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Issue 205, Friday 26 May 2006 - 29 Jumad al-Awwal 1427

Muslims targeted by glorification legislation

By Ahmed J Versi

The Government was condemned last month on its glorification antiterrorism legislation at an event to celebrate Prophet Muhammad (p)’s birthday held on April 18. “The Government is spending more time on anti terror legislation and is taking away Muslims’ civil liberties and freedom,” said Secretary General of Union of Muslim Organisations (UMO), Syed Aziz Pasha. He was responding to Home Office Minister, Fiona Mactaggart, who told the guests that the anti terror legislation was meant “to make us safer” and that the outlawing of glorification of terrorism “does not prevent reasonable speeches.”
Mactaggart said the Government was “looking forward to continuing collaboration with the Muslim community.” It is “this relationship that helps policing work,” she said. But Pasha said anti terror legislation was targeted at the Muslims and the new addition of glorification would prevent them from speaking about jihad as this would be considered as terrorism. He praised the Conservative Party for “being more amenable to our concerns.” UMO’s Secretary General argued that the best way to tackle terrorism is to “find the underlying causes and not having more legislation.”
Pasha also condemned the Government on Iran. He said an attack on Iran “would spark a new world war.”
Labour MP, Shahid Malik, defending the Government, said, “Nobody wants a war with Iran. The Prime Minister has said this was not on the agenda.”
Malik also supported the glorification legislation by saying that this would “hopefully not target the Muslims.” He criticised Muslims for “spending 95%” of time on international issues. “We don’t focus on domestic issues.”
Shadow Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, hoped that “we are still allowed to glorify the Lord.” He said he fought against glorification bill. “I supported the religious discrimination bill. We don’t need new legislations against terrorism. I am wary of introducing new laws.” Grieve said it is important that we have understanding between communities as this would help to “remove fear” in the communities.
Pasha responded by saying that the new anti terror laws “are creating fear in the Muslim community.”