| Britain | ||
| Cleric Compares Blair To Hitler | ||
| 2005-08-06 | ||
A Muslim cleric says there are "similarities" between new powers to tackle Islamist extremism and Hitler's demonisation of the Jews. Tony Blair wants measures to exclude foreigners who preach hate and to close places where terrorism is condoned. Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of the Birmingham Central Mosque, said: "I see the similarities...I am saying these are dangerous times." Last week Dr Naseem questioned whether Muslims were behind the London bombs.
Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood called for Dr Naseem to resign after the comments, insisting the cleric had brought his role into disrepute but the chairman retaliated by saying 4,000 worshippers had voted for him to stay. However, following the anti-terrorism proposals unveiled on Friday Dr Naseem told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme that he saw "similarities" between Mr Blair's approach to Britain's Muslim community and Hitler's demonisation of Jews early in his time as German Chancellor. "I think he is not very wise in the way he did it. I am saying he is not handling the situation wisely, because he says one thing at one time and another at another," he said. He [Hitler] was democratically elected and gradually he created a bogey identity, that is, the Jewish people, and posed to the Germans that they were a threat to the country. On that basis, he started a process of elimination of Jewish people. I see the similarities. Everything moves step by step. I am saying these are dangerous times and we must take note of this."
Dr Naseem stood for the Respect-Unity Coalition in Birmingham Perry Barr during the recent general election in Mr Mahmood's constituency and received 2,173 votes. As part of the anti-terrorism measures unveiled on Friday, Mr Blair announced a ban on two radical Islamist organisations, Hizb ut-Tahrir and al-Muhajiroun, even though their leadership insist that they do not advocate violence in the UK. Stating the obvious but the Jews were not blowing themselves up on tubes and plotting to kill everyone on the planet... | ||
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| Britain |
| Call for Birmingham mosque chairman to quit |
| 2005-07-28 |
| A Birmingham MP has called for the chairman of the city's Central Mosque to resign after he said the government could not be trusted. Chairman Dr Mohammed Naseem made the comments after terror suspect Yasin Hassan Omar was arrested in Small Heath on Wednesday morning. Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood said Dr Naseem had brought the role of mosque chairman into disrepute. But Dr Naseem said he did not believe he had been offensive or controversial. "To the best of my belief, I haven't said something I thought was unhelpful," he said. "I was trying to put the record straight. "We have got a long tradition of democracy and a rule of law and that's what I think we should uphold." On Wednesday, Dr Naseem said there was no excuse for terrorism, but he said Tony Blair had lied over Iraq. "Now we cannot give our blind trust to the government," said Dr Naseem who has recently actively supported George Galloway's Respect Party. Speaking to BBC Radio WM on Thursday he questioned the existence of al-Qaeda. "I don't think al-Qaeda exists because we Muslims all over the world have not known this organisation," he said. "The only information about this organisation is coming from the CIA. Now, the CIA is not known for telling the truth." Mr Mahmood said: "What he has done is brought into disrepute the role of the chair of the Central Mosque and the Muslim community in Birmingham. "If he wants to make cheap political points then he really ought to relinquish his position as chairman and let somebody who is neutral and has the interests of the community do it." Dr Naseem is one of the elder statesmen of Islam in Britain and has been a leading figure among Muslims for many years in Birmingham. His position in the city arguably means he runs one of the most important Islamic institutions in Britain, the mosque being regularly used by thousands of Muslims from across the west Midlands. However, he has previously clashed with Mr Mahmood as he has been active in Respect, the party led by MP George Galloway to oppose the government's involvement in Iraq. Dr Naseem, who stood for the Respect-Unity Coalition in Birmingham Perry Barr, Mr Mahmood's consitutency, received 2,173 votes at the last election, representing 5.6% of the votes cast. Mr Galloway, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, has had success in wooing traditionally Labour-voting Muslims away from the party. |
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