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Emails to the MCB on issues and concerns
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Page 190
27/01/2005
| Rich Browne |
Hi there,
I was just wondering if you (as an organisation) represent all british muslims,
and if so how do you know what ordinary british muslims think? Are you elected
by british muslims into your position? If not, how are you allowed to speak in
the media as if you do?
Many thanks,
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| 27/01/2005 |
| Michael , David , Kate |
Dear Sir,
After reading this article
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4210299.stm) I
disagree about your objections towards the portrayal of Muslims in the new
series of 24. This show has been running now for four seasons with various
different terrorist groups. In the first season they were Serbian, the
second were American Oil tycoons and the third was a British agent. 24 has
portrayed Muslim characters in a positive light before, such as the
character in season 2 who was a agent who is unfairly killed by American
truckers and the character who is investigated but proved to be innocent,
whilst his American fiancé is proven to be guilty.
In the current season the main character (the father of the terrorist
family cell) is sitting in café when a Muslim woman criticises the
terrorist’s actions and how their misuse of their religion is often
misconstrued by the public.
Yes, the Muslims in this season thus far have been terrorists, however I
would like to remind you it is purely a fictional program. If other groups
(Serbian, American and British) have been classed as terrorists before, why
can’t Muslims?
Yours faithfully,
(students at a Russell groups university)
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| 28/01/2005 |
| Craig Shaw
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Having read an editorial in today's Guardian, I was wondering why the
MCB was not taking part in the nationwide Holocaust memorial events.
While your statement on your website clarifies the position somewhat, it
seems rather pithy to say that because the memorial is not wide enough
in ambit and as these things continue today, somehow that's a
'principled position' from which to stay away. Does this not just prove
easy pickings for those who would exploit such events to reinforce their
Islamaphobia and spread it to others? Would it have been so difficult
to send a representative or two to events around the country to prevent
these peoples' stereotypes being utilised?
Please do not take these comments and questions as harsh words. While I
see and understand your position, they are intended as constructive
criticism during this difficult time.
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| 28/01/2005 |
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| I must congratulate the organization for taking a principled stand for
commemorating all genocide and not parochial a
holocaust remembrance. The dispossession of Palestinian, their brutal
treatment and massacre of sabra and shatila by Sharon should be taken
into account.
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| 28/01/2005 |
| Simon Taylor
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Dear Sirs
I think it extremely unfair of you to try and have the new series of "24"
cancelled, or re-filmed to your liking, just because you are unhappy with
the subject matter.
"24" is a fictional show, which has featured stories about various terrorist
groups in the past, it is not like they're trying to say that all Muslims
belong to such organisations.
Whilst I understand your concerns, I should point out that there were
numerous dramas and films about the troubles in Northern Ireland when the
IRA were at their most prolific during the 1980's, but nobody believed that
all Catholics (or Protestants for that matter) were terrorists.
Campaining against this program is liable to do more harm than good, as the
mainstream viewing public who don't share your views will simply feel that
you are trying to impose your own standards of acceptability onto them by
playing the 'race' card.
This will ultimately be more damaging to yourselves than simply letting the
programme air.
Best Wishes
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| 28/01/2005 |
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As a British Muslim I would like to congratulate the MCB on taking the
right stand on this Holocaust Day. Im glad to see that you declined the
invite and are taking a strong moral stance to ensure that this day
includes other people who have suffered and continue to suffer. I would
like to see the MCB take this sort of stance a bit more in relation to
other issues too.
Thanks for your efforts
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| 26/01/2005 |
| Michael Organe |
Sirs,
I see that it is reported that you are supporting Charles Clarke's
proposed law for detention without trial of any British citizen
suspected of terrorist activity or associated with it.
I believe that this will be very bad for religious and race relations in
this country..
People will become suspicious of those cultural groups most associated
in their minds with terrorist activities. They will be afraid of
associating with them and will be more inclined to report their
activities to the Police, either in good faith or maliciously.
Remember a Scotsman, carrying a repaired table leg, who was shot by
police because somebody thought that his accent was Irish and the table
leg a gun?
Tony Blair said at the Holocaust memorial service that it did not start
at Auschwitz, it started with a brick thrown through a Jewish shop window.
He was wrong. It started when the Nazis began to take away the rights of
German citizens. Then the fear started.
As Pastor Niemoller said, first it was the Communists, then the Jews,
then anybody else who protested.
If our (British) government passes a law that allows the detention or
house arrest of any citizen suspected of terrorist activities, or
association with them, then we are potentially on the same road.
Good Germans thought the new laws only applied to a few enemies of the
state who were a threat to national security. That is what we are being
told now, by the politicians who believed faulty intelligence and took
us to war.
The Argentiians who now mourn the "disappeared", the families of the
victims of Pinochet in Chile, the Bosnians and Ruandans who got on so
well with their friendly neighbours would have thought the massacres an
impossible fantastic notion, until they happened.
When a politician tells me I have to be afraid of attack and must give
up my right to liberty to be safe, I remember Hermann Goering's words at
Nuremberg.
We have been here before. We must not let it happen again, anywhere.
That is what remembering the Holocaust means to me.
Yours sincerely
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Page 190
For further information please contact the MCB:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 52
Wembley
HA9 0XW
Tel: 020 8903 9650
Fax: 020 8903 9026
admin@mcb.org.uk
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