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Britain Broadcasts Message of Support to Afghan People
LONDON, October 5 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Reiterating British and U.S. sentiments that have been expressed over the last few weeks, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Friday, "This is not a fight against Islam, it is a fight against terror."
Straw was referring to the worldwide coalition being assembled by U.S. President George W. Bush to wage a war on "terrorism".
Straw broadcast a message Friday to the Afghan people, promising the world's help in helping them build a better future if the Taliban regime is overthrown and Osama bin Laden, the U.S.'s prime suspect in the September 11th attacks on the U.S., brought to justice.
"All religions value life, justice, compassion. Terrorists do not. We have no quarrel with the people of Afghanistan. However, foreign extremists are abusing the traditional hospitality of the Afghan people. The Taliban regime harms Afghanistan and its people by protecting bin Laden and his colleagues from justice," said Straw.
The message, broadcast into Afghanistan Friday morning by the BBC World Service, assured ordinary Afghans that they are not Britain's enemies, only their government and the "terrorists it harbors", reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The Foreign Office said that Straw's message to the Afghan people, being broadcast in minority languages as well as Afghanistan's main tongue of Pashto, was intended to inform ordinary Afghans that Britain had no quarrel with them, not to incite them to rebel against the ruling Taliban.
Straw also promised help from the West once the "terrorists were rooted out", saying that Britain would help provide schools, clinics, roads and secure jobs for Afghans.
"We want to work with all responsible Afghans to bring peace to the country and to help it on the path of stable development. Afghanistan's friends will be generous in their help," he said.
"Our commitment to the Afghan people is simple and sincere. You have been ill-served by those who have made your country a haven for terrorists across the world."
"As soon as this stops, the world will work with you to build a better future for you and for your children."
However, all British politicians did not share Straw's sentiments. On Thursday, former U.K. prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, accused Muslim leaders of not speaking out strongly enough against the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States - comments which have sparked a new row in the U.K.
Thatcher's comments were condemned by Muslim leaders in the U.K. who blamed Thatcher for inciting an already dangerous animosity towards Muslims.
In an interview with the The Times newspaper, Thatcher accused Muslims of the September 11 attacks, saying, "I have not heard enough condemnation from Muslim priests. The people who brought down those towers were Muslims, and Muslims must stand up and say that is not the way of Islam."
Her comments brought sharp criticism, not only from Muslims, but also from others within her own Tory party.
Meanwhile on Thursday, Straw pledged to use "every channel available" to secure the release of a female British journalist being tried by the Taliban for illegally entering Afghanistan.
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