 |
|
Sacranie's
MCB dismissed the new guidelines as "too wide and
unclear". (Reuters)
|
LONDON,
August 25, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The sizable
Muslim minority in Britain decried the government's new guidelines on
deporting and barring Islamists suspected of inciting terrorism as too
vague, warning they could further fan Islamophobia in Britain.
"The
list of ‘unacceptable behaviors’ announced by the Home Secretary
as grounds for exclusion of foreign nationals from the UK is
considered to be too wide and unclear," the Muslim Council of
Britain (MCB) said in a statement posted on its Web site.
"We
are especially concerned that senior Islamic scholars will be barred
from the UK purely on the basis of media witch-hunts orchestrated by
pro-Israeli elements," Inayat Bunglawala, MCB media officer, told
Agence France Presse (AFP).
Home
Secretary Charles Clare unveiled Wednesday guidelines, under which the
government can deport and bar foreign Muslim scholars from entering
the country.
The
list of "unacceptable behaviors" include fomenting,
justifying or glorifying "terrorist" violence or seeking to
provoke others to commit "terrorist" acts.
They
also cover people who foster hatred which might lead to
inter-community violence, foment other serious criminal activity or
seek to provoke others to commit serious criminal acts.
The
banned views include those conveyed through written or published
material, including Web sites, as well as public speaking.
They
could also be delivered by someone in a position of responsibility
such as a teacher or community leader.
The
new guidelines are part of the British anti-terror measures taken in
the wake of the July 7 terrorist attacks, which were carried out by
four British Muslims and killed 52 people.
Complication
 |
|
Clarke's
list of "unacceptable behaviors" include fomenting,
justifying or glorifying "terrorist" violence. (Reuters)
|
The
Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), another leading British Muslim
group, questioned the definition of "terror".
"One
added complication seems to be the definition of terror which Mr
Clarke has consistently avoided," Ahmed Al-Sheikh, MAB president,
said in a statement on the group's Web site.
The
Muslim body expressed concern that the new guidelines could cause to
brand legitimate struggles against oppression and occupation as
terrorism.
"This
should not be the case, but if it is, then anyone glorifying or
justifying the killings on the side of illegal military occupiers
should also be guilty of inciting terror.
"There
should not be a different moral standard whether the killing is
carried out by homemade bombs or by F16s and tanks," said the
statement.
The
government's new guidelines also drew fire from human rights watchdogs
for violating basic human rights, AFP said.
"The
vagueness and breadth of the definition of 'unacceptable behavior' and
'terrorism' can lead to further injustice and risk further undermining
human rights protection in the UK," said Halya Gowan of Amnesty
International.
The
UN special rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak, also said London's
plan to deport Muslim scholars accused of inspiring hatred to
countries with poor human rights records would expose them to "a
real risk" of the death penalty.
Civil
rights group Liberty attacked any move that would lead to suspects
being sent to countries with a record of torture.
Criminalized
Thought
British
Muslims fear the new guidelines would further fan Islamophobia, which
has already been running high in society since the July 7 attacks,
according to AFP.
"The
proposals do nothing but unleash further Islamophobia in British
society," warned the Islamic Human Rights Commission.
It
added that the new plans were tantamount to a "criminalization of
thought".
Nearly
half a million Muslims contemplated leaving Britain after the July 7
terrorist attacks, with one in five saying they or a family member
have faced abuse or hostility since the attacks, according to a Guardian/ICM
poll published on July 26.
The
Muslim minority in Britain has vehemently condemned the attacks, which
also drew rebuke from scholars, officials and individuals from across
the Muslim world as running counter to the teachings of Islam.
Dialogue
The
two leading British Muslim groups urged the government to engage in a
serious dialogue to probe reasons behind terrorist activities rather
than introduce controversial measures.
"To
fight terrorism, the government needs to win hearts and minds through
serious engagement and dialogue rather than introducing draconian
measures which will alienate communities and erode civil
liberties," said Al-Sheikh, the MAB leader.
Sir
Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary general of the MCB, also called for
further consultations on the new measures.
"We
need more thought and consultation for any precipitate action might
only add to the burden of our already overstretched security
services."
