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Emails to the MCB on issues and concerns
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Page 220
| 20/07/2005 |
| Mr P Hancock
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I think it is worth telling you that I think you are broadcasting a good
message from your website and through your Muslim comrades in the UK in the
news and press.
I hope that this is not just words and I hope that the British people all
continue to see positive actions by the followers of the Islamic faith that
drive continued understanding of your faith and action to bring anyone who
carries out criminal acts, or plans to, brought to justice through a Police
and Criminal Justice System which is run by all British people including
members of the Islamic faith in our country.
I feel very strongly that this is so important, despite the fact that I do
not class myself as a religious person.
Keep it up MCB, and drive your message throughout the youth of all religions
and no-religion in the UK.
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Karl Schrader |
Apart from just espousing MCB condemnation of these attacks and complaints
of an anti Islamic backlash, what action is the MCB actually proposing to
implement to root out and expose the terrorists from within the Islamic
community to avoid the MCB of being accused of just paying lip service to
national opinion?
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Patrick |
In the aftermath of the London bombings, I am sorry to learn that you have
received so many abusive and vitriolic e-mails. I acknowledge that there
will be
a small proportion of UK non Muslims whose negative thoughts about Islam
have beenstrengthened by the recent events in London; however, I am sure
that the majority of the non Muslim population of the UK are perfectly
able to distinguish between Muslim fanatics, whose world view is the
destruction
of all who do not agree with their strict interpretation of the Koran, and
the
views of ordinary, law abiding Muslims who contribute so much to UK society.
As a non Muslim who is privileged to have several close Muslim friends,
whose
medical and scientific work is of immense importance to all mankind, I
consider those
e-mail contributors who want to "declare war on all Muslims" as shallow
thinking
bigots. Their standpoint is as crazy as saying that, during the IRA
campaign, all
Protestants should have declared war on all Catholics simply because Irish
Nationalists tended to be Catholics!
Perhaps the best way to reduce the chances of another 7th of July, is to ask
all
preachers at UK mosques to emphasise - often and strongly - that violence
simply divides society, promotes hatred and prevents harmony between the
many
faiths and cultures in what is probably the most liberal country in the
world.
The message preached by Shaykh Abdul-Qayyum, Imam of East London Mosque,
is a good example of what I mean.
Let us hope that the perpetrators of this hideous act are soon caught and
that
good relations are strengthened between Muslims and non-Muslims in
this country.
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| 20/07/2005 |
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Ginny and Hanna Lindon Smith and friends
We are just emailing you as we have heard that the MCB has been receiving some abusive emails as a result of last Thursday’s bombings. As a very small attempt to counter these communications we would like to assure you that amongst all our friends and acquaintances there is nothing but respect for the Muslim community of this country, for your values and commitment to your beliefs, and an understanding that those who carried out last Thursday’s atrocities have nothing to do with mainstream Muslim beliefs. We feel great sorrow that not only has the Muslim community, your homes and mosques, suffered attacks as a result of the London bombings, but that the young men who perpetrated the killings should have been led into such a desperate strategy. We would like to express our solidarity with the Muslim community, and our sorrow for the families of the young men involved in the bombings, as well as their victims.
With best wishes
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Zafar |
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We Muslims must take responsibility for the attacks in such a way as to eradicate this problem from within the hearts of our youth. They are being brainwashed by unscrupulous people in the name of Islam. What Jihad are they taking about. To me an ordinary Muslim, Jihad is with one's self. We cannot judge others, if your belief is strong than you should leave all matters in the hands of Allah. Islam will prevail, there is a bigger power to guide it. Yes, we are all frustrated about Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir etc; but we fight it with intelligence and through proper channels. There is no justification for attacking anyone. Muslims are to blame for our own failures, we are weak, we lack faith, understanding of our religion. This unfortunate incident highlights that there is an invisible hand behind the attacks whose motives are killing people to make a political point. Why? The young brothers must not become prey to such people. The Muslims in the UK have a unique opportunity to resist all fundamentalist type of thinking and persuasion and defeat them. I am ready. I hope you are too. This must end for the sake of a better future. This great country has given us much to be proud of and we have benefited in many ways... Allah is hearing and watching everything, this is the basic belief system. A true Muslim can be recognised miles away by his manners, radiant looks and respect for humanity....There is no room for violence in Islam, one cannot even become angry without committing a sin. Please let us all pull together and make a big effort as I fear the future will be bleak otherwise. The MCB must seize this opportunity to assist the community. I take this opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to those families whose loved ones have perished in this mindless act of violence against innocent human beings.
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| 20/07/2005 |
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| I was very upset to hear on the news that the Islamic community received
so much hate-mail after Thurday week's bombings. I and my parents are
really sorry and wish to assure you that people who send such
communications certainly don't represent the feelings of British
Christians. We realise that millions of Muslims are peace-loving and we
have been praying for you all, along with the injured and the families
of the victims.
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| 20/07/2005 |
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Assalamu Alaikum!
I am an Australian non-Muslim living in London. After
the London bombings and learning of the hate emails you have received, I
emailed you expressing my support. After learning that the bombers were
British-born Muslims I now wish to reiterate my support. May I suggest
that when interviewed by the media, you mention the many positive emails
you have received, so as to spread a message of strength and solidarity
to those who would condemn you. Please accept my very best wishes.
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Mr A Brotherston |
Sir,
I write to congratulate the muslim community for its sted fastness and spirit in this difficult time. This diplorable act in london in my view should be used to make the bonds between all faiths and communitys stronger as working together is the only way forward. I am not a muslim and am not bound to any religion
May i wish you all the best in your endevours.
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| 20/07/2005 |
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| please could you forward this to the family of hasib. i am a mother of 4
, my son is the youngest at 19 yrs.he is my only son ! he has been in
the army from the age of 16 , this is something he chose to do , we as a
family did not want him to do this because of the threat to his life in
a combat situation. i just felt the need to contact your family and
express our heartfelt sympathy for your loss of your son hasib . i read
your family statement today ,it is obvious that you are a caring family
and would have done anything to protect your son from danger. do not
blame yourselves , blame the person or people resonsible for
brainwashing hasib , the way you have described your son is the way i
would describe mine ! we are not a very religous family ; we are
christians, our main faith is the family we try to do right by each
other , and treat everyone we meet the way we would like to be treated,
i got the same feeling about your family from the statement that you
released. as a mother my heart goes out to your family for your loss of
hasib . from a mother x
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Cathy |
Dear Sir
We have an awful world where Muslim kills Muslim [all over the world]
and Christian kills Christian [in Ireland] :: and what bearings have we
left for our children?
We need a lot more to offer our kids - unless we leave this killing to
go on and on.
I have a 19 year old son who was attracted to the Far-Right a couple of
years ago - thankfully, his politics have changed now and he has
matured...I my hope is one day he becomes a Christian.
We need to show our kids lots of love - and respect for all people of
all faiths and hopefully they will come right in the end.
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| 20/07/2005 |
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As a member of the community of Dewsbury, I would like to express my
condolences to the victims of the london bombings. We as muslims condem
all forms of killing of innocent civillians whether it be in the uk,
america, palestine, iraq, afganistan or chechnya.
I would like to take this oppertunity to raise awareness of the fears
and difficulties faced by our fellow muslim brothers and sisters. In
particular the youth of today who are inevitably the leaders of tomorrow.
What we have learnt from the london bombings is that those who carried
out the crime were ordinary british muslims leading relatively normal
lives. We need to establish what reared them to carry out such an
attack. More importantly how to stop further action being carried out in
the name of islam.
We need to take steps towards understanding these young adults who
prepared themselves physically as well as mentally to kill themselves as
well as others. More worrying is the fact that these bombings were
undoubtly carried out in the name of religion. A religion which promotes
peace. So why did they carry out these crimes? What was the driving
force behind the killings. Why were they misinformed of the consequences
of their actions. Did they really believe they would secure a place in
jannat?
We as a community must take some form of responsibility....some may not
agree however in the quran it states to the nearest meaning "that the
killing of one man is as if the whole of mankind is killed" i think
Where do we go from here? Do we just sit back and condem these acts or
do we strive to ensure history does not repeat it self. We need to
educate ourselves as well as others. We need to address issues faced by
muslims living in this muticultural society. Questions such as how we
should view the scenes of atrocities that are being carried out all over
the world in particulary against muslims. How should we act upon our
sence of helplessness in a positive manner. What avenues are available
to voice our concerns of these matters. How should we bridge the gaps
between western civilisation and trying to act upon the teachings of our
religion. How should parents rear their children to cope with the
demands faced as a muslim which perhaps they themselves never faced.
We as a community need to tackle all muslims regardless of race, colour
or nationality (whether it be pakistanis or gujaraties). In particulary
the vulnerable muslims which may come from families deprived of
religious education.
Some kind of inititive needs to be taken to listen to the youth of
today. Whether it be in seminars/lectures in mosques or support obtained
from the community directly via respectable learned and professional
indiviuals or groups. Also please do not forget about us the muslimah
who undoubtly will face most of the backlash from the attacks on london.
What support is availble to us when we face the world whether it be
commuting to university or work or even just carrying out day to day
chores outside the safety of our homes.
Let us be vigilant today for a brighter tomorrow.
I hope I have expressed my concerns and i appeal to the noble community
members who can make a difference! I hope and pray that inshallah some
good will come out of this.
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Freda & Robert Bunce |
I am writing, also on behalf of my husband, to express our sympathy, and
hopes for the future. We can understand how easy it is to stir up
zealotry after the unforgiveable acts committed by the Bush
administration and Blair's entanglement with this appalling American
policy.
We were raised as Christians and cannot understand how another religion
which, (whatever the differences of interpretation and practice)
worships the same great and merciful God, can have become so demonised.
We wish you well and pray that the minority of vicious racist/religious
bigots in this country will not succeed in their crusade against the
Muslim Community. It is your tragedy that some of your young people have
been so misused and we hope that enough people in this multicultural
land of ours will understand and that the backlash (which, sadly, is
inevitable with people like the BNP around) will be minimal. May God and
Allah bless you. We send all our strength in hopes and prayers that this
tragedy will develop into a better future for Britain and for the world.
If this should happen, then maybe those poor young men will not have
shed their lives in vain. Our thoughts are with you and with all your
people.
Our thoughts, hopes and fellow feelings are with you at this terrible time.
With our kindest regards,
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| 20/07/2005 |
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I was for many years a schoolteacher in London working in a community
which was mainly Muslim and Sikh. These were the happiest days of my
teaching career. I come from a white, christian, agricultural community
and yet I do understand the terrible soul searching you must now be
going through
I saw a group of muslim boys interviewed on breakfast TV during the week
and was impressed with their balanced view of the situation.They
reminded me of the splendid young people I worked with previously.
I believe it is commonly forgotten in your community that the majority
of people in this country did not want the war in Iraq and are ashamed
of what was done in our name.Even in my community which is white and
Conservative you will struggle to find a counter view.
It is most likely that the majority of those who lost their lives
recently would have shared this view as well.This can never be a
justification for the senseless slaughter we witnessed.Indeed such
slaughter only strenghtens the hands of the war mongers and racists in
the country at large.
I thought Ken Livingston summed it up perfectly when he stated that
these bombs did not damage prime ministers or wealthy oppressors but
ordinary working class londoners from many backgrounds[including Muslim]
I would suggest this is the message that would be terrorists in your
community need to understand.
I really do wish you well in your efforts to counter this situation
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Jonathan |
Dear sirs
I would like to join with the other non-muslim people that have
denounced attacks on your places of worship. However it appears that
there are protestations of Islam being a peaceful religion. This needs
to be explained to me, in the light of the suicide bombings all over the
world perpetrated only by your faith. You seem to have little value on
human life, killing millions of your own faith in Iraq and Iran. There
seems to be no teaching of religious tolerance at all. The bombing in
London confirms this to me. Your people are unable to live within any
other community without trying to convert everyone to your faith, wether
they like it or not. You are even intolerant of different sects within
your own community. As we see Sunni and Shia killing each other daily.
It is my belief that Moslems have killed more Muslims than anyone else.
I live in an area of Manchester with a high Muslim population. There is
no attempt at integration whatsoever, and there is great enmity against
the local Jewish population, including attacks on Synagogues.
I would like to see marches through the streets of Manchester condemning
the atrocity in London. But its not going to happen is it ?
Islam is growing in strength in England, and this bombing is a small
setback. You need to teach your children tolerance, and understanding
that although God is great there are people that do not hold your views,
and are still worthy of respect. The local youth here has no respect and
congregate in groups of young men that threaten and abuse non muslems.
What are you doing to stop this ?
I wish you well in the future, and hope that your people will learn to
live in peace with the wider community and with themselves.
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Danielle |
Hi there,
I felt compelled to send you an email after I heard of the hate-mail
you have recently been receiving due to last week's London attacks.
I am a twenty-year-old in Wales. I am not Muslim (though I have
friends who are), but I could not bear the thought of people spreading
hate aimed at those who have done nothing wrong, such as those of
Muslim faith who are innocent.
It is a disgrace that people can be so arrogant towards fellow human
beings simply because Muslims committed the crime last week. Over the
past seven days I have heard countless remarks of hatred aimed at
Muslims who have done nothing but walk along the same path. It is
simply disgusting.
I am sorry to hear that the culprits of last week's attacks were
Muslim. I also offer my sympathies as to the amout of hate-mail you
have reportedly been receiving. It is disgraceful.
Therefore I am sending this to let you know that there are people in
the world, especially in this country, who refuse to 'brand' people of
certain faiths simply because of the actions of four. In every
country, race and religion, there will always be a few who commit
crimes and go aganist society. But it has nothing to do with others of
the same belief.
The bombings were atrocious, and even involved a Muslim victim, which
makes me wonder whether people actually stop to think before making
horrid remarks. It upsets me to think that my Muslim friends may also
be recieving the same treatment.
Please keep in mind that there are those of us who think highly of
Muslims and fully respect the religion regardless of what happened. As
I said above, there will always be a minority who will slip; it has
nothing to do with the rest of society.
I hope you will be strong!
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Mr S M Fox, USA |
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I have many muslim friends in Britain and have contacted them to express my hope that they and their families are safe. Unfortunatly there are always a few brainless idiots who will see all msulims in the same light. I just hope that no-one is hurt in revenge for the bombings. Islam teaches peace as the greatest of Allah's gifts.
In peace and friendship.
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Harry Prins |
As you I am shocked by the brutal and bloody attacks in London last week.
Living in the Netherlands I want you to know that I am very impressed by
your reaction and attitude towards the attacks.
Religion has nothing to do with this brutality and though I am a Roman
Catholic, we all must take a stand against terror.
Please know that we, as brothers and sisters in the Tent of Abraham, can
make this world a better and peaceful place.
I am reminded of my favorite saint, St. Francis, who during the bloody
Crusades, visisted the Sultan of Egypt.
May the Highest bless you.
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| 20/07/05 |
| Keith McDowall |
Dear Sir / Madam
I would like to express my feelings of support and solidarity for the
Muslim community of Britain. Whilst I am horrified and sickened by the
London bombings I would also recognise that the connection between this
act and Islam is as tenuous as that between sectarian murders in
Northern Ireland and Christianity. Britain would be a much diminished
nation without the Muslim community - indeed it would not be Britain at
all.
Perhaps out of this horror can come a greater sense of understanding and
respect between all the elements of the British nation.
Best wishes
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| 20/07/2005 |
| David Bowker
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Speaking as a non-muslim, it's clear that muslim people and culture have
added great diversity and beauty to this country. I'm sorry if the sad
actions of a few misguided, alienated young men have made life difficult
for British muslims, the majority of whom are obviously
decent, peace-loving people.
Sincerely,
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| 20/07/2005 |
| Kerry Goulde
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As an Irish/British Christian, I just wanted to express my concern at the
hate mail that your organisation has been receiving over the London
bombings. I realise it must be hard for the Muslim community to see their
faith tarnished by the actions of a few radical extremists. Please know that
the majority do not hold Islam responsible for these tragic events.
Are there any gestures that we can make as a community to demonstrate our
solidarity with the cause of justice and unity as a people?
Yours sincerely,
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Page 220
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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