What would you like to address to Muslims of the world through your presence in IOL? What is the UK government's message to Muslims who are said to be "terrorists"?
Answer
Dear Mohammed
Thanks for your question and thank you to Islam Online for the opportunity to take part in this dialogue.
My message to the Muslims of the world is that there is no attempt to accuse ordinary Muslims of being terrorists. There are around 2 million Muslims in the UK and possibly 2 billion in the whole world. There is a very tiny number of people who are terrorists and who claim to be acting in the name of Islam. Ordinary Muslims reject this claim because they consider Islam to be a religion of peace. The British government is keen to support peace-loving Muslims to reclaim their religion from those who seek to distort it.
Name
Mosaad Kalash
- Germany
Profession
Question
Do you agree that in some cases the "terrorist' affairs of the UK government in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any Muslim country, reflects negatively on UK's security?
Answer
Dear Mosaad
I don't understand the question. Are you accusing the UK government of acting in a terrorist manner? I would reject that accusation absolutely: the British government represents the people of this country, is democratically elected, and is subject to its laws and to international law also. Terrorists reject all laws and represent only themselves.
Name
John Welson
- United States
Profession
Question
Hello,
What are the plans of British Government for combating terrorism in external countries which reflects directly on UK's terrorism as UK is a big multi-cultural city which welcomes immigrants? Have you worked on combating Pakistani terrorism, Egyptian terrorism, etc?
Answer
Dear John,
We have a strategy in place for international counter-terrorism which focuses directly on countries that have a particular impact on our security in the UK. For example Pakistan, because 75% of the top priority investigations into UK terror threats have a link to Pakistan. The best way for us to do this is to work with the governments facing their own challenge from terrorism, whether it is Pakistan or Egypt or anywhere else, and help them through training, support and sharing expertise to become better equipped to face the terrorist threat.
Name
Salima
-
Profession
Question
Dear Mr. Snell,
Allow me please to thank you for showing up and replying to IOL's different audience.
I wanted to ask for the definition of terrorism in the British Governement's eyes?
Answer
The full definition of terrorism is contained in the Terrorism Act (2000), which is the main legislation concerning terrorism. It is quite lengthy so I won't post it here but you will find "Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) " on this link
http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/
The key points are that there is no universally accepted definition, but most definitions include action or a threat taken to influence a government or intimidate the public to advance a political, religious or ideological cause.
Name
Sabeha
- India
Profession
Student
Question
What about the extremism among the non-Muslim British people, do you combat it using the same theory or strategy?
Thanks Sir,
Sabeha
Answer
Extremism is a threat to a cohesive society, whether it comes from Muslims or any other groups. In terms of violent extremism or terrorism, at present our main threat is from those who use Islam as their justification. But anyone who seeks to attack other British people's freedom can expect to be challenged by the government, whatever their religion or ideology.
Name
John
-
Profession
Question
How would you compare the rights and religious freedoms of British muslims to those of muslims in other countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Sudan?
Answer
I think that British Muslims have more rights than Muslims in most Muslim countries, not because we make special considerations for Muslims but because ALL British people have more freedoms than people in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
Name
Sabora
- Germany
Profession
Bonn University Ass. Professor
Question
Salam All,
Thanks IOL for being a neutral Muslim media with a chance to all opinions to be expressed.
Mr. Snell, based in your experience at such governmental critical position, what reasons are behind the British terrorism and is the government to be blamed for dealing Muslims in UK strictly and unfairly?
Answer
Dear Sabora
My first point is that the British government does not treat Muslims in the UK unfairly. There is very strong anti-discrimination legislation in this country that makes it completely illegal to discriminate against someone on grounds of religion. That is why we don't have any regulations concerning how Muslim women choose to dress. Muslims are free to pursue their lives just like any other British person.
We do of course treat the very small number of terrorists and those who support their activities strictly in accordance with our legal system.
In terms of the reasons behind terrorism, these are a wide range of factors which include
- A distorted version of Islam used by some to justify violence
- Genuine grievances and perceived grievances in the Muslim world concerning issues such as Palestine and Iraq as well as more local factors
- Personal psychological factors which make people vulnerable to radicalization
- New communications technologies allowing ideas and networks to form
These are not all the reasons - there are many. And individual cases will have varying factors. But these are some of the issues.
Name
Mohamed
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
How are you sir?
I wonder what if your Prevent departement sit down with Muslims' real represenatative " not new think-tank organizations like quilliam" and hear from them. They will difenetly reach a great aggrements but through non-represenative you will reach nothing but hatred!
Thank You--Point Made
Answer
Dear Mohammed
We try to talk to as many different people as possible. There can't be one person or group who represents the whole Muslim community. So we will talk to ANYONE who is serious about working with us to defeat terrorism.
Name
Salima
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Dear Mr. Snell,
Allow me please to thank you for showing up and replying to IOL's different audience.
I wanted to ask for the definition of terrorism in the British Governement's eyes?
Answer
See my other answer
Name
Unrady Si.
- Denmark
Profession
Professor of International Law, Copenhagen University
Question
Dear Mr. Snell,
Thanks for showing up!
I have a question for you which is:
What do you think of the anti-terror laws in UK and how do evaluate them in terms of being strict and discriminating against Muslims and addressing only them?
Answer
Anti terror laws do not address only Muslims. If you look at our terrorism legislation you won't find any mention of Muslims or Islam. And as you know, the threat from terrorism is not confined to Muslims. The laws that we have exist to protect all British people including British Muslims from any type of terrorism.
Name
Elizabeth
- Denmark
Profession
Question
Do you think of PREVENTING terrorism from the perspective of Preventing Muslims to enter UK or you do have other definition to prevent?
Answer
Our "Prevent" strategy is not about Preventing people from coming to our country. We have 2 million Muslims in Britain and they have as much right to come here as anyone else. Prevent is in the medical sense - it is better to prevent an illness before it happens than wait for it happen and then try to cure it. So our Prevent strategy is about stopping people who might be vulnerable to radicalisation from becoming terrorists in the first place. That is preferable to having to deal with a police or security matter after a terrorist incident has occurred.
Name
Sabora
- Germany
Profession
Bonn University Ass. Professor
Question
Salam All,
Thanks IOL for being a neutral Muslim media with a chance to all opinions to be expressed.
Mr. Snell, based in your experience at such governmental critical position, what reasons are behind the British terrorism and is the government to be blamed for dealing Muslims in UK strictly and unfairly?
Answer
I just wanted to add to my previous answer to tell you about a website which shows what British Muslims are really experiencing.
www.projectingbritishmuslims.com
Name
Marwan
- France
Profession
Professor of Anthropology
Question
What do you think of the European Union's role in combating terrorism in EU countries, one of which is UK? Does it sound more practical for you to combat terrorism through the similar plan or do you see that each European country has its own features?
Answer
I think it is true that each European country has its own features and its own culture. But there are also important things that can be done at the EU level in terms of sharing information and making it easier for police and other agencies to work toegether. It's also the case that Europe is a success story in terms of liberty, security for the people and working together from a range of cultures and histories. This success story represents a challenge to the people who want to claim that Islam and West are opposed to each other (they are not).
