LONDON,
April 30, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - With general elections around the
corner, thousands of British Muslims were set to march Saturday, April
30, in London against anti-terror laws that stigmatized and demonized
the Muslim minority in Britain.
Two
peaceful demonstrations, which are co-organized by some 100 Islamic
entities in the United Kingdom, are expected to be the biggest
anti-terror march by Muslims Britain has witnessed.
The
first march was to kick off at Marble Arch at 10:30 (GMT) and proceed
to Paddington Green police station in west London.
The
march will end at the high-security Paddington Green police station,
where a number of terror suspects have been held.
A
second march, which focuses on the notorious stop-and-search
procedure, is also planned at 2:30 (GMT) from Blackburn, the county of
Lancashire.
The
demonstrators are also set to move into the city center to protest
against the area's MP, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the BBC News
Online reported.
Chief
among the organizers are the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC),
Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), University of Oxford Islamic
Society, the University College London Ahlul-Beyt Islamic Society,
Bradford University Islamic Society and the Islamic Observatory
Centre.
“Climate
of Fear”
 |
|
The second march basically protests the stop-and-arrest procedure.
|
Adnan
Siddiqui, an IHRC official, said the British Muslims can no longer
remain silent.
“We
must stand together with strength and confidence to dispel the myths
about Islam and the Muslim community,” he was quoted as saying by
the BBC News Online.
He
said Muslims in Britain are sending a clear message against the
“climate of fear” created by the “draconian and
disproportionate” laws.
The
Muslim activist regretted that such laws have been targeting British
Muslims who have “made a significant contribution to this
society.”
British
Prim Minister Tony Blair’s large majority in the House of Commons
ensured the anti-terror bill’s approval last month by 309 votes to
233.
No
sooner had the parliament passed the controversial measure, than Home
Secretary Charles Clarke swung into action and signed control orders
against what he termed “Muslim terror suspects”.
Clarke
has angered the Muslim minority by saying that they were the main
target of the main legislation.
The
House of Lords, however, voted against the new law with peers accusing
Blair of playing politics and toying with the country’s civil
liberties.
The
bill is among of the preoccupations of the British Muslims in the May
5 general elections and is expected to alienate the Muslim voters from
the traditional Labour.
