|
British Muslims Close Ranks After Kin Die in Afghanistan
LUTON, Nov 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Friends and neighbors of two British Muslim families, whose sons were reported to have died fighting in Afghanistan, closed ranks Thursday, news agencies reported.
This came as police launched a probe into a group that claimed the young men were fighting for the Taliban, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The families of Aftab Manzoor and Afzal Munir, both 25, were keeping out of sight, fearing a possible racist backlash after media speculation that their sons were traitors to their country.
Manzoor and Munir, both from Luton, and Yasir Khan, from Crawley, were reportedly killed on Wednesday during U.S.-led bombing raids on the Afghan capital of Kabul, an al-Muhajiroun spokesman told the BBC.
Hasan Butt, leader of the al-Muhajiroun group in Lahore, Pakistan, said the men had gone to Afghanistan in early October to join the fight against the U.S.-led military campaign against the ruling Taliban militia and Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda organization.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today program on Monday that he had confirmed reports of up to 100 Muslim men coming from the West to fight a struggle, 60% of whom he believed were from Britain.
"I believe that it's absolutely normal for any Muslim...to be more than happy to go and sacrifice his life for the noblest cause on this earth," added Butt, "which is to live and die for Islam."
Among their neighbors in Luton's 20,000-strong Muslim community, people drew their curtains and refused to answer their front doors.
"They won't answer their doors, they won't talk to you. I am the only one who will say anything," a friend of the Munir family said.
Speaking of Afzal Munir, the neighbor said: "He was such a nice kid. I was sitting on the wall talking to him three weeks ago. They are a really good family, beautiful people."
Earlier in the week a spokesman from a London-based Islamic group said Manzoor and Munir were among six Westerners killed by U.S.-led military action against the Taliban.
"All of them had gone to Afghanistan in early October to wage jihad [struggle] against the unjust policies of America," said Butt. "We have learned from our contacts that they were martyred by the American bombing."
Al-Muhajiroun's claims, however, were met with skepticism here.
"We have had no official reports of any British deaths in Afghanistan," a Foreign Office spokesman said.
Friends and relatives of four of the men named by al-Muhajiroun as "martyrs" denied they had any link with terrorism. They had gone to Pakistan to find a wife, or to help with the humanitarian effort, or to visit family, they insisted, quoted in the press.
"The first we heard was when we read in the newspapers he had been killed in a car crash," the Manzoors' neighbors said.
Comments made by an al-Muhajiroun spokesman were being investigated as possible racist incitement, Scotland Yard announced Thursday.
"A full investigation has been launched by police and we are in close contact with the Crown Prosecution Service," said a Scotland Yard spokesman.
During a BBC radio interview, a group spokesman, Abdul Haq, said the Muslim struggle would continue "until we see the flag of Islam flying over 10 Downing Street," the
Daily Mail reported.
Haq claimed that he knew of at least 100 British men who had left the U.K. to help the Taliban.
The government and other groups dispute the figures, which say little more than a handful of Britons may be helping the Taliban.
A press release issued by Luton community leaders defended the integrity of the town's multi-cultural community, claiming that media coverage had misrepresented their views and beliefs.
"The vast majority of local Muslims condemn all terrorist activities, yet an inordinate amount of coverage has been given to a small group of activists who speak for no one but themselves," said Luton council leader Darra Singh.
"Stories of a local group encouraging young British men to join the Taliban have been greatly exaggerated," said Chief Superintendent of Luton police Geoff Comb.
"We condemn all acts of violence. Terrorism is not a substitute for discussion, debate and understanding," said religious leader Shanthi Hettiarachchi.
|
