| Feature Item |
| Press Release: Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre Fri 01 Jan 2010 |
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Press Release
Date: 23rd December 2009
Re: In the Footsteps of the Scholars – Winter Conference
Further to our previous press release issued on 18th December 2009 ( click here to read) in response to the allegations made by the Quilliam Foundation Saudi Extremism Continues to Influence British Muslims, Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre issues the following,
As a responsible organisation Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre is fully aware of the responsibilities it has towards the diverse communities it serves. To this extent Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre has various policies and controls in place to ensure it fulfils its aims and objectives in a responsible manner and that it complies with the law including the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006.
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre was alarmed at the serious nature of the allegations made by the Quilliam Foundation which insinuated that we are a divisive force in the community. As a result, Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre has conducted its own internal inquiry into the claims made by the Quilliam Foundation in its press release.
As part of the inquiry, Sheikh Faisal Al-Jassim and Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Sadhan were contacted to seek clarification about the allegations levelled against them. Both speakers regret the way in which the Quilliam Foundation has chosen to handpick a few statements from hundreds of hours of lectures to portray them in a negative light.
Sheikh Faisal Al-Jassim has clearly stated that the understanding of Jihad in Islam is one of the most misunderstood concepts in current times; especially by many Muslims. To clarify his position publicly on the subject, he has authored a book that has been translated into the English language, entitled Islam and the Sanctity of Life – An Analysis of Contemporary Deviant Ideologies, with a foreword by the respected British scholar Dr Suhaib Hasan, Chair of Tawhid Mosque Leyton, London. We understand that seventy thousand copies of this publication have been distributed free of charge.
Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Sadhan has stated that his teachings are openly available on his website and in the many books he has authored, and the few statements that have been highlighted are not representative of him. Dr Al-Sadhan has also stated that he is a fierce opponent of terrorism in all its forms, irrespective of the perpetrators. As such he has made it clear that when he referred to ‘the Jews’, this reference was not to Jews in general, but to those elements that have shown hostility to Muslims and resorted to violence.
Having met both speakers on previous occasions, it is very clear to us that these statements do not fairly reflect their views. The aforementioned are acutely aware of the problems terrorism and extremism present in the world today. They are passionate opponents of such dangerous ideologies - a point which the Quilliam Foundation has conveniently chosen to ignore.
Neither of the speakers condone disseminating divisive and destructive message, nor do they consider it permissible to break the law of the land. In light of the above, Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre is satisfied with the clarification given by the invited speakers.
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre has always condemned incitement to terrorism, extremism, racism and intolerance. We ask others to join us in this struggle to free our society of such evils. At the same time we ask those who are unfamiliar with the ethos of Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre to communicate with us, before jumping on the bandwagon of those whose goal is to demonise the Muslim community and its institutions.
Unfortunately, it appears that the Quilliam Foundation has set out with a pre-determined agenda to create mischief and portray us in a negative light, in order to foment divisions amid British Muslims along sectarian lines and generate mistrust amongst the wider public. We believe that the press release issued by the Quilliam Foundation will play into the hands of those who wish to exacerbate tensions within society, and portrays Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre in a defamatory and negative light.
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support it has received from countless organisations, from within the Muslim and non-Muslim communities. We urge these organisations to publicly voice their objections where established mainstream Muslim institutions are targeted in such a manner.
[End – 23rd December 2009]
Notes to the editor:
1. For our previous related press release dated 18th December 2009, please click here.
2. For further information on our position on terrorism and extremism, please refer to our publication Islam – A Religion of Terror? of which 36,000 copies have been distributed to date. Click here to read.
For further information, please contact;
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre
20 Green Lane
Birmingham
B9 5DB
T: 0121 713 0080
F: 0121 713 0081
E: press@greenlanemasjid.org |
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