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We were together in our celebration; we must remain together in our time of crisis," said Sacranie.
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CAIRO,
July 7, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The Muslim minority in Britain
vehemently denounced the series of blasts that rocked the capital of
their country Thursday, July 7.
"The
Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) utterly condemns the perpetrators of
what appears to be a series of coordinated attacks in London this
morning that have led to several fatalities and a large number of
casualties," the group said in a statement posted on its Web site.
The
Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), another leading representative of
the minority, expresses "its disgust with the contempt in which the
perpetrators appear to hold human life."
In
a statement posted on its Web site, the MAB maintained that "Islam
holds the sanctity of human life in the highest possible regard and
shedding the blood of an innocent person is seen as a crime most heinous
and repulsive."
According
to Sky News, more than 45 people have been killed and hundreds wounded
in London when several blasts ripped through the capital at rush hour
early Thursday.
Witnesses
saw the top ripped off a double-decker bus near Russell Square close to
King's Cross train terminal, and packed subway trains were hit in three
more apparently coordinated blasts.
Together
in Grief
Sir
Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary General of the MCB, stressed that the British
people, irrespective of their religious and ethnic backgrounds, should
remain united at the time of crisis.
"Yesterday
we celebrated as Londoners, euphoric that our great city had secured the
London games. Today we watch aghast as we witness a series of brutal
attacks upon our capital city. We were together in our celebration; we
must remain together in our time of crisis," he said.
The
attacks came just one day after London beat Paris to Olympic victory by
54 votes to 50 in the final round of voting earlier Wednesday, July 6.
Sacranie,
one of the London bid’s ambassadors, told IslamOnline.net over the
phone Wednesday that Muslims have played a positive
role in their country’s successful efforts to host the 2012
Olympic Games.
Extending
Help
The
two Muslim bodies expressed solidarity and sympathy with the families of
the dead and wounded and extended a hand of assistance.
The
MAB called on Muslims everywhere to "provide all assistance and
support requested by the emergency services and to contribute fully
towards the smooth and successful progress of their work."
The
MCB, meanwhile, expressed its deepest sympathies and "our prayers
are with the victims, their families and friends".
"We
extend our support and gratitude to the emergency services, the Police
and all the frontline services charged with our collective
security."
Possible
Backlash
A
previously unknown group, the Secret Group of Al-Qaeda's Jihad in
Europe, reportedly claimed responsibility for the London blasts.
The
claim could not be verified and did not appear on any of the Web sites
normally used by Al-Qaeda, according to Reuters.
If
confirmed, this might mean more trouble for the Muslim minority in
Britain.
The
European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recently said
the Muslim minority has been living in a “climate of fear” since the
September 11 attacks.
Muslims
in Britain have been complaining of maltreatment by police under the
Terrorism Act for no apparent reason other than being Muslim, citing the
routine stop-and-search operations.
Senior
British parliamentarians admitted last August that anti-terrorism laws
are being used “disproportionately” against the Muslim minority.
A
report
revealed Monday, July 19, 2004, that more than nine out of 10 white
Britons have no or hardly any Muslim or other ethnic minority friends,
raising warnings against growing racial hatred and belief in racist
propaganda.
