretary, Al Mahdi Centre

Dr A Majid Katme, Islamic Medical Association

Saleem Kidwai OBE, KFO, FRSA, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Wales

Fazlun Khalid, Director, Islamic Foundation for Ecology & Environmental Sciences

Afzal Khan CBE, Member of European Parliament

Dilowar Khan, Central President, Islamic Forum of Europe

Sabiya Khan, Chair, Bradford Muslim Women’s Forum

Mohammed Kozbar, Finsbury Park Mosque

Ms Unaiza Malik, President, The Muslim Women’s Association

Abdulhadi Mamon, Headteacher, London Islamic School

Ajmal Masroor, Imam and Broadcaster, Communities in Action

Dr Nasar Meer, University of Strathclyde

Ayatollah Fazel Milani, Al Khoei Islamic Centre, Imam

Saqib Mohammed, Chief Executive, Halal Food Authority

Dr A Moledina, President, World Federation of KSIMC

Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Assistant Secretary General and Imam, Leicester

Cllr Salim Mulla, Blackburn

Farooq Murad, Former Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain

Irfan Mustafa, Secretary, Indian Muslim Federation

Dr Rayes Musthafa, President, Sri Lanka Islamic Forum UK (SLIF UK)

Aamer Naeem, Editor in Chief, British Muslim TV

Suleman Nagdi, MBE, President, Federation of Muslim Organisations, Leicester

Abu Nasir, Managing Director, Global Sporting Ventures

Mohammad Nasrullah, Headteacher, Al-Burhan Grammar School

The Revd Canon Barry Naylor, Leicester Cathedral

Mohamed Omer, Board Member, Gardens of Peace

Hanif Osman, Memon Association UK

Abdul Hamid Qureshi, Lancashire Council of Mosques

Dr Mujahid Qureshi, Trustee, Shropshire Islamic Foundation

Murad Qureshi, Assembly Member, London Assembly

Yasmin Qureshi, Member of Parliament for Bolton South-East

Syeda Khalida Rahman, Chair, Muhammadi Trust of GB & NI

Dr Tariq Rajbee, Islamic Information Centre, Hastings

Dr Sheikh Hojjat Ramzy, Iqra Institute

Maulana Shahid Raza OBE, Senior Imam, Leicester Central Mosque

Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, Joint Secretary, Majlis e Ulama Shia Europe

Imam Mohammed Yazdani Raza (Misbahi), Chairman, London Fatwa Council

Yvonne Ridley, Deputy Secretary General, International Muslim Women’s Union (IMWU)

Sayyid Ali Raza Rizvi, President, Majlis e Ulama Shia Europe

Sir Iqbal Sacranie OBE, Former Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain

Dr Ali Salamati, Treasurer, Al-Mahdi Foundation

Mussa Saleh, Chair, Dedza Welfare Trust (UK)

Ufuk Secgin, Chair, London Islamic Culture and Recreation Society

Rafiq Sehgal, President, Bradford Council for Mosques

Khalid Sharif, Founder, IG-SOC

Asif Sheikh, Advisor, The Edinburgh Ahlulbayt Society

Amer Siddiq, Chairman, Warrington Islamic Association

Dr Azzam Tamimi, Chariman, Al Hiwar TV

Farook Valimahomed, Balham Mosque & Tooting Islamic Centre

Fatima D’Oyen-Waley, Director, Manara Education CIC

Munaf Zeena, North London Muslim Community Centre

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Individuals also signing the letter:

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Dr Manazir Ahsan, MBE

Dr Syed Abidi, MBE DL

Shiban Akbar, OBE

Dr Moataz Abdelrahman

Mustafa Abdulhusein

Bilkis Abdulkader

Jamil Abdulkader

Choudry Abdulrehman

Bashir Abusaid

Janet Adams

A Ahmed

Bilal Ahmad

Iftikhar Ahmad

Kashif Ahmed

Sajida Ahmad

Shabbir Ahmed

Yeasin Ahmed

Zaheer Ahmad

Sadek Ahmed

Parwaiz Akhtar

Shahnaz Akhatar

Khurshid Akhtar

Aisha Akram

Robina Akram

Qays Aldoory

Ahmed Ali

Azam Ali

Mohamed Ali

Shamshad Ali

Eusoof Dawood Amerat BSc., MIET

Imraan Amerat

Hassan Amrani

Shaheena Anjum

Sohail Anwar

Diane Atkins

Riffat Azad

Mohammed Azam

Ali Azhar

Professor Mashood Baderin

Abdul H. Baluch

Amir Baluwala

Majid Bani

Mauro Berkia

Kheiro Bouarada

Attia Boudjemline

Amine Boukhobza

Derradji Boumrah

Hakim Braik

Tracey Bullard

Armaan Chohan

Mohsin Chohan

Humaid Chowdhury

James Delargy

Nasr-Eddine Djennati

Shaimaa Elshorkobaly

Molham Entabi

Andy  Evans

Umar Farooq

Ian Fenn

A F Ghafoor

Rumina Hassan-Ali

Murtaza Hassanali

Abdel Majid El-Hani

Ingy Hamza

Anwar Haq

Shahidul Haque

Shazia Hussain

Dr Syed Hussain

Cllr. Fida Hussain

Yaqub Hussain

Kazi Islam

Cllr. Mohammed Iqbal

Sam Jafer

Imtiaz Jamil

Muhammad Shahzad Jamil

Jaffer Kapasi OBE

Iqbal Karim

Nouhad Kassem

Syed Kashif

Faizullah Khan

Fazal Khan

Haroon khan

Dr Hanif Khan

Javaid Khan

Kausar Khan

Dr Nayyer Islam Khan

Salam khan

Muhammad Kashif

Dr Amir Khattab

Jonny King

Dr Lindsey Knights

Dr Mustapha Koriba

Nassim Koriba

Mokhtar Lamara

Mohamed Madani

Fatima Mahmood

Quesir Mahmood

Nasar Malik

Neelofar Malik

M.Akram Malik

Samina Masud

Hasan Mallick

Abdunnasee Megrahi

Sameera Mehdi

Hajera Memon

Karen Mitchel

Azal Mohamed

Jame Morton

Fuli Musa

Dr Sunita Nagpal

Bouhedli Mohamed Nassim

Rana Nasr

Rauf Niaz

Dr Michelle Nutbrown

Simon Penfound

Maureen Philpott

Soeb Pirbhai

Fahim Qureshi

Saba Qureshi

Dr D Rachedi

Annis Rafiq

Suhail Rahim

Mizanur Rahman

Mohammed Ramzan

Mian Rashid

Nilu Rashidova

Khadija Rehman

Faiza Rennie

Fred Roberts

Suhair Salam

Asaf Saleem

Dr Yasmeen Saleem

Sajjad Sarwar

Mohammad Shafiq

Afzal Shah

Nabeela Shaikh

Somia Shakeb

Haider Shakiry

Azlina  Shamsudian

Shahid Sharif

Sean Sheffield

Assad Sheikh

Ibrar Sheikh

Raeesah Sharif

Mannan Shujaee

George Smith

Khawar Sultan

Muhammad Hussein Surve

A R Siddiqui

Dr Mobeen Siddique

Dr Omar Siddique

Shaukat Sultan

Irfan Syed

Maheeba Syeda

Sana Tahir

Nazir Ahmed Teladia

Farhat Ullah

Afsheen Ul Haq

Atta Ullah

Dr Dan Wheelahan

Anthony Whitsey

Glen Wright

Jamie Wylie

Rashid Yahiaoui

Robina Yasin

Samina Yassir

Unzurna Zafar

Ali Zahid

Dr Imran Zia

Dr Zamzam Ziaei

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If you would like to sign the letter, please go to:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TD6eSN2vkfbPki5_Z-5MdghPzF0ALozpTHBYTZrxENA/viewform?usp=send_form

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August 1, 2014 in Press Releases
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