"It's Not the Responsibility of the Muslims to Police Themselves"
How would you assess the cooperation between the MCB and Britain's Home Secretary in the aftermath of the attacks?
Dr. Daud Abdullah: Even before 7/7 we have been working on several projects together with the authorities and various ministries. We've lobbied very hard for legislation for example to protect Muslims from discrimination. There is a high level of cooperation on the issue of security and terrorism. We're working not only closely with the Home Office only but directly with the Metropolitan police in London and elsewhere.
What has been done so far to isolate radical Islamists within the Muslim community?
Abdullah: It is not the responsibility of the Muslims to police themselves. The policing of the community is the responsibility of the state. Let's be clear about this! But we have duties to ensure that wherever we see an act of criminality been planed we should cooperate with the authorities to ensure it does not take place. There had been several meetings not only with Blair, but also with the Home Secretary and the junior ministers. And these meetings are ongoing.
The junior minister in the Home Office, Ms. Hazel Blears, has visited several cities and communities across the country. We in the council have been conducting our own initiatives and meetings with youth organizations. We've also published a booklet called "Know your rights and responsibilities" informing British Muslims in various terms what their duties and responsibilities are here in Britain.
Are Muslims in Britain today living with growing suspicion after the attacks?
Abdullah: Yes, this has unfortunately been the case after 7/7, and I can say also after the September 11 attacks. There were several European Union studies which confirmed that the phenomenon Islamophobia has increased across Europe, including Britain. But after 7/7 the intensity has even increased. We are working to contain this situation, to ensure that people's rights are preserved and social cohesion and good relationships are maintained.
There have been assaults and attacks on Muslims but it would be unfair to say that this is the general state of mind of non-Muslims in the United Kingdom. We in the council have received hundreds of letters of support and encouragement and appreciation for our efforts – even after 7/7, because there is a recognition among non-Muslims that what was done was the act of few individuals and that the entire community should not be held responsible for the acts of four individuals.
What is the image of the British Muslim minority in the media and among the public after the attacks?
Abdullah: The coverage featured some tendencies towards scapegoating and demonisation, in the sense that the blame was shifted entirely on the Muslim community. This is something that does not portrait any logical stand that is viable. Because we have seen atrocities been committed across Europe, we've seen what happened in Srebrenica 1995. The entire European-Christian community was not held responsible. The entire Christian community in Serbia was not held responsible. So we take offence when the media seeks to portrait British Muslims as the fifth column, as the enemy within and that kind of terminology.
We think that this is not fitting to our position, particularly in the light of the fact that over 50 per cent of British Muslims were born here. Indeed some of the boys who committed these atrocities were born in this country. But no justifications for the acts! These were acts of injustices and criminality and we we will work hard to ensure that it doesn't happen again.
Interview: Arian Fariborz
© Qantara.de 2005
Qantara.de
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