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Muslims feel much like the 'Jews of Europe'
Britain's first Muslim minister has attacked the growing culture of hostility against Muslims in the United Kingdom, saying that many feel targeted like "the Jews of Europe".
Shahid Malik, who was appointed as a minister in the Department for International Development (Dfid) by Gordon Brown last summer, said it has become legitimate to target Muslims in the media and society at large in a way that would be unacceptable for any other minority.
Mr Malik made clear that he was not equating the situation with the Holocaust but warned that many British Muslims now felt like "aliens in their own country". He said he himself had been the target of a string of racist incidents, including the firebombing of his family car and an attempt to run him down at a petrol station.
"I think most people would agree that if you ask Muslims today what do they feel like, they feel like the Jews of Europe," he said. "I don't mean to equate that with the Holocaust but in the way that it was legitimate almost – and still is in some parts – to target Jews, many Muslims would say that we feel the exact same way.
"Somehow there's a message out there that it's OK to target people as long as it's Muslims. And you don't have to worry about the facts, and people will turn a blind eye."
The claims are made in an interview to be broadcast on Monday in a Channel 4 Dispatches programme to coincide with the third anniversary of the London bombings of 7 July.... Britain's first Muslim minister has attacked the growing culture of hostility against Muslims in the United Kingdom, saying that ... more -
Mosque steps in to help raided church
A theif who strolled into St Alban's church (ilford) and stole charity money raised for Christian Aid has been replaced this week by Muslim worshippers from the nearby Ilford Mosque.
Ghazanfer Ali- Chairman of the Mosque says:
"We have a very good relationship with the church and we were all sad to hear the news. It's an absolute tragedy...We are friends and neighbours and we look after each another...There are people out and about who commit these awful crimes," he added.
Mr Ali meets with Father David Milnes on Redbridge Three Faiths Forum. A grateful Mr Milnes thanked members of the mosque.
He said: "It is a lovely gesture, I am really pleased".
Liberal Democrat Cllr Ralph Scott said:
"I'm delighted to be given this news of a practical example where one faith is being assisted by another, at a time of crisis.
"The mosque has always been an outward looking group, and shows Redbridge has reached maturity in building good community relations."
The theif is white, in his early 20's, has short hair & has a tatoo on his right arm. A theif who strolled into St Alban's church (ilford) and stole charity money raised for Christian Aid has been replaced this week... more -
Rev: "Muslims are good neighbors"
In response to the harassment and vandalism that has recently taken place at the local Islamic Center, I would like to say that the Muslims of Rochester are the most peaceful and approachable that I have met.
But that would not be true.
Instead, I must speak from my experiences in three metropolitan areas and categorize all the Muslims I have met as good citizens and good neighbors.
Sadly, what has happened most recently in our city is a microcosm of what Muslims put up with on a daily basis; discrimination and labeling as a result of the extremist groups that so graphically misrepresent them.
Rochester claims to be a city that is proud of its diversity. Let the good people of Rochester condemn discrimination against Muslims and all minorities, and value the gifts of diversity and neighborliness above all else.
Rev. John Darlington
Rochester In response to the harassment and vandalism that has recently taken place at the local Islamic Center, I would like to say that the Mu... more -
Acknowledgment needed in black and Asian theatre
Is the new-found interest in British Muslims not cynical in a desire for short-term gain and driven by white middle-class guilt?
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Soldier beheader's 'bugged' transcripts get him life
Parviz Khan, the leader of a British gang who had their plot to capture and behead a serving British Muslim soldier foiled, has been given the life sentence.
The main prosecuting evidence came from an MI5 'bugged' conversation, which can be found at the link. 'Bugging' conversations come under scrutiny for their 'evasiveness,' but when the results are as successful as this, I think many would be hard found to be otherwise convinced. Parviz Khan, the leader of a British gang who had their plot to capture and behead a serving British Muslim soldier foiled, has been g... more -
Archbishop of Canterbury backs Sharia law for British Muslims
In a controversial move today, the Archbishop has reportedly claimed that the introduction of sharia law for British Muslims was "unavoidable".
According to the Guardian, a spokesperson for Gordon Brown has also "insisted British law must remain pre-eminent" but said went on to say that "concessions to sharia law could be made on a case-by-case basis."
Are the Archbishop's views unrealistic and what will these changes actually mean? In a controversial move today, the Archbishop has reportedly claimed that the introduction of sharia law for British Muslims was "... more -
Ramadan in London
We follow Haidar and his young British Muslim friends as they finish 30 days of fasting from sunrise to sunset. We observe them talking about their experience of fasting over the previous month and about what its like to be an observant young Muslim in British society. We follow Haidar and his young British Muslim friends as they finish 30 days of fasting from sunrise to sunset. We observe them talkin... more
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Britain Accused of Becoming Like Nazi Germany
The leader of the Muslim Council of Britain believes the British government is stoking tensions in the Muslim community. In the last week we've seen the announcement that British youths were being trained as Islamic terrorists, the plan to double the number of days that terror suspects can be detained, and the recent arrest and conviction of the Lyrical Terrorist, a Muslim woman.
What do you think about this? Is the government's approach to dealing with the Muslim community creating unease and further alienation in wider society? Is this institutional racism? Is integration failing?
Have you experienced this personally? Tell us about it! The leader of the Muslim Council of Britain believes the British government is stoking tensions in the Muslim community. In the last w... more
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British Muslims
