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Britain

Supporters of Muslim cleric protest UK visa refusal

2008-02-21

Hundreds of supporters of Egyptian-born Muslim cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi protested Wednesday in Qatar Britain's decision to deny the influential preacher entry for medical treatment on grounds he supports terorrism. Around 200 hundred people shouted slogans and recited prayers in front of the British embassy in Qatar's capital Doha, declaring that the 81-year old cleric, who is a trustee of the Oxford University Center for Islamic Studies and chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, is not a terrorist. "Qaradawi is someone who has always worked to promote dialogue and understanding among different faiths," said Muhammad Sawalha, president of the British Muslim Initiative and one of the protesters in Doha on Wednesday. "He has never supported terrorism, on the contrary, he has condemned it publicly many times." Britain announced February 6 that it had refused to issue a visa to Qaradawi, saying it would not tolerate visitors seeking to justify terorrism.

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Britain

Police comb houses after airport attack

2007-07-01

Police searched houses near Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city, on Sunday after what they said was a terrorist attack on its airport linked to two failed car bombings in London. The government raised the country's security level to "critical" -- meaning the risk of another attack was imminent -- following the airport incident, in which a fuel-filled, four-wheel-drive slammed into the entrance of the terminal and burst into flames. We are dealing with a long-term threat. It is not going to go away in the next few weeks or months "We are dealing with a long-term threat. It is not going to go away in the next few weeks or months," Prime Minister Gordon Brown, himself a Scot who took office only last Wednesday, said in a sombre appraisal of the terrorist threat facing the country. Two men, one badly burned and in critical condition, were arrested after Saturday's attack, which took place on one of the busiest days for Scotland's main international airport. Two more people were arrested later in northern England. Five members of the public were slightly injured at the airport. Wearing white plastic bodysuits and face masks, police in Glasgow combed several houses near the airport, in the town of Houston, about six miles (10 km) west of the city. Neighbours said two Asian men had moved into one of the searched houses, a five minute drive from the airport, about a month ago but had kept very much to themselves. Neighbours said two Asian men had moved into one of the searched houses, a five minute drive from the airport, about a month ago but had kept very much to themselves. "I don't remember seeing them at all," said Mae Gordon, 67. "They were the only people around here you would never see." Britain has seen an increase in terrorism-related attacks since the Sept. 11 strikes on the United States and since it joined U.S. forces in invading Iraq in 2003. Some analysts believe the latest attacks may be designed to exert pressure on Britain to withdraw its troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. "Irrespective of Iraq, irrespective of Afghanistan, irrespective of what is happening in different parts of the world, we have an international organisation trying to inflict the maximum damage on civilian life in pursuit of a terrorist cause that is totally unacceptable to most people," Brown said. " Brown, who took over from Tony Blair on Wednesday, convened a meeting of the top security chiefs to discuss measures to handle the first big test of his leadership. In a short address, he urged the nation to be vigilant. Appearing on BBC television on Sunday, Brown warned the fight against terrorism would be drawn out. "Irrespective of Iraq, irrespective of Afghanistan, irrespective of what is happening in different parts of the world, we have an international organisation trying to inflict the maximum damage on civilian life in pursuit of a terrorist cause that is totally unacceptable to most people," he said. British Muslim groups condemned the series of incidents and urged Muslims to cooperate with the authorities. British Muslim groups condemned the series of incidents and urged Muslims to cooperate with the authorities. "We are utterly appalled by this sinister plot and comment the professionalism of the security services in aborting it," the British Muslim Initiative said in a statement.

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Fifth Column

Red Ken signs London away

2007-06-07

An official City of London press release: Political figures, religious leaders, trade unionists and human rights campaigners are amongst the individuals that have signed up to a new coalition aimed at defending freedom of religious and cultural expression. All the usual suspects Speakers at the launch included the Mayor of London; peace campaigner and activist Bruce Kent; writer Ismail Patel from the British Muslim Initiative; Dr Daud Abdullah, Deputy General Secretary, Muslim Council of Britain; Edie Friedman, Director, Jewish Council for Racial Equality; Andrew Stunell MP; and Steve Sinnott, National Union of Teachers. The coalition is being set up in the light of continuing media and other claims that different communities and faith groups openly expressing their culture or faith threaten community relations in Britain. Such claims have been most recently and strongly directed at the Muslim community, particularly focusing on the right of Muslim women to wear the veil. But such attacks have also recently included a high profile case where a staff member at British Airways was prohibited from wearing a crucifix. The established rights of Sikh community to wear turbans have also come under assault. The new coalition will bring together people of all faiths and none, to counter these assaults and to actively make the case that all communities should be allowed to express their culture or faith, as long as this is within the law and does not impact on the rights of others to express themselves similarly. A Greater London Authority commissioned report into Islamophobia in the media showed that 90 per cent of reports on Islam were negative. However, the majority of Londoners – 94 per cent - support freedom of thought, conscience, speech and religion. The coalition will put the case that that multiculturalism, especially in London, enriches society and that division will flow from repression of these rights, not their expression. And that it is necessary for individuals and different communities to come to gether to defend freedom of religious and cultural though that have been established over hundreds of years. The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: 'I am proud of London's reputation as the most diverse city in the world where the contribution all communities is celebrated and people’s freedom of religious expression is respected as it is one of the most essential of our civil liberties. Attacks on the rights of Muslim people to express their faith as they choose are ultimately a threat to everybody's rights to freedom of religious and cultural expression. It should be the right of every individual to be able live their life as they wish, so long as it does not do harm to any other individual. This ability to be who you are and live as you choose is what has made London a magnet for people bringing their ideas and energy to make this the successful and dynamic city that it is.' More at the link, that's all I could take.

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