The First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

The Importance and Significance of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

 Dr. Mozammel Haque

Every year Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has given hundreds and thousands of rewards or the door of blessings and rewards open for HIS slaves and worshippers – especially on two occasions – the last ten days of Ramadan along with the blessed Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) immediately followed by a happy day for the worshippers – Eid-ul-Fitr. Similarly, instead of last ten days, this time the first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah is the blessed days – full of blessings and rewards from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala along with Arafah Day (9th of Dhul Hijjah) followed by a happy day – Eid-ul-Adha.

                                  

Eid-ul-Adha is always followed after the Arafah day, the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. This year the first day of the month of Dhul Hijjah starts from Wednesday, the 22nd of July, 2020. The High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia announced Eid-ul-Adha on Friday, the 31st of July 2020. Ist of Dhul Hijjah, 22nd of July 2020; 9th of Dhul Hijjah (the Arafah Day) on 30th of July, 2020 and 10th of Dhul Hijjah (Eid-ul-Adha) on 31st of July 2020. The first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah is very important, precious and rewarding. According to Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days (Bukhari). The people asked: “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah; Except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.” (Bukhari). 

So what can we do in the best 10 days of the year? Fast on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah. Increase in the praise and glorification of Allah The Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam said: “..so during this time recite a great deal of Tahlil (La Ilaha Illa Allah) (Ahmad), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and Tahmid (Alhamdu Lillah) (Ahmad) Fasting specifically on the day of Arafah. These ten days include Yawm Arafah (The Day of Arafah). The fasting on this day will expiate for the sins of two years. (Muslim) Abu Qatada Al-Ansari RA narrated “The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah). (Muslim) He replied: “Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.” Offer a sacrifice. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wa Sallam.” said: When you see the new moon of Dhul Hijjah, if any of you wants to offer a sacrifice, then he should stop cutting hair and nails until he has offered his sacrifice . (Muslim) Give charity even if it’s a little bit each day since good deeds on these ten days are more beloved to Allah. 

For my readers, I have summarized briefly the Khutbah of the Haramain – Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi – delivered on last Friday, the 3rd of Dhul Hijjah, 22nd of July 2020 and telecast by Islam Channel UK (Courtsey Islam Channel UK) 

Friday Khutbah from Masjid al-Haram on 3rd of Dhul Hijjah 

By Imam Sheikh Dr. Maher Al-Muaiqly 

While speaking on Hajj, Imam Sheikh Dr Maher said, “Let us contemplate on Hajj. Hajj is one of the important pillars of Islam. It is very important in the life of Muslims who can afford to travel to Hajj; but because of the pandemic and health and other considerations Hajj has been limited this year. The utmost priority of religion is to provide safety for the human being for health and peacefulness. So we are thankful to the Government of Saudi Arabia for whatever guidelines they have issued to perform Hajj this year. Those who are allowed to do Hajj this year, may Allah Subhanahu wa Taala give them reward and they will perform the Hajj. Those who intended to come for Hajj they could not come because of the pandemic external reasons, external factors; May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala reward them – full reward for all their intentions.”

                                                

Speaking on the day of Arafah, Imam Sheikh Dr Maher mentioned, “On the day of Arafah, on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah when we fast our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has given us a glad tiding. He said, this fast on the Arafah day will wipe out sins of two years – the past year and the future year. So during these ten days of Dhul Hijjah Muslims can virtually enjoy an excellent reward of normal activities like Zikr Allah, Taqbeer, Tahlil, Tasweeh and Sadaqah and all the good deeds. For this they have acquired very very high rewards than anything else – even Jihad is not regarded highest deed in these ten days. 

The Imam continued, “So let us pause for those who cannot perform Hajj this year intend to do and looking forward to do Hajj and other Islamic pillars. There are other activities even normal activities become very very highly rewardable during these ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam said, “No action has higher reward than these ten days – good deeds – even Jihad. Jihad except if somebody has gone for Jihad himself and with mal and they sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. Apart from that the normal activities of Zikr Allah, Taqbeer, Tahlil, Tasweeh, Sadaqah and fasting becomes highly rewarded during these ten days.” 

While concluding his Khutbah, Imam Sheikh Dr. Maher said, “Let us go into these activities. Let us send peace and blessings to Prophet Muhammad. O Allah send peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings on Ibrahim alais salam, O Allah send peace and blessings to all Khulafah-e-Rashideen…..” 

Friday Khutbah at Masjid al-Nabawi on 3rd of Dhul-Hijjah 

By Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Qasim 

The imam of Masjid al-Nabawi Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Qasim started with sending peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad Sallallau wa Sallam. And then said, “I bear witness no one is worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad Sallallahu wa Sallam is His Last Messenger. O Muslims, religion of Islam is a great religion and its basis is to acquire all the goodness and dispel all the dangerous or displeasable things. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has blessed this country with Haramain – the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al-Nabawi in Madinah.” 

Speaking on Hajj, the Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin said, “The month of Dhul Hijjah has special rewards attached to it. In his Farewell Hajj Sermon, Prophet Muhammad Sallallhu wa Sallam has declared that the time has been reset like Allah Subhanahu wa Taala did the day He created this Heaven and Earth. All the confusion about calendars should be shaded and now it is the month of Dhul Hijjah. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam urged that we should be thankful to Allah and we should exploit whatever we have got – our youth before old age; our health before we get sick; and our life before we Are dead and our prosperity before we become poor.” 

                                                    

Imam Shaikh Dr Abdul Muhsin said, “Allah says I swear by the dawn and the ten nights and these ten nights, according to most of the Mufassirin of the Qur’an, is that these are the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported to say that the best days of the world are the ten days of Hajj. Normal actions such as prayer, Sadaqah and Zikr Allah, and fasting acquire extraordinary rewards, may be on these ten days even outside activities becomes less important. Our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported by Abdullah ibn Abbas said that good actions during these ten days have extraordinary rewards than in any other days eeven Jihad during these ten days have inferior rewards except someone who has lost his position, that means he has obtained sahadah, during these ten days . Allah Subhanahu wa Taala likes to repeat Takbeer, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar la illaha illaha and subhanallah and many other. 

Speaking about the good deeds, Imam Dr Al-Qasim mentioned, “Sahabah, the companions of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam used to mark these days by indulging themselves in good deeds of Zikr Allah, fasting, Sadaqah and Takbeerat, Zikr Allah, the mention of Allah’s name and this is the purpose of Hajj even. And these ten days if you mention and glorified the name of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala this is more liked than any other good deed. These ten days are the cup of the lists of good deeds and the people who explained the Hadiths like Imam Nabawi who says that doing Zikr Allah and the normal Ibadat becomes extraordinary rewards and the 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the best of them.” 

The Imam Shaikh Dr Abdul Muhsin also spoke about repeating Takbeerat. He said, “And the best thing we can do is reciting the Qur’an and all the other times repeat Takbeer – Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Illalla Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd. Sahabah used to do it during these days in public places and roads and in other gatherings in Masjid and outside Masjid. And generally, we also practice nowadays that from 9th till the Asr of the 13th we do Takbeer at the end of each prayer. So before these days from 1st of Dhul Hijjah you can still do in our personal life and in our private life.” 

Imam Shaikh Dr Abdul Muhsin also mentioned about Taubah repentence. He said, “Apart from the recitation of the Qur’an, Zikr Allah, we should do the Taubah, repentence and regret for all our wrong doings and misdeeds and seek forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala . Allah urges in the Qur’an that all Muslims repent to Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam used to seek forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala  at least 100 times every day. Ashtaqfirullah Ashtaqfirullah at least 100 times every day. Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported to say that the best day of someone is the day when someone repentence like Ubayy ibn Ka'b was given this is the best day that you have been given the acceptance of your Taubah.” 

Imam Shaikh Dr al-Qasim also mentioned, “The importance of these ten days are – because the highest pillar of Islam – Hajj - is during these ten days. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says those who can afford and those who can come to Hajj, they are obliged to do that. And on the day of Arafah Allah frees greatest number of people from the fire of Jahannum. “10th of Dhul Hijjaj – Qurbani day - is the best day to do many multiple activities locally and Hajj time and globally as a Qurbani. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam has said that the cup of these ten days is the 10 Dhul Hijjah – Eid day and do Qurbani and the next day the people will be moving after Hajj.” 

Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin also mentioned about the Mina days. He said, “During the Mina days 10,11 and 12 Dhul Hijjah Zikr Allah, Takbeer, Tahlil and the Tasbeeh are the highest rewarding activities but these days fasting is prohibited and these are the feasting days from Allah Subhanahu waTaala. It is a global invitation for feasting during 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Dhul Hijjah. And during these 10 to 13 days rhe best thing one can do is to do Qurbani sacrifice animals by buying the best animals they can do and this is the best rewardable activity and there are no other activity which can supersede the sacrifice and Qurbani because Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says Allah does not get from you any flesh or blood or meat. What reaches Allah Allah Subhanahu wa Taala or what is acceptable is this devotion of your hearts, the intentions and your Taqwa, your piety towards Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and your devotion. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam used to choose his Qurbani among the best of Qurbanis one can do.” 

While concluding his Khutbah, Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin made dua, supplication and salam. He said, “During these ten special days of Dhul Hijjah, whenever we are indulging to mention the name of Allah, May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala accept our Zikr, accept our deeds and rewards us abundantly.”

The Importance of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah By Dr Mozammel Haque

The Importance and Significance of the First Ten days of Dhul Hijjah Dr. Mozammel Haque Every year Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has given hundreds and thousands of rewards or the door of blessings and rewards open for HIS slaves and worshippers – especially on two occasions – the last ten days of Ramadan along with the blessed Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) immediately followed by a happy day for the worshippers – Eid-ul-Fitr. Similarly, instead of last ten days, this time the first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah is the blessed days – full of blessings and rewards from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala along with Arafah Day (9th of Dhul Hijjah) followed by a happy day – Eid-ul-Adha. Eid-ul-Adha is always followed after the Arafah day, the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. This year the first day of the month of Dhul Hijjah starts from Wednesday, the 22nd of July, 2020. The High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia announced Eid-ul-Adha on Friday, the 31st of July 2020. Ist of Dhul Hijjah, 22nd of July 2020; 9th of Dhul Hijjah (the Arafah Day) on 30th of July, 2020 and 10th of Dhul Hijjah (Eid-ul-Adha) on 31st of July 2020. The first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah is very important, precious and rewarding. According to Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days (Bukhari). The people asked: “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah; Except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.” (Bukhari). So what can we do in the best 10 days of the year? Fast on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah. Increase in the praise and glorification of Allah The Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam said: “..so during this time recite a great deal of Tahlil (La Ilaha Illa Allah) (Ahmad), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and Tahmid (Alhamdu Lillah) (Ahmad) Fasting specifically on the day of Arafah. These ten days include Yawm Arafah (The Day of Arafah). The fasting on this day will expiate for the sins of two years. (Muslim) Abu Qatada Al-Ansari RA narrated “The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah). (Muslim) He replied: “Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.” Offer a sacrifice. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wa Sallam.” said: When you see the new moon of Dhul Hijjah, if any of you wants to offer a sacrifice, then he should stop cutting hair and nails until he has offered his sacrifice . (Muslim) Give charity even if it’s a little bit each day since good deeds on these ten days are more beloved to Allah. For my readers, I have summarized briefly the Khutbah of the Haramain – Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi – delivered on last Friday, the 3rd of Dhul Hijjah, 22nd of July 2020 and telecast by Islam Channel UK (Courtsey Islam Channel UK) Friday Khutbah from Masjid al-Haram on 3rd of Dhul Hijjah By Imam Sheikh Dr. Maher Al-Muaiqly While speaking on Hajj, Imam Sheikh Dr Maher said, “Let us contemplate on Hajj. Hajj is one of the important pillars of Islam. It is very important in the life of Muslims who can afford to travel to Hajj; but because of the pandemic and health and other considerations Hajj has been limited this year. The utmost priority of religion is to provide safety for the human being for health and peacefulness. So we are thankful to the Government of Saudi Arabia for whatever guidelines they have issued to perform Hajj this year. Those who are allowed to do Hajj this year, may Allah Subhanahu wa Taala give them reward and they will perform the Hajj. Those who intended to come for Hajj they could not come because of the pandemic external reasons, external factors; May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala reward them – full reward for all their intentions.” Speaking on the day of Arafah, Imam Sheikh Dr Maher mentioned, “On the day of Arafah, on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah when we fast our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has given us a glad tiding. He said, this fast on the Arafah day will wipe out sins of two years – the past year and the future year. So during these ten days of Dhul Hijjah Muslims can virtually enjoy an excellent reward of normal activities like Zikr Allah, Taqbeer, Tahlil, Tasweeh and Sadaqah and all the good deeds. For this they have acquired very very high rewards than anything else – even Jihad is not regarded highest deed in these ten days. The Imam continued, “So let us pause for those who cannot perform Hajj this year intend to do and looking forward to do Hajj and other Islamic pillars. There are other activities even normal activities become very very highly rewardable during these ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam said, “No action has higher reward than these ten days – good deeds – even Jihad. Jihad except if somebody has gone for Jihad himself and with mal and they sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. Apart from that the normal activities of Zikr Allah, Taqbeer, Tahlil, Tasweeh, Sadaqah and fasting becomes highly rewarded during these ten days.” While concluding his Khutbah, Imam Sheikh Dr. Maher said, “Let us go into these activities. Let us send peace and blessings to Prophet Muhammad. O Allah send peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings on Ibrahim alais salam, O Allah send peace and blessings to all Khulafah-e-Rashideen…..” Friday Khutbah at Masjid al-Nabawi on 3rd of Dhul-Hijjah By Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Qasim The imam of Masjid al-Nabawi Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Qasim stated with sending peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad Sallallau wa Sallam. And then said, “I bear witness no one is worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad Sallallahu was Sallam is His Last Messenger. O Muslims, religion of Islam is a great religion and its basis is to acquire all the goodness and dispel all the dangerous or displeasable things. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has blessed this country with Haramain – the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al-Nabawi in Madinah.” Speaking on Hajj, the Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin said, “The month of Dhul Hijjah has special rewards attached to it. In his Farewell Hajj Sermon, Prophet Muhammad Sallallhu wa Sallam has declared that the time has been reset like Allah Subhanahu wa Taala did the day He created this Heaven and Earth. All the confusion about calendars should be shaded and now it is the month of Dhul Hijjah. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam urged that we should be thankful to Allah and we should exploit whatever we have got – our youth before old age; our health before we get sick; and our life before we Are dead and our prosperity before we become poor.” Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin said, “Allah says I swear by the dawn and the ten nights and these ten nights, according to most of the Mufassirin of the Qur’an, is that these are the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported to say that the best days of the world are the ten days of Hajj. Normal actions such as prayer, Sadaqah and Zikr Allah, and fasting acquire extraordinary rewards, may be on these ten days even outside activities becomes less important. Our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported by Abdullah ibn Abbas said that good actions during these ten days have extraordinary rewards than in any other days eeven Jihad during these ten days have inferior rewards except someone who has lost his position, that means he has obtained sahadah, during these ten days . Allah Subhanahu wa Taala likes to repeat Takbeer, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar la illaha illaha and subhanallah and many other. Speaking about the good deeds, Imam Al-Qasim mentioned, “Sahabah, the companions of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam used to mark these days by indulging themselves in good deeds of Zikr Allah, fasting, Sadaqah and Takbeerat, Zikr Allah, the mention of Allah’s name and this is the purpose of Hajj even. And these ten days if you mention and glorified the name of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala this is more liked than any other good deed. These ten days are the cup of the lists of good deeds and the people who explained the Hadiths like Imam Nabawi who says that doing Zikr Allah and the normal Ibadat becomes extraordinary rewards and the 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the best of them.” The Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin also spoke about repeating Takbeerat. He said, “And the best thing we can do is reciting the Qur’an and all the other times repeat Takbeer – Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Illalla Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd. Sahabah used to do it during these days in public places and roads and in other gatherings in Masjid and outside Masjid. And generally, we also practice nowadays that from 9th till the Asr of the 13th we do Takbeer at the end of each prayer. So before these days from 1st of Dhul Hijjah you can still do in our personal life and in our private life.” Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin also mentioned about Taubah repentence. He said, “Apart from the recitation of the Qur’an, Zikr Allah, we should do the Taubah, repentence and regret for all our wrong doings and misdeeds and seek forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala . Allah urges in the Qur’an that all Muslims repent to Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and our Prophet sws used to seek forgiveness from Allah swt at least 100 times every day. Ashtaqfirullah Ashtaqfirullah at least 100 times every day. Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported to say that the best day of someone is the day when someone repentence like Obaid bin Kaab was given this is the best day that you have been given the acceptance of your Taubah.” Imam al-Qasim also mentioned, “The importance of these ten days are – because the highest pillar of Islam – Hajj - is during these ten days. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says those who can afford and those who can come to Hajj, they are obliged to do that. And on the day of Arafah Allah frees greatest number of people from the fire of Jahannum. “10th of Dhul Hijjaj – Qurbani day - is the best day to do many multiple activities locally and Hajj time and globally as a Qurbani. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam has said that the cup of these ten days is the 10 Dhul Hijjah – Eid day and do Qurbani and the next day the people will be moving after Hajj.” Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin also mentioned about the Mina days. He said, “During the Mina days 10,11 and 12 Dhul Hijjah Zikr Allah, Takbeer, Tahlil and the Tasbeeh are the highest rewarding activities but these days fasting is prohibited and these are the feasting days from Allah Subhanahu waTaala. It is a global invitation for feasting during 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Dhul Hijjah. And during these 10 to 13 days rhe best thing one can do is to do Qurbani sacrifice animals by buying the best animals they can do and this is the best rewardable activity and there are no other activity which can supersece the sacrifice and Qurbani because Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says Allah does not get from you any flesh or blood or meat. What reaches Allah Allah Subhanahu wa Taala or what is acceptable is this devotion of your hearts, the intentions and your Taqwa, your piety towards Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and your devotion. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam used to choose his Qurbani among the best of Qurbanis one can do.” While concluding his Khutbah, Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin made dua, supplication and salam. He said, “During these ten special days of Dhul Hijjah, whenever we are indulging to mention the name of Allah, May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala accept our Zikr, accept our deeds and rewards us abundantly.”

Brutal Oppression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang

Systematic Oppression of Uyghur 

Muslims in Xinjiang 

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP for Chingford and Woodford Green raised an urgent quest in the House of Commons on 29 June 2020 asking the government to make a statement on the mistreatment by the Chinese Government of Uyghurs in Xinjiang province.

The Minister for Asia Nigel Adams in reply to that said, “We are aware of reports issued today by the Associated Press and the Jamestown Foundation alleging that the Chinese Government are using pregnancy checks and forced intra-uterine devices, sterilisation and abortion to minimise Uyghur birth rates. These reports add to our concern about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and of course we will be considering the report carefully.”

Systematic restrictions on Uyghur 
Culture and the practice of Islam

The Minister for Asia (Nigel Adams)

He also spoke about the broader human rights situation in Xinjiang is of ongoing and serious concern to the Government. The Minister mentioned, “This includes the extrajudicial detention of over a million Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in political re-education camps, systematic restrictions on Uyghur culture and the practice of Islam, and extensive and invasive surveillance targeting minorities. Further reports indicating that forced labour is being used and that children are being forcibly separated from their parents add to the growing body of evidence about the disturbing situation that Uyghurs and other minorities are facing in Xinjiang.

The Minister also mentioned, “The Foreign Secretary raised them directly with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi in March. I also raised the situation in Xinjiang with the Chinese ambassador to London in March. Since 2018, we have played a leading role in raising these concerns at the UN. For example, at the UN Third Committee in October, the UK read out a statement on behalf of 22 other countries drawing attention to the human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and calling on China to uphold its obligations to respect human rights. We have consistently raised the issue at the UN Human Rights Council, including at the most recent session in March, when Lord Ahmad, the Minister for human rights, raised the issue in the UK’s opening address.”

“In addition, we advise all businesses involved in investing in Xinjiang or with parts of their supply chains in Xinjiang to consider conducting appropriate due diligence to satisfy themselves that their activities do not support, or risk being seen to support, any human rights violations or abuses. The UK will continue to exercise leadership on this important issue, raising it directly with the Chinese Government and working with partners to do so at the UN,” he added..

Mass Sterilisation of women

Sir Iain Duncan Smith

Sir Duncan Smith mentioned about a recently published research by Professor Adrian Zenz. He said, “The Inter-parliamentary Alliance on China—IPAC—which is made up of 30 other lawmakers from 16 global legislatures, has today published research by Professor Adrian Zenz, the world’s leading expert on the treatment of minorities in Xinjiang province. The report shows that birth rates in the two mostly Uyghur regions plummeted by more than 60% from 2015 to 2018. Across the Xinjiang region, birth rates fell nearly 24% in a single year, compared with just 4.2% nationwide. Worse, it is now clear that this is a direct result of Government actions. Unearthed Government documents mandate that birth control violations that come about “due to the influence of extreme religious thinking”​ should be “dealt with severely”, and that those unable to pay fines should be “dealt with through coercive measures”, including internment.”

“Mr Zenz’s paper concludes that these measures are part of a state-wide crackdown that includes the mass sterilisation of women. This report corroborates the many horrific personal testimonies that many of us have heard. The genocide convention maintains that birth prevention targeted at minority groups is indicative of genocide, and the convention binds individual states to act, not just to rely on the international judicial system. Does my hon. Friend therefore agree that the Uyghur people have been, and are, the victims of mass atrocity crimes?” he said.

Sir Duncan Smith asked the “Foreign Secretary to go to the UN and call for an independent inquiry, but, sadly, I also recognise that the ways to deal with this through the UN will almost certainly be blocked by China. Given that likelihood, will my hon. Friend at least get the UK to make its own legal determination after weighing up this new evidence? Of course the world wants to deal with China, but we cannot continue with business as usual while this sort of blatant activity continues. Furthermore, given the Chinese Government’s appalling record on human rights, their attack on freedoms in Hong Kong, their bullying behaviour in border disputes from the South China seas to India, their blatant breaching of the rules-based order governing the free market and their delayed declaration on covid-19, will the Government now initiate an internal review of the UK’s dependence on China, with a view to significantly reducing that dependence, and call on the free world to come together to ensure that this growing threat from China is dealt with together before, as history teaches us, it is too late?”

Nigel Adams

The Minister for Asia replied, “As I said in my opening statement, these reports add to our concern about the situation in Xinjiang, and we will of course consider them extremely carefully. Any legal determination would be a matter for a competent court. I reiterate that we have raised concerns about the situation in Xinjiang at the UN General Assembly Third Committee and UN Human Rights Council, alongside our international partners. We will continue to make our concerns known directly to China and bilaterally, as well as through the relevant bodies.”

He also mentioned, “On a full Government review, our approach to China remains clear-eyed and is rooted in our values and interests. It has always been the case that when we have concerns we raise them, and that where we need to intervene we will. We have consistently led international efforts to highlight concern about the worsening human rights situation in Xinjiang, and I assure my right hon. Friend that the United Kingdom will continue to do so.”

Uyghurs incarcerated in re-education camps

Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab)

Labour Party MP for Aberavon, Stephen Kinnock said, “The Chinese Communist party’s brutal campaign of oppression against the Uyghur people is a scar on the conscience of the world. The Labour party stands with the people of China, including the Uyghur people in Xinjiang, and we condemn any actions by the CCP that infringe their human rights. We know that 1.5 million Uyghurs are incarcerated in re-education camps and subjected to ideological indoctrination courses, where they must learn Mandarin Chinese, recite laws banning unapproved religious practices and sing songs praising the Chinese ​Communist party, and we know that beatings and solitary confinement are routinely used to punish those who fail to comply.”

MP Kinnock also mentioned, “The accounts that have emerged today about the CCP’s draconian measures to suppress birth rates are utterly horrific—women subjected to forced IUD insertions, pregnancy prevention injections, sterilisation. The CCP appears to be engaged in what some experts are calling a campaign of demographic genocide. Will the Minister therefore confirm that the Government will call for an impartial international investigation into what is happening in Xinjiang? Will he confirm that the imposition of measures intended to prevent births within an ethnic or religious group is expressly forbidden under article II(d) of the UN convention on genocide? Will he confirm that any country that is a contracting party to the UN convention on genocide may call upon the UN to take appropriate action under articles IV, V and VI of the convention, and that the UK Government will therefore now make the necessary representations?”

He asked, “Does the Minister recognise that the CCP’s actions in Xinjiang reflect a wider pattern of behaviour of increasingly authoritarian policies at home and aggressive expansionism abroad, including in Hong Kong, Ladakh and the South China sea? Will he set out how the Government intend to defend human rights and the rule of law? Will the Government now engage proactively with the European Union, the US and Governments in the Asia-Pacific region who share our democratic values to lead the international response in building consensus against the CCP’s increasingly belligerent behaviour towards its own people?”

Nigel Adams

Nigel Adams replied, “We have played a leading role in raising these concerns bilaterally and at the United Nations.”

He also mentioned, “We have concerns about the detention and human rights abuses, with more than a million Uyghur Muslims and other minorities detained in political re-education camps—some people may refer to them as other things—and we deplore the systematic restrictions on their culture and practice of Islam, alongside the targeted surveillance of minorities.”

He also said, “On 10 March, at the 43rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, we raised our concerns specifically about the violations and with regard to forced labour in Xinjiang, under our item 4 statement. On 9 March, the Foreign Secretary raised the same concerns about Xinjiang with his Chinese counterpart. As I said in my statement, I have spoken directly to the Chinese ambassador to raise our concerns about human rights in Xinjiang. On 25 February, at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Minister responsible for human rights, Lord Ahmad, directly raised his concerns about Xinjiang during his opening address at the conference. We call on China to allow the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights unfettered access to the region.”

Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) (Con) [V]

Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton, Alicia Kearns said, “Forced sterilisation of women; children ripped from their families; detention centres to treat the so-called pathology of religious and cultural beliefs; forced labour; rape, and DNA databases. In our history, we have learned that we ​must all take a stand against systematic and industrialised efforts to eradicate religious and ethnic minorities,”

She asked, “will my hon. Friend commit to using Magnitsky-style sanctions to bring to justice Chinese Communist party officials who perpetrate and profit from this cultural genocide of the Uyghur people?”

Nigel Adams

The Minister replied, “My hon. Friend speaks with a great deal of experience in this area. Of course, she will be aware that the Foreign Secretary has committed to making a statement about our sanctions regime. That will be done before the summer recess. We have made clear our deep concern about this report and the human rights situation in Xinjiang. My hon. Friend will forgive me; of course, we will not speculate on who will be sanctioned under the new regime, particularly as the legislation is not yet in force, but she should not have too long to wait.”

Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab) [V]

Labour MP for Manchester, Gorton, Afzal Khan, said, “It is clear that the situation in Xinjiang has deteriorated over the past years. The systematic oppression of a whole ethnic minority group, who are physically abused and psychologically indoctrinated, must be condemned. I am certain that this pandemic has only worsened the conditions ​in the internment camps and has created a double emergency for the Uyghur community. Will the Minister condemn the persecution of Uyghur Muslims to the fullest? Has he considered using Magnitsky powers for personal sanctions?

Nigel Adams

The Minister replied, “I refer him to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Alicia Kearns) on Magnitsky-style sanctions. The legislation will be cleared before the summer, so I am afraid the hon. Gentleman will have to wait a little longer in that regard. However, I can assure him how seriously the United Kingdom takes these human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang—demonstrated not least by the statement at the UN Third Committee in October drawing attention to these violations, which was signed by 22 international partners. We will continue to call on China—we do so from here today—to uphold its obligations to respect human rights.”

Ms Lyn Brown (West Ham) (Lab) [V]

Labour Party MP for West Ham, Ms Lyn Brown, said, “The Uyghurs have been systematically persecuted for decades. Concentration camps have been built for millions and we now have clear evidence that the Uyghur population is being reduced through the forced sterilisation of women: so many early warning signs of genocide.”

She said, “I do not want to use any company that enables that and I would support any public body that felt exactly the same, but the Government intend to ban public bodies from expressing their condemnation through boycotts. Will they now reconsider?”

Nigel Adams

The Minister answered, “Our experience is that political freedom and the rule of law are vital underpinnings for long-running prosperity and stability, and that by having a strong relationship with China, we can have open and sometimes difficult discussions on a range of issues, including human rights. We have had very open and difficult discussions directly with our counterparts in China.”

Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) (Lab) [V]

Labour MP for Bolton South East, Yasmin Qureshi, said, “I declare an interest as the chair of the all-party group on the Uyghurs. This new evidence shows that the Chinese state regularly subjects Uyghur women—hundreds of thousands of women—to pregnancy checks, forced sterilisation and even abortion. Some 25 years ago, we watched as the genocide took place in Bosnia and in 2017 we saw that of the Rohingya in Myanmar, and now it is the Uyghurs in China.”

She said, “It is about time that our Government—our Prime Minister—went to the United Nations and asked for a resolution from the Assembly to establish an independent investigation into the situation in Xinjiang region.”

Nigel Adams

The Minister Nigel Adams replied, “I thank the hon. Lady, the chair of the APPG on this matter, but she will be aware—I have referred to it several times during my answers today—that we have been leading on this at the United Nations. There is an issue with these resolutions being blocked, as she will be aware, but I think the United Kingdom can in some ways proudly declare that we have been on the front foot in ensuring that these human rights violations receive international attention, and the joint statement with 22 other countries was testament to that.”

​

Tracy Brabin (Batley and Spen) (Lab/Co-op)

Tracy Brabin MP said, "The condemnation of the demographic genocide is widespread, but the only reason we are debating this today is the bravery of those Uyghur Muslim women who spoke to journalists about their horrific experiences. So while I, of course, press the Minister for more information about the representations he is making to the UN to get investigators into those communities to find out exactly what is going on, I also ask this: what is being done to ensure that those women who shone a light on this abuse are being protected and will not pay the ultimate price for telling the truth about this horrific genocide?"

Nigel Adams

The Minister for Asia Nigel Adams replied, "At the risk of repeating myself, let me say that we have raised this issue several times at the UN and bilaterally with China. This report, which we have seen in the past 24 hours, adds considerably to our serious concerns about what is going on in Xinjiang. It is incredibly difficult to get access, and she will be aware that the lack of NGO presence and our inability to provide support, through whichever Government Department, affects that direct contact with the Uyghur women. It is heartbreaking to read that report, which contains incredibly personal tales—we have all seen that in the past few hours—and it adds to our concerns about what is going on in Xinjiang."

Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)

Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, Chi Onwurah, said, “The Uyghurs are singled out because they are Muslim, so their treatment reflects global Islamophobia as well as Chinese racism. The terrible persecution they suffer is often facilitated by technology, with local companies developing facial recognition and other surveillance technologies that they will then try to sell to us. The Minister talks vaguely about encouraging due diligence, but what will he do to enforce the elimination of human rights abuses from the technology supply chain?”

Nigel Adams

The Minister for Asia replied, “The hon. Lady speaks with great knowledge of the sector. She must be aware that we have made it absolutely clear to any British firm wishing to do business in that particular region that they must they apply due diligence—it is essential that they do so. We will continue to press UK firms in that regard, because it is the right thing to do.”

Saqib Bhatti (Meriden) (Con)

Conservative MP for Meriden, Saqib Bhatti, said, "Time and again, we hear reports of torture, rape, concentration camps, systematic brainwashing, forced sterilisation and now forced labour ​camps that feed into our global supply chain. The Chinese, of course, deny all those reports. Will my hon. Friend call for an international delegation to visit Xinjiang, so that we can find out the truth? Does he agree that global brands which may have these forced labour camps in their supply chain need to look long and hard at how and where they source their materials?"

Nigel Adams

The Minister Nigel Adams replied, "Yes, they absolutely have to look long and hard at their supply chains, for the reasons that I have given during this session. As I said, we have raised these concerns, and the report we have seen in the last 24 hours adds fuel to our serious concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang."

Further Study on Muslim Prisoners Needed

Lord Sheikh Suggests Further Study

on Muslim Prisoners

Dr Mozammel Haque

Recently Lord Sheikh of Cornhill spoke on the Treatment of Muslims in the House of Lords and after that we had further discussion on Muslim prisoners via email.

Through email, Lord Sheikh told me: “In regard to Muslim prisoners I feel that we should undertake a study to look at the following issues:

Why there are so many Muslims in prisons

How are the prisoners treated by the staff?

Are they properly rehabilitated after they leave prisons?

To what extent do they re-offend?”

He also said, “I am writing to Lord Greenhaigh the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government to find out if the Government can support such a study.”

Earlier, Lord Sheikh was speaking in the House of Lords on Lammy Review. He said,

“My Lords, 41% of children in prisons are from the BAME community, and a large number of them are Muslims. About 15% of prisoners are Muslims, and in London, the figure is 27%. Some of those Muslims have been victimised by the staff. The custodial sentences imposed on those from BAME communities can be up to 10 years longer than those applied to white people—several lawyers have said this to me.”

He also mentioned, “There is an appalling lack of diversity in our judiciary, from the magistrates’ courts to the Supreme Court. Only 7% of judges are from BAME communities, and the figure for magistrates is 12%. Stop and search in BAME communities has risen by 69% for the last five years. I have been stopped by police for allegedly using a phone, which was not so. A sergeant then turned up and said that if there was any difference of opinion between me and his officer, he would believe the officer. I was appalled by the closing of ranks. I believe that I was picked upon because I was driving a Bentley coupé with a personalised number plate. Can the Minister comment on my points?”

Lord Keen of Elie [V]

In reply to that, The Advocate General for Scotland, Lord Keen of Elie said, “My Lords, we are of course concerned about ensuring visible diversity across the entire justice system. That is particularly challenging in the judiciary and magistracy, and we have introduced an education programme for those from backgrounds not properly represented to undertake training in order that they can apply. Further across the criminal justice system, I note that we have made progress. For example, with the Parole Board, there was grave underrepresentation of BAME members, but we reported in February this year that 53 independent members would join the board, 48% of whom are from a BAME background.”

Remembering Srebrenica Genocide in Bosnia

Remembering Srebrenica Genocide 

in Bosnia after 25 Years

Dr. Mozammel Haque

In July 1995, over 8,000 Bosnian men and boys were massacred, in just five days. Thousands of women went missing and were the victims of heinous war crimes. Till this day, bodies continue to be excavated, giving families an opportunity to finally pray Janaza on their loved ones and bury them honourably.

This genocide is one of the most brutal and horrifying events of our lifetime. Yet, it is widely erased from our collective memory.

More than three years before the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, Bosnian Serb nationalists – with the logistical, moral and financial support of Serbia and the Yugoslav Peoples’ Army (JNK) – destroyed 296 predominantly Bosniak villages in the region around Srebrenica, forcibly uprooting some 70,000 Bosniaks from their homes.

Europe’s worst massacre since World War II occurred 25 years ago this july. From 11 July to 19 July in 1995, Bosnian Serb forces murdered 7,000 to 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica, wrote Tom Mockoitis  from DePaul University on July 8, 2020.

The Srebrenica massacre occurred two years after the United Nations had designated the city to be a “safe area” for civilians fleeing fighting. Some 20,000 refugees and 37,000 residents sheltered in the city, protected by fewer than 500 armed international peacekeepers. Serb forces carried out a carefully planned act of genocide.

In July 1995 Bosnian Serb troops stormed the UN safe area around Srebrenica and before the eyes of Dutch UN troops. Bosnian Serb soldiers and police rounded up men and boys ages 16 to 60 – nearly all of them innocent civilians shot, killed and buried them in mass graves.

The name Srebrenica stands recalls the worst war crime in Europe since the Second World War. In July 1995 Bosnian Serb army units attacked the eastern Bosnian town and murdered more than 8,000 Muslim Bosniaks, mainly boys and men.

Islamic Relief USA remembered from July 6-11 Srebrenica Genocide and said, “It is our duty to bring Srebrenica to mind. To speak up and mark its anniversary is an act of resistance against all those who continue to perpetrate, justify or cover up the atrocities of discrimination and racism.

Please join us in devoting this upcoming week from July 6-July 11 to remembering Srebrenica:

It also requested to please “donate a Qurbani this week to our sisters and brothers in need in Bosnia. Your gift will provide fresh, halal meat to families who really need your compassion. It's one of the greatest acts of kindness you can do, and one of the most important meals you will ever buy.”

I wrote the following write-up in 2010 on Srebrenica Genocide

Srebrenica Genocide Day

A Black Spot on Human Conscience

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The world simply looked away on 11 July, 1995, when the Bosnian Serb forces and Serb paramilitary unit known as “the Scorpions” executed between 7,000 and 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys in the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica, even though the UN had declared it a “safe area”. This was the largest mass murder in Europe since World War II which will remain as a black spot in the human conscience for eternity. Those war criminals that commanded and executed the Genocide in Bosnia are still at large. The excuses are simply not credible.

Why the cry “never again” raised by so many in the years after 1945 has increasingly become hollow with the passing decades? Why Holocaust? Why Genocide? Where does evil begin? Why the most wanted remains at large? Why the evil doers are not brought to justice? All these questions were raised by the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Dr. Mustafa Ceric on the 15th anniversary of the genocide of Muslims in Bosnia-Srebrenica. “What happened in Srebrenica requires justice as well as memorialisation,” said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. “Ratko Mladic’s liberty is an affront to both.”

In Bosnia, the three-day commemoration of the 15th anniversary of Srebrenica started on 9th of July 9 and ended on 11th of July 2010 with a ceremony during which the remains of 800 Srebrenica victims was buried. “Fifteen years after the genocide, at least 10,000 people are still missing in Bosnia, including at least 1,000 from the Srebrenica area,” Cartner said. “For the sake of their relatives, and for the sake of justice, the Bosnian and Serbian authorities need to do more to establish what happened to them.”

In 1993, Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) published a book entitled “Genocide of Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina” by Dr. Mozammel Haque, documenting the events unfolded during 1992-1993. (BOSNIACA: A Bibliography of the University of Michigan Holdings, Supplement II, Ann Arbor, 2001).

“On July 11, 1995, during the war in Bosnia,” Human Rights Watch reported, “the United Nations and NATO allowed Bosnian Serb forces and Serb paramilitary unit known as "the Scorpions" to seize the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica, even though the UN had declared it a "safe area." The Serb forces executed between 7,000 and 8,000 Bosnian men and boys in the week after the fall of the town, the largest mass murder in Europe since World War II.”

At last the European Union has proclaimed 11th July as a day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide and the European Parliament’s resolution of January 2009, marking the Srebrenica Genocide, called upon the Council and the Commission to commemorate appropriately the anniversary of the Srebrenica – Potocari act of genocide by supporting Parliament’s recognition of 11 July as the day of commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide all over the European Union.

World leaders attended the event

The world leaders gathered together at a ceremony at the Srebrenica Memorial Cemetery in Potocari to commemorate the massacre of nearly 8,000 Bosniak Muslims in Srebrenica, Bosnia by Bosnian Serbs. Andrew Gilmour, the special representative of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Bosnia, represented the UN at the event, and other UN Officials also attended.

Other guests included Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Slovenian President Danilo Tuerk, Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic, Austrian diplomat and Bosnia's administrator, Valentin Inzko, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and representatives of the European Union.

The US ambassador to Bosnia, Charles English, read a message from President Barack Obama that urged “governments to redouble their efforts” and arrest those responsible for the war crimes at Srebrenica.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Minister Without Portfolio and Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, represented the British Government at the ceremony in Srebrenica to commemorate the genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

11 July 1995: A Black spot on Human Conscience

Human Rights Watch under the caption “The Legacy of Srebrenica” reported in 10 July, 2005: “The 1995 massacre in Srebrenica occurred because Bosnian Serb leaders, intoxicated by hatred and an illusory sense of omnipotence, lashed out savagely against the country’s Muslim population. But the international community also bears responsibility for the worst crime in Europe since World War Two. After promising protection to the inhabitants of Srebrenica, the United Nations and NATO allowed the “safe area” to fall. That responsibility is compounded by the continuing failure to bring to justice Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, the two men indicted as the principal architects of the Srebrenica genocide.

“The Dutch United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) battalion based in Srebrenica failed to take the military action necessary to save the town. Robust NATO air strikes that could have stopped the Serb onslaught were never authorized, despite repeated requests from Dutch peacekeepers on the ground,” the report added.

The report also continued, “The fall of the Srebrenica safe area was the foreseeable consequence of U.N. and NATO policies on the use of force during the Bosnian conflict. The U.N. Security Council had authorized air strikes by NATO if U.N.-designated “safe areas” in Bosnia – Sarajevo, Bihac, Srebrenica, Tuzla, Zepa, and Gorazde – were attacked. But throughout the war the U.N. adopted a position of “neutrality” that in practice meant inaction, even when Bosnian Serb forces attacked “safe areas” or the warring parties otherwise violated ceasefire agreements. Key NATO countries—including the United States, France and Britain—conveniently hid behind the U.N. position.

“Isolated air strikes in 1994 were too limited in scope and number to deter further offensives. In May 1995, when NATO targeted Serb heavy weapons around Sarajevo in response to continuing attacks against the capital, Serb forces responded by taking hundreds of U.N. peacekeepers hostage. The Bosnian Serb leadership announced that their threats to U.N. soldiers would end only if the international community stopped air strikes. NATO never formally renounced the use of air strikes, but by June 18, 1995, the U.N. hostages had been released.

“Serb forces led by General Ratko Mladic and under overall command of Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic began the attack on Srebrenica on July 6. The U.N. command declined to call in NATO air strikes on the positions of the advancing Serbs despite repeated requests by the Dutch battalion in Srebrenica. The four hundred lightly armed Dutch soldiers in and around Srebrenica had neither the authorization nor the capacity to repulse the Serb offensive. The Netherlands later launched an investigation into the shattering failures of that time: but the responsibility was much broader than that. The world simply looked away. The limited NATO air strikes launched on July 11 came too late to have any impact. The rest is tragically well known: the Serbs entered Srebrenica, and in the following week killed between 7,000 and 8,000 Muslim men and boys,” the Human Right Watch reported.

World leader’s statement

The US ambassador to Bosnia, Charles English, read a message from President Barack Obama that urged “governments to redouble their efforts” and arrest those responsible for the war crimes at Srebrenica. President Obama urged governments to redouble their efforts to track down key suspect Ratko Mladic. “On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the genocide at Srebrenica, and on behalf of the United States, I join my voice with those who are gathered to mourn a great loss and to reflect on an unimaginable tragedy,” Obama said.

“I have said, and I believe, that the horror of Srebrenica was a stain on our collective conscience,” he said in a statement issued in Washington but also read out a graveyard ceremony near Srebrenica.

“Justice must include a full accounting of the crimes that occurred, full identification and return of all those who were lost, and prosecution and punishment of those who carried out the genocide. This includes Ratko Mladic, who presided over the killings and remains at large.”

Obama called the Srebrenica genocide a “stain on our collective consciousness” that occurred even after decades of pledges of “never again” after Nazi atrocities during World War II.

British Prime Minister, David Cameron said, “We must never forget the act of genocide that happened at Srebrenica. It was a crime that shamed Europe.”

“We owe it to the victims to learn the lesson of Srebrenica: that evil must be confronted if humanity is to be protected. We owe it to the victims to ensure that those indicted for this appalling crime are pursued relentlessly until they are brought to justice,” Cameron said and added, “As we look to the future, we pledge never to forget the past, and to do all in our power to ensure that sure an atrocity can never be repeated.”

Prime Minister Cameron said the government “will not rest” in its efforts to make sure that Ratko Mladic is brought to the International Criminal Tribunal at The Hague, alongside other fugitives such as Goran Hadzic. The Prime Minister also insisted that everything possible should be done to ensure that “such an atrocity can never be repeated”.

Baroness Warsi, who represented the UK government in Srebrenica, said: “It will be a heart-wrenching event, but this will not simply be about commemorating the dead. This will be a sign of our support, our sympathy, and our unstinting solidarity with the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will also reaffirm a fundamental point: such evil acts must never be allowed to happen again.”

Khutba by Grand Mufti of Bosnia

The 15th anniversary of Genocide in Bosnia is the occasion that poses more hard questions than offers easy answers. Why the cry “never again”, raised by so many in the years after 1945, has rung increasingly hollow with the passing decades? Indeed, the evil of Holocaust remains a unique crime against humanity but instances of genocide have continued to reoccur – from Bosnia to Chechnya from Rwanda to Sri Lanka, from the Congo to Cambodia,” said the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Dr. Mustafa Ceric, in his Khutba, on the occasion of 15th Anniversary of Genocide in Bosnia – Srebrenica, on 11th of July, 2010.

Grand Mufti of Bosnia has prepared this European Khutba which was read out at Mosques in London during the Friday Jummah Prayer (Friday 9th July 2010). Bosnia’s Grand Mufti said in his Khutba, “the definitions of Evil do not provide answers to the questions: Why Holocaust? Why Genocide? Why was an infant girl of Bosnia raped? Why was an innocent boy of Srebrenica killed? Why the Bosnian Muslims were betrayed by the United Nations protection Force on 11th of July 1995 in Srebrenica where thousand of men and boys who had sought safety were massacred? Why Europe has allowed to be deceived by the evil of Serbian army? Where does evil begin? What makes evil so fascinating?”

Muslim Council of Britain

On the occasion of the commemoration of the Genocide in Bosnia - Srebrenica, The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), while encouraging Imams in Mosques and Islamic Centres to read the above Khutba prepared by the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, wants to ensure that Muslims, indeed humanity, never forget such barbarity, said Farooq Murad, Secretary General of MCB.

On this occasion, MCB urged the Government to put pressure on the Balkan states “to honour their commitments, and the requirements of the EU accession process. The EU must continue to insist on the full support by Balkan states of the work of the ICTY to apprehend wanted war criminals and to facilitate reconciliation through the tracing of those still unaccounted for.”

The MCB press release also said, “The Khutbah and the Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide is a reminder to all Europeans; Muslims, Christians, Jews and others, that Islam has deep European roots. It has an illustrious history of coexistence with Christian and Jewish communities in the Balkans, the Iberian peninsula, and in the present day, across Europe.”

The Day of Remembrance is a timely reminder to us all of where festering hate and intolerance can lead. As Muslims in Europe offer prayers for the victims of the atrocities committed in Srebrenica and lay to rest those whose bodies have only just been recovered, let us also work together to ensure that these crimes are never forgotten and never again return to our Continent – mentioned the MCB press release.

Conclusion

There has been progress toward justice for the Srebrenica genocide in recent years. The Bosnian Serb wartime President, Radovan Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic were indicted for genocide in Srebrenica in 1995. Karadzic is on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, facing charges that include genocide at Srebrenica.

Mladic, the Bosnian Serb military leader, is accused of masterminding the 44-month siege of Sarajevo that left 10,000 people dead and the July 1995 massacre of around 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica is still at large. His continuing freedom is a “profound moral failure for NATO and the international community”.

“The EU’s softening resolve on Mladic’s arrest sends the wrong message to Serbia,” Cartner said. “The EU has an obligation to use its leverage to help deliver justice for the victims of Srebrenica.” The EU should not engage in any further progress toward membership for Serbia, such as asking the European Commission to study Serbia's application, until Serbia fully cooperates with the tribunal, including on the arrest of the last two fugitives, Human Rights Watch said.

I would like to conclude with the prayer of the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Dr. Mustafa Ceric, which he did in the European Khutba:

European Khutba

The Grand Mufti of Bosnia in his European Khutba made the following prayers:

“This prayer is our hope that our future shall be better than our past and our children shall not have fear of genocide.

“O Man, whoever you are and wherever you might be, remember God created us all in the same sway so that we all might say honest prayer:

Oh God

Do not let success deceive us

Nor failure takes us to despair!

Always remind us that failure is a temptation

That precedes success!

Oh God

Teach us that tolerance

Is the highest degree of power

And the desire for revenge

The first sign of weakness!

Oh God

If you deprive us of our property,

Give us hope!

If you grant us success,

Give us also the will to overcome defeat!

If you take from us the blessing of health,

Provide us with the blessing of faith!

Oh God

If we sin against people,

Give us the strength of apology!

And if people sin against us,

Give us the strength of forgiveness!

Oh God

If we forget ye

Do not forget us!

Oh God

May grief becomes hope!

May mother’s tears become prayers!

That Srebrenica never happens again!