The Muslim Council of Britain condemns in the strongest terms the reported killing of the elected Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov by Russian forces.

"Aslan Maskhadov was the elected President of Chechnya. Instead of dealing with him and the nation of Chechnya on the basis of mutual respect, the Russian government opted for the old Stalinist policy of forcible subjugation and humiliation. It is notable that for all their talk of a 'war on terror' Western leaders have turned a deliberate blind eye to Russia's savage behaviour in Chechnya where they have killed over 100,000 men, women and children since 1994. The Russian President Vladimir Putin - instead of being regarded as a pariah - has instead been feted in London and other capitals. This will not help relations between the world's Muslim community and the West," said Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

The Muslim Council of Britain believes that it is precisely illegal actions like these by state entities that help breed terrorism by freelance groups.

[ENDS]



Notes to Editors:

1. The Muslim Council of Britain (www.mcb.org.uk) is the UK's representative Muslim umbrella body with over 400 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.

For further information please contact: The Muslim Council of Britain, Boardman House, 64 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 1NT,
Tel: 07708 065 150 or 0208 432 0585/6, Fax: 0208 432 0587, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Website: http://www.mcb.org.uk