UmmZakariya
04-03-2005, 03:36 PM
MSF Press Release
2 March 2005
Home Office Defeats the Objective of Community Relations
The Muslim Safety Forum (MSF) finds Minister Hazel Blears outrageous comments irresponsible, unnecessary, damaging and counterproductive.
Azad Ali, Chair of the MSF said, "The MSF has always maintained that the Police are targeting the Muslim community - we now have the green light for the Police to carry this out even further with the blessing of Hazel Blears, the Police Minister."
"Not one terror related charge has been brought as a result of discriminatory stop and searches. To date, this practice has motivated and provided justification for a right wing onslaught of violence and stigmatisation against innocent members of the Muslim community - recent evidence links the increase in hate crimes against Muslims with the Governments 'War on Terror'." By endorsing discrimination and Islamophobia, Minister Blears words can only further alienate and marginalise the UK's most victimised community.
According to Hazel Blears logic, the IRA, being Catholic, would mean that the Pope would also be a suspect! It is widely acknowledged that discriminatory policing of the Irish community actually increased the threat of terrorism over a decade ago. Such statements and practices compromise the efficacy of an effective counter-terror campaign and mirror the shameful mistakes of a not too distant past.
Azad Ali further stated, "How does the Home Office now expect the Police and the community to work together 'to defeat terrorism' when she [Hazel Blears] is happy to enforce the message that the Muslim community as a whole is suspect? We hope that all the work we have put in with the Police about proportionate and just policing is not now thrown aside because of these irresponsible comments."
Although there are 2 million Muslims in the UK, it is clear that Hazel Blears and the Home Office did not consult with any Muslim group, specifically the MSF who are specialists in Muslim safety and security, prior to making their offensive statement. The MSF will be in contact with Hazel Blears office and will be initially demanding a meeting for her to explain her actions, and to establish proper bilateral relations so these unproductive incidents can be avoided in the future.
Note for Editors:
The MSF is an umbrella organisation made up of national and regional Islamic organisations including: MAB, IHRC, IFE, MCB London Affairs Committee, YMO UK, Muslim College, FAIR, Amal Trust, The London Central Mosque, London Muslim Centre, Muslim Parliament, FOSIS, ISB, Muslimaat UK, Avenues School, Somali Muslim Community, UKIM, MPAC, Stop Political Terror, Muslim Directory, Ershad Centre, BanglaMedia, Iqra Trust, Association of Muslim Police, Al-Khoei Foundation, UMO, Muslim Welfare House, Women_s Relief.
The MSF is the key advisory body for the Police Service and has signed a working protocol with the Metropolitan Police to build better police / community relations. It has been advising the police on matters of safety and security from the Muslim perspective for four years now.
It meets on a monthly basis with senior representatives of ACPO and the MPS, the MPA, Home Office and the IPCC amongst others.
Contact MSF Press officer Abdurahman Jafar or Naeem Darr on 07905 589 299 or 07887 553 419 respectively.
2 March 2005
Home Office Defeats the Objective of Community Relations
The Muslim Safety Forum (MSF) finds Minister Hazel Blears outrageous comments irresponsible, unnecessary, damaging and counterproductive.
Azad Ali, Chair of the MSF said, "The MSF has always maintained that the Police are targeting the Muslim community - we now have the green light for the Police to carry this out even further with the blessing of Hazel Blears, the Police Minister."
"Not one terror related charge has been brought as a result of discriminatory stop and searches. To date, this practice has motivated and provided justification for a right wing onslaught of violence and stigmatisation against innocent members of the Muslim community - recent evidence links the increase in hate crimes against Muslims with the Governments 'War on Terror'." By endorsing discrimination and Islamophobia, Minister Blears words can only further alienate and marginalise the UK's most victimised community.
According to Hazel Blears logic, the IRA, being Catholic, would mean that the Pope would also be a suspect! It is widely acknowledged that discriminatory policing of the Irish community actually increased the threat of terrorism over a decade ago. Such statements and practices compromise the efficacy of an effective counter-terror campaign and mirror the shameful mistakes of a not too distant past.
Azad Ali further stated, "How does the Home Office now expect the Police and the community to work together 'to defeat terrorism' when she [Hazel Blears] is happy to enforce the message that the Muslim community as a whole is suspect? We hope that all the work we have put in with the Police about proportionate and just policing is not now thrown aside because of these irresponsible comments."
Although there are 2 million Muslims in the UK, it is clear that Hazel Blears and the Home Office did not consult with any Muslim group, specifically the MSF who are specialists in Muslim safety and security, prior to making their offensive statement. The MSF will be in contact with Hazel Blears office and will be initially demanding a meeting for her to explain her actions, and to establish proper bilateral relations so these unproductive incidents can be avoided in the future.
Note for Editors:
The MSF is an umbrella organisation made up of national and regional Islamic organisations including: MAB, IHRC, IFE, MCB London Affairs Committee, YMO UK, Muslim College, FAIR, Amal Trust, The London Central Mosque, London Muslim Centre, Muslim Parliament, FOSIS, ISB, Muslimaat UK, Avenues School, Somali Muslim Community, UKIM, MPAC, Stop Political Terror, Muslim Directory, Ershad Centre, BanglaMedia, Iqra Trust, Association of Muslim Police, Al-Khoei Foundation, UMO, Muslim Welfare House, Women_s Relief.
The MSF is the key advisory body for the Police Service and has signed a working protocol with the Metropolitan Police to build better police / community relations. It has been advising the police on matters of safety and security from the Muslim perspective for four years now.
It meets on a monthly basis with senior representatives of ACPO and the MPS, the MPA, Home Office and the IPCC amongst others.
Contact MSF Press officer Abdurahman Jafar or Naeem Darr on 07905 589 299 or 07887 553 419 respectively.