Launch of a Report on Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime

Launch of a Report on Islamophobia
and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Report on “Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime: UK Case Studies 2010” was launched under the auspices of Cordoba Foundation at the London Muslim Centre, London, on Tuesday, 23rd of October 2010. This is the second research of the European Muslim Research Centre (EMRC). Though it is a report, it is quite substantial report. This Report on Islamophobia was sponsored by Al-Jazeera Centre for Studies at Doha, Qatar. Its representative, Dr. Rafiq Abdussalam who is head of Research at the Al-Jazeera Centre for Studies at Doha, came straight from Doha, Qatar, to attend the launch of the Report.

Dr. Rafiq Abdussalam
Dr. Rafiq Abdussalam, who is head of Research at the Al-Jazeera Centre for Studies which is a Think-Tank related to Al-Jazeera Network, said, “We are sure that the European Muslim Research Centre is doing a great job not only for the Muslim community but also for the whole of Britain, a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society and I think this institution is doing a great job at the right time mainly in the context of Islamophobia, the rise of discrimination, the rise of hate, rise of Islamophobia.”

Dr. Abdussalam also maintained, “I think the EMRC is doing an excellent job for the co-existence; for building bridges between religious society and the minority and for the cosmopolitan Britain.”

Professor John Esposito
The next speaker, who has flown a few hours ago from Washington DC, was a very well-known scholar. He delivered a keynote speech at the meeting. He is Professor John Esposito, a University Professor and Director at the Georgetown University. He is Professor of Religion and International Affairs and Islamic Studies at the Georgetown University and the founding Director of the Muslim-Christian understanding. He specialised in Islam, Political Islam and the Impact of Islamic movements from North Africa to South East Asia. Professor Esposito is the recipient of the American Academy of Religion Award 2005 for the public understanding of religion and the Pakistan Quaid e-Azam Award for the outstanding contribution in Islamic Studies; in 2003.

Islamophobia – its background
Professor Esposito started with comparing the word Islamophobia in USA with that of UK, vis-à-vis media in UK and USA. He said, after the 9/11 incident, what I notice with major American media, with those people saying to me how this happened? “This whole idea of Islamophobia? It is unlike in UK where the phrase Islamophobia was used first in 1997. Islamophobia was first major used in media until 2001 when Time Magazine asked whether America was Islamophobic?.”

Islamophobia – a Social Cancer
But talking about reality, Professor Esposito said, “This study shows very very clearly that one can no longer deny actually the existence of the problem which I call the social cancer in Europe; the Americans call Islamophobia. But the extent to which it functions in our society, I think, what is important today is not just talking about new entry of immigrants, political parties in terms of constituencies, that in fact, as a result of presence of Islamophobic language, political commentators. It becomes part of our popular culture.”

Media coverage of Islamophobia
Referring to the coverage in the media of the Islamophobic statements, actions, hate crimes etc, Professor Esposito said, “it is not documented in many places; in America major media has not covered the denunciation of the action terrorism, following 9/11 or 7/7, right down even today; the major events such as the imams message or the common word; you do not get such kind of coverage.”

So what is the problem? “The problem is that the media gives coverage of “the existence of Muslim extremism; the existence of all Muslims terrorists; but what happened is a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the population of the Muslims in the world is simply equated with the popular mentality with a threat that is coming from majorities. It is interesting about this that when you look at the actual coverage which I am doing as I do prepare very carefully,” said Professor Esposito.

The Islamophobes
Talking about how the reality is unfolded, Professor Esposito said, “If you really take a look at the reality: how the reality is unfolded? The Islamophobes, the political commentators etc. and my beloved Melanie Phillips and so many others and so Daniel Pipes in America etc, - they can say what they want to say and it’s reported and most of all it’s not contextualize. No one say, wait a minute; let’s take good look at the person or what their track records in term of what they are saying about Muslims; what is their backgrounds? How true it is?”

Media coverage of Gallup World Poll
Professor Esposito mentioned that there has been significant polling done as now in Europe and in America and spoke particularly about the Gallup polling. “Gallup not only studied in Europe but it studied in America. And we can face of so too often like Islam is particularly violent religion; most Muslims are not loyal; Most Muslims are not integrated etc. One can lay out hard data to demonstrate; but yet that data is more often that does not come true.”

Professor Esposito also questioned about the coverage of that message such as: the message extremists they issue false fatwa begin by this what does the mainstream Islam represent? And on the other hand, what would be an extreme interpretation and who can legitimately give fatwa and who cannot give fatwa and then you can have for the first time in the history the common word because of the globalisation and the communication ability to mobilise Muslim religious leaders across the world against the state of that. But how much coverage occurs of that?”

On the other hand, Professor Esposito mentioned, “you can have the most Islamophobic statements made some of which has no basis in reality; who make statements by people who does not represent the entire community, or anybody, but that will make the headline.”

To challenge the reality, to face the fact
“So the part of our challenge today is to face the fact by them,” said Professor Esposito and maintained, “We now have to challenge the society, to face the fact. This is something; and does affect both the image of the west and which can be exploited by terrorists overseas as well as within America. And equally, my point of view, it does affect the civil liberty of a significant portion of our population, something that we like to look on other way.”

Educated people
“I am very happy to be here but the reality is wherever I am either in Europe or in America; it is not the question of the media that is here; it is the question about media that are not here. It is not the question about the people or the audience or their profile or whether they are here; the question is the people or the audience that are not here,” said Professor Esposito and added, “Until we respond to Islamophobic attacks or statements, do we realize that the hate speech does lead to hate crimes.”

Peter Oborne
The next speaker was Peter Oborne who is the Daily Telegraph’s chief political commentator; a prolific political commentator, television presenter and author of the Rise of Political Lying, published in 2005; the Triumph of Political Class in 2007

Continental attack on Islam and Muslims
Oborne said, “Europe has an ugly history of taking out, of manifesting its socio-economic problems by attack on minorities and it does seem to have no question of minorities being chosen.” Continental Europe’s choice of minority attack is now Islam and Muslims.

Britain has fabulous history of tolerance
Oborne then referred to German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s remarks and said, “I think Angela Merkel’s remark was chilling deeply coming through the record Germany has in its treatment of minority. It is not just there. We have got episodes in Greece. We have got in Spain and I take comfort, being living in Britain. We have. Fabulous history of tolerance, freedom of liberty; of welcoming minorities. So I do feel we will not follow Europe down the ugly path of, may be, the intense path; but I do think, nevertheless, there are dangerous things happening in Britain too.”

Problem of media narratives
Referring to the Report which is voluminous, Oborne said, “That is why this volume is extremely valuable and an extremely important and I think we have to be alert, we have to educate, as John Esposito has said. I agree that the commentaries the newspapers, the journalists, there is a problem of media narratives. The British press is not really interested in this subject. I can put this What John Esposito is saying is like creation of stereotypes, the vilification of minorities, the use of language is very curious, it appears from nowhere. Extremists, radicals. But it is an odd word.”

We need to find out why
Oborne also said, “I was very distressed by the failure of Sayeeda Warsi. She has done a very good thing, wonderful thing as a first Muslim cabinet minister as a matter of pride I think I do. But the fact that she was asked to or told by the Downing Street not to attend the Global Peace and Unity Conference here few weeks ago, was bad. We need to find out why not.”

Foreign policy
“Anybody, who does not, anybody who does speak out, who does celebrate their identity; celebrate their religion; is somehow treated as Britain shameful doctrine; very shameful doctrine because it is so powerful; it is very powerful in the press. It is very hard to confess; but it is very un-British. Sorry un-British. We have a fabulous record over the centuries enabling different races to celebrate themselves and there is liberal authoritarianism, as no history of Britain and we are total country; we have to make this argument. I am going to stop.”

Dr. Robert Lambert
Dr Robert Lambert, one of the authors of this report; the co-Director of the European Muslim Research Centre at the University of Exeter and a part-time Lecturer at the Centre for Studies on Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St. Andrews, said, “The evidence on which we report on specific threats to Muslims; violent threats by then relatively young man, is overwhelming and compelling and yet probably for the reason we heard from both of our previous speakers; we will have to do more to prove it,. We will be publishing further report next year, I think, we will have specific report on threat to mosques. I think; violent to mosques and Muslim/Islamic institutions in this country is a serious issue, is a priority research concern for us. In our recommendation, we say to the Government, we say to the police chief. This has to be taken seriously.”

Some dreadful accounts
Dr. Lambert narrated some dreadful authentic accounts. He said, “Some of the Muslim elders lost some of their whole life savings into the building and running fair local Mosques. And they have suffered intimidation, torture, solitary attacks. In many cases they have big attacks; petrol bombing; mosques have been seriously damaged and in other cases, they had on-going vandalism. In many mosques they have given up. Fixing the windows. You know, look what the point is for them up.”

This problem is not going away
Dr. Lambert maintained, “We are actually clear that politicians and senior police officers in this country should have gone to the grassroots level before things get even worse. If you are there going every day to the isolated mosques in the market town in the suburb of the country and you got the English Defence League dropping leaflets into the mosque; you got excrements coming from the letter box; you got pig-heads suddenly arriving over night.”

Dr. Lambert said, “I think, it is fair to say that London is still the target for that kind of media we earlier referred to. Andrew Gilligan will be disappointed if he is not mentioned, again in this context, to mend his business to criticise East London Mosque, Islamic Forum for Europe, London Muslim Centre, anything that has connection where we are today.”

“It is because of the works of the East London Mosque, Islamic Forum for Europe, London Muslim Centre; because of your fantastic youth projects that we have only just begun to highlight in this report. People say why it should be ten-year long. Well, we are not going away. Sure if the problem diminishes within ten years we will be happy to turn our attention elsewhere. But we have to be clear that reductions of hate crime here are the results of partnership work.”

International Conference on Islamophobia, Integration and Identity in Dublin

International Conference on
Islamophobia, Integration and Identity

Dr. Mozammel Haque

DUBLIN: IRELAND: The first-ever Three-day International Islamic Leadership Justice and Peace Conference on “Islamophobia, Integration & Identity,” organised by The European Muslim Council for Justice, Peace and Equality, was held from 28-30 September, 2010 at the Academy Plaza Hotel, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The participants who presented papers came from many countries of the world such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Finland Italy, etc. About 200 people attended the conference.

Sheikh/Prof Shaheed Satardien, the President of the European Muslim Council for Justice, Peace and Equality, Dublin, Ireland, introduced Qari/Sheikh Muneer Satardien who recited verses from the Holy Qur’an in his melodious voice to the gathering of all faiths and Muslim scholars, academics, politicians and media people from all over the world. Sheikh Satardien gave a hearty welcome to the dignitaries, delegates and guests. The Irish Minister of Finance the honourable Brian Lenihan TD opened the conference and was awarded with the Lenihan family coat of arms shield and the “Visionary of Peace” award from the conference.

Then the Lord Mayor of Dublin councillor Gerry Breen officially started the proceedings for the day by welcoming the delegates to Dublin city and he elaborated on what peace and justice would mean to everyone, followed by the conference awarding him with the plaque of the Breen family.

The special guest of honour and keynote speaker Prof/Dr Hamid bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie, President of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue, addressed the conference on the role of dialogue and the role that King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud founder and king of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia played to promote dialogue with civilizations.

Waseem Satardien read the history of dialogue between Sean MacBride (former Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and advisor to Pope Paul the sixth); and Sheikh Muhammad Ali Al-Harakan (former Minister of Justice from Saudi Arabia) and the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in promoting peace, tolerance and understanding in the world. Fawaaz Jones read the World Islamic Charter and spoke on the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in promoting the charter.

Then Dr Sean MacBride was honoured by Prof/Dr Abdullah Omar Nasseef, the President of World Muslim Congress and Prof/Dr Hamid bin Ahmad al-Rifaie of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr Sean MacBride was also honoured by the Intercultural Peace Centre and the Sheikh Shaheed Satardien Justice and Peace Foundation. All the awards of Dr Sean MacBride were received by his grand-son Mr. Dara White.

Then the speech of Dr Abdulaziz Othman Al-Twaijri of ISESCO was delivered on his behalf by Dr Abdelila Benarafa of Morocco. The conference then honoured Dr. Al-Rifaie with the “Lifetime Achievement” award for outstanding services towards the upliftment of Islam. The “Lifetime Achievement” award was also received by Fayez Al-Rasheed of Saudi Arabia on behalf of H.E. Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef President of the WMC; and by Dr. Abdelila Benarafa of Morocco on behalf of H.E. Dr Abdulaziz Othman Al-Twaijri the Director of ISESCO. Dr. Abdelila was also given the “Distinguished Ambassador of Islam and Visionary of Peace” award for his sterling efforts towards justice, peace and dialogue.

Dedication to the memory of Sean MacBride
The Conference was dedicated to the memory of late Sean MacBride, one of the first Western figures of note to really engage with Islam. He led a tremendously varied life, the Ist stage of his life beginning joining the IRA at the age of 15 years, becoming Chief of Staff of the IRA at the age of 32 and he resigned from the IRA at the age of 33 and becoming a barrister. In the 2nd stage of his life, he became the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the age of 44 in 1948 – the period during which MacBride served as Minister for Foreign Affairs. He helped draft the European Convention on Human Rights and he continued in politics until 1961.

He was the founding member of Amnesty International and Secretary General of the International Committee of jurists from 1963 to 1971, Chair and then President of the International Peace Bureau in Geneva from 1968 to 1985, and President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974, American Medal of Justice in 1975, Lenin Peace Prize in 1977 and he was also awarded the UNESCO Silver Medal for Service in 1980.

While accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974, MacBride said: “There is nothing more damaging to the concept of world order and peace than the massive violations of human rights that continue to occur in various parts of the world.” This is as true in 2010 as it was in 1974.

Welcome Address by Professor Satardien
Professor Satardien welcomed the honoured guests, esteemed Ambassadors, ministers and representatives of different faith communities. In his welcome address, Prof. Satardien emphasised the inter-related and inter-dependent nature of the human community, and the inability of any culture or any economy to folly.”

Speaking about Islamophobia, Prof. Satardien said, “The Issue of Islamophobia – the fear of Islam – is an issue that must be tackled whether we like it or not. This is not an optional extra, an intellectual luxury or theological chess. We are talking about nearly quarter of the population of the world - now more than 1.5 billion people and perpetually growing. The portrayal of Muslims as ‘backward’, as ‘inherently violent’, and other similar descriptions is destabilising, on a communal and global level. In the ‘West,’ it leads to isolation – the opposite of integration.”

Dr. Abdullah Naseef and Dr. Hamid Al-Rifaie
Dr Hamid al-Rifaie laid down the principles of dialogue and argued for an intensification of dialogue with the West. While presenting joint paper by Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, President of the World Muslim Congress and Prof. Dr. Hamid A. Al-Rifaie, President of International Islamic Forum for Dialogue, they stated, “It is worth mentioning that the dialogue in Islam is not an end in itself. Indeed, it is a wise approach to achieve a venerable aim; it is the acquaintance among the followers of religions and cultures which opens a big door for the understanding among them. Mutual understanding in its turn creates a safe climate among individuals and communities for cooperating and competition in the fields of life in order to achieve the best for people and for achieving a safe co-existence among communities.”

Dr Adrian Page of London Metropolitan University’s paper which outlined the impact of Islamophobia on the Muslims in the West was delivered by Sheikh/Prof Shaheed Satardien of the Muslim Council of Ireland.

Shaykh Abd al-Wahid Pallavicini
Shaykh Abd al-Wahid Pallavicini, President, Islamic Religious Community, Italy, outlined the way forward in increasing dialogue and urged the conference to work harder in bringing about understanding, tolerance and peace amongst civilizations. Shaykh Pallavicini said in his lecture, “true peace comes not only from justice and is not obtainable at any price – it will be based on higher justice that can only come from the mutual recognition of the spiritual validity of our different faiths within the Abrahamic tradition to which we all belong. What can really bring together sincere believers is the sense of ‘sacrifice’ in the original and etymological meaning of the word that of sacrum facere; to make every moment of our lives sacred, by means of the religious forms that God has given to each of us.”

Shaykh Pallavicini received the “Distinguished Ambassador of Islam and Visionary of Peace” award on behalf of his son Imaam Yahya Pallavacini. The conference also honoured Dr Vivian Ibrahim and presented her with an Irish Independence Declaration.

Shaykh Pallavicini also mentioned, “In these very special times that seem to “undermine” even religions, we have a responsibility to intervene and learn how to make good this “crisis” that touches us all. We mean “crisis” in the etymological sense of the term that refers to “judgement”, or the moment of truth contained within the revelation of the true nature of things. For us as men of faith, evils dwell only in the deception that wants to make us look elsewhere and forget God. On the other hand, our familiar eschatology does not describe “the end of the world” but, in the words of Shaykh Abd al-Wahid Yahya Guenon, only “the end of a world.””

The conference then had a break for lunch and then went into workshop to discuss and debate the papers of Dr Vivian Ibrahim and Dr Adrian Page on Islamophobia in the Nally suite; and to discuss and debate the papers of Prof Al-Rifaie and Sheikh Abdul Wahid Pallavacini in the Cusack suite.

Origin of Islamophobia and
the rebirth of a culture panic
The next session was on the “Origin of Islamophobia and the rebirth of a culture panic” with Sheikh Musa Admani as the moderator. Dr Farid Younus of California University gave an overview of the world situation on Islamophobia and its origins and how to remedy it.

Abd al-Wadoud Gouraud
Dr Abdul Wadoud Gouraud of the Islamic Institute for Advanced Studies of France analysed different ways of dealing with Islamophobia and its off-shoots like the banning of the head-scarf in France, the banning of minarets in Switzerland, the furore over the so-called ground zero Mosque and the attempted burning of the Holy Qur’an in America.

Abd al-Wadoud Gouraud of the Islamic Institute for Advanced Studies, while presenting his paper on “The Role of Muslim Western Scholars” said, “More than a social convention, it is for us a religious responsibility to love harmony and unity, and to work for insuring them between God’s creatures. On the other hand, it is important to promote interfaith dialogue between representatives of Abrahamic religions in Europe, as an effective key to widely disseminate the spirit of respect and faithful cooperation that can counter religious-based discriminations, such as Islamophobia, and radicalisations. These disturbing and increasing phenomena are both far from the real knowledge and practice of the religious teachings and virtues that are common to true Judaism, Christianity and Islam; and so are they from civil rules and human values, which are as indispensable as the latter for achieving mutual respect, cultural and religious diversity and social cohesion.”

He also said, “Making the religious dialogue a qualified and through communication not only leads to peaceful coexistence and mutual respect but also find common interests and ways of and contribution in the societies.”

“That is why it is necessary to maintain a preventive plan of information and training on Islam and Muslims because several difficulties still remain in the European context. Indeed, the lack of knowledge about religion in general, and about Islam in particular, risk creating grave confusions, prejudices and unjustified amalgams between terrorism and Islam, provoking phenomena of racism and Islamophobia. Because one cannot think that all immigrants and foreigners of Islamic culture and origin represent a potential danger for the EU’s security and its individual States,” he said and added, “In front of such an ignorance and misunderstanding, as Western Muslim Theologians and believers, we work hard to change wrong ideas and representations by clarifying and reminding our brothers as well as fellow-citizens what Islam teaches, for instance, as the true meaning of Jihad instead of the so-called Jihadists, the worth of peace over violence, the priority of knowledge over blind ignorance.”

Dr Fawzia Al-Ashmawi of the University of Geneva spoke on the Islamophobia that has been created by Muslim extremists and how the Ummah has to respond to it. Sheikh Abdul Wahid Pallavacini delivered the paper of his son Imaam Yahya on the unification of the Ummah and creating a voice for them in tackling Islamophobia. Dr Adil Khan of Cork University then gave a report on the workshop of Islamophobia and Dr Josephine O’Brien of Al-Ain University delivered a report from the workshop on dialogue.

Dr Farid Younus, Dr Fawzia Al-Ashmawi and Dr Abdul Wadoud were all honoured with the “Distinguished Ambassador of Islam and Visionary of Peace” award and Dr Josephine O’Brien was honoured with the “Visionary of Peace” award. That was in the session of 28th September, 2010.

Day Two:
The History of Islam in the West
The theme of this session was “The history of Islam in the West” and the moderator was Dr Adil Khan of Cork University. Sheikh Satardien of the Intercultural Peace Centre delivered a paper on Muslims feeding Islamophobia and also gave a power-point presentation. Dr Josephine O’Brien spoke on the history and the impact immigration had on the identity of the people and the lessons learnt from it.

Dr. Mozammel Haque
Dr. Mozammel Haque, an Islamic writer, columnist, presented a paper on “Leadership, Islamophobia and Dialogue.” He spoke on how Muslims were affected in the West and especially in Western Europe by Islamophobia and how to remedy it. He has also shown how misleader can sow the seeds of hatred, mistrust and Islamophobia and how through proper leadership an atmosphere of communal harmony and tolerance can be fostered.

Dr. Haque has also elaborated in details the measures taken by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. He has also narrated the course adopted by President Barack Obama of the United States of America to bring communal harmony between Islamic World and the West.

Then Dr. Farid Younus from America presented a paper on “The Role of Government in the Promotion of Dialogue” and Mufti Dr. Walid Hammoud from Finland a paper on “The reality and future of Pluralism and Co-existence.” In his paper Dr Walid Hammoud, gave an outline of how Muslims in Finland dealt with Islamophobia and referred to the Intercultural Peace Centre and Interfaith Roundtable model of Ireland to be implemented all over Europe as it delivers positive results in bridge-building.

Presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award
The Life-time achievement Award was given to Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, President of the World Muslim Congress, Dr. Hamid bin Ahmad al-Rifaie, President International Islamic Forum for Dialogue, Dr.Abdulaziz Othman Al-Twaijri, Director of ISESCO. They got the award for life-time achievement, award for excellence for the services they rendered to Islam. These Awards were presented in the first session of the first day of the Conference.

Presentation of Ambassador of Islam Award
On the second day of the Conference, on 29th of September, Dr. Mozammel Haque, Media Advisor of Islamic Cultural Centre, London; receives "Distinguished Ambassador of Islam and Visionary of Peace" Award for his efforts for dialogue, justice and peace in the world. The Award was presented by Professor Dr. Hamid Al-Rifaie, the President of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue of Saudi Arabia

The European Muslim Council for Peace, Justice and Dialogue has given Award to Dr Mozammel Haque for his “sterling efforts for peace and justice in the world and the promotion and well-being of Islam. Your hard work for the Deen of Allah SWT and the well-being of the Ummah has been noticed and we would like to honour you with a very humble award of appreciation.” said the Award. The Prize was awarded to Dr. Mozammel Haque at the Intercultural Centre, Dublin in the presence of international gathering of distinguished personalities.

Dr. Farid Younus from America and Mufti Dr. Walid Hammoud from Finland also received the “Distinguished Ambassador of Islam and Visionary of Peace Award at the same session.

Session on The Dynamics and
scope of existence of cultures
The conference resumed the session of “The dynamics and scope of existence of cultures” with Sheikh Satardien as the moderator. Dr Adil Khan delivered a paper on identity and referred to some Muslims as experiencing an identity crisis in the West. Jamil Usman of New York elaborated on the onslaught of the media on Islam and the necessity of creating our own news channel to broadcast in the West.

Dr Al-Rifaie from Saudi Arabia then spoke again on the importance of dialogue and educating the people of the West in true Islamic principles. Dr. Bekir Cinar from Turkey’s paper was read by Sheikh Musa Admani. Dr Adil Khan was presented with a manifestation plaque and Jamil Usman was honoured with the “Distinguished ambassador of Islam and Visionary of Peace” award.

Resolution
Following resolution was unanimously passed at the end of the Conference: “Based on what we felt from the great outcome of the International Islamic Leadership Justice and Peace Conference, held in the city of Dublin - the capital of the Irish Republic at the period from 19-21 Shawaal 1431 H, corresponding to 28 - 30 September 2010; the Muslim leaders who participated in the conference - and with the support of other leaders - have decided this conference is to be a lasting International institution under the name of the International Islamic Leadership Conference for Justice and Peace and adopted Dublin as the headquarters of the Conference. Other branches of the conference can be opened in other countries all over the world.

We have also decided unanimously the following‫:‬
1 ‪‫.President of the Conference / Prof. Dr. Hamid Ahmad Al-Rifaie.
2 ‪Secretary-General of the Conference / Prof. Dr. Shaheed Satardien.‬
3 ‪Advisory Board Chairman / Prof. Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef‬
4 ‪Participating Islamic leaders are founder members of the Conference.‬

The following morning of 30th September a closed session was held and all the delegates were taken on a Dublin Bus tour and a River Liffey Cruise.

Review of the Year 2009 - Turning Point for Peace

Review of the Year 2009: A Turning
Point for Peace in Global History

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The year 2009 is a turning point in the global history of progress towards peace and harmony instead of war and conflict. The terror which was unleashed by the former President of the United States of America, George W. Bush, in 2001 ended with the victory in the US Presidential election by Barrack Obama who came to power with the election campaign slogan “Time for change”. At the same time, from the east, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz ibn Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of Saudi Arabia came with the initiative of peace and harmony through interfaith dialogue. Both these leaders had a vision to bring peace and harmony in the world through recognition of the existence of different religions, cultures, people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds.

These two ventures opened the doors of peace and harmony instead of war and conflict in the world. But the year 2009 also witnessed a rise of Islamophobia in the western world, particularly in Europe. However, in the United Kingdom, it came to light that the British Muslims are most loyal citizens. The British Muslims made a great progress in different fields during the year 2009 in spite of rise of Islamophobia in some sector and the rise of far-right extremists.

At the beginning it will be demonstrated how the speeches of the two great leaders as well as heads of state will make the change in the social and political environment of the world.

King Abdullah’s Historic Conference
for Dialogue to bridge gaps and establish peace
King Abdullah began this journey of interfaith dialogue in the Holy City of Makkah, when he called on all 57 Muslim Heads of State to meet in Islam’s holiest city to ponder the issues of extremism and call for a Muslim renaissance. The King reiterated that message in words and deed. The King traveled to Vatican and met Pope Benedict offering him peace and friendship on behalf of the Muslim world. The visit heralded a new era in the relations between two Abrahamic faiths. Abdullah’s mission to Vatican was perhaps the strongest message of peace and good will to emanate from Arabia since the dawn of Islam in Makkah.

In June 2008, King Abdullah hosted a first historic Interfaith dialogue conference of hundreds of Islamic scholars in the Holy City of Makkah to discuss ways of promoting tolerance and more robust interfaith dialogue with the outside world. This Conference brought together more than 500 scholars, thinkers, officials of Muslim organizations and dialogue centres and academics from all Muslim countries and Muslim minorities living in various countries.

King Abdullah called on Muslims to counter challenges of rigidity, ignorance, narrow-mindedness so as to make the world accommodate the concepts and prospects of the message of Islam. “We are the voice of justice and moral values, we are the voice of rational and just co-existence and dialogue, the voice of wisdom and admonition, and dialogue with the best way possible as Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, ‘Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and discuss with them in ways that are best’,” King Abdullah said. “The way to the others will be through the common values: the values that the Almighty has sent for man’s goodness, the values which discard unfaithfulness and that protect from crimes and fight terrorism, values that belittle lies and establish moral principles, truth, honesty and justice and enforce family ties,” the King said.

King Abdullah immediately within a month came to the West, to Europe and selected the most suitable country, Spain. The World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid took completely a new direction. All previous conferences for dialogue were held between religions where participants presented views of their religions. The Madrid gathering was completely different which assembled the followers of different religions, cultures and civilizations, who presented their views on issues facing mankind.

The conference focused on a common vision and principles acceptable to all as its aim was to focus on human issues and challenges facing the world and avoid theological questions. The conference stressed the need to build a bridge of mutual understanding and co-existence between various people so that the world would be free from the evils of war, injustice, violence, terrorism, drugs and depravity. Speaking about the Madrid conference, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican City, said, “Since the very beginning of our meeting, King Abdullah has focused the objectives of this conference on Dialogue with a courageous speech when he declared: “If we wish this historic meeting to succeed, we must focus on the common denominators that unite us, namely faith in God, noble principles, and lofty moral values which constitute the essence of religion.”

Then King Abdullah went to the United Nations and told world leaders, in the first speech by a Saudi monarch to the United Nations in 51 years, that the time has come to learn from the unjustifiable bloodshed and destruction caused by fanaticism from religious and cultural differences throughout history, and to gather around common values “for a more peaceful, more just, and more tolerant world.”

King Abdullah called for dialogue as a good beginning for humanity and urged world leaders to open a new era of peace, leaving behind the bloody past, and mobilize their resources to fight poverty, provide treatment to patients and boost development. “We had enough of killings, enmity and rights violations,” the king said and added, “If countries in the world had turned to peace and kept away from wars and conflicts and spent their time and energy to fight poverty and engage in humanitarian work we would not have seen these diseases and poverty.”

President Obama Seeks a New Beginning
between the US and the Muslim World
Similarly, the US President Barack Hussein Obama issued an ambitious seven-point manifesto for better ties with the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims in his long-awaited, long promised historic address to the Muslim world at Cairo University in Egypt. His 55-minute speech before a 3,500 invited audience of politicians, opposition leaders, scholars and human rights activists was the centrepiece of his journey. It was billed as an effort by the President to soothe grievances of more than one billion Muslims across the world.

President Obama quoted from the Qur’an, paid homage to the cultural and intellectual achievements of Muslims and noted his middle name and his father’s ties to the faith. President Obama paid tribute to Islam’s influence in culture and civilization in his well-admired speech in Cairo. Obama said, “As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.”

Weaving his personal biography and America’s biography into his speech, Obama said, “So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn’t. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.” At the same time, he said the same principle must apply in reverse. “Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.”

Rise of Islamophobia in Europe
These two great leaders attempted to bring some sort of calmness, peace and harmony, not only between the West and the Islamic world, but also between different cultures, religions and faiths. No doubt, it brought some sort of understanding at the international level but at the same time, the world unfortunately noticed rise of Islamophobia in Europe, such as Burqa in France, Hijab murder in Germany, Islamophobic Film in Netherlands, Minaret ban in Switzerland and rise of far-right in Britain.

In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy made his attack on a small minority of Muslim women in his ‘state of the nation’ speech, stating that the burqa was not welcome in France, home to the largest Muslim community in Western Europe – five million and growing. President Sarkosy said, “The problem of the burka is not a religious problem, it's a problem of liberty and women's dignity. It's not a religious symbol, but a sign of subservience and debasement. I want to say solemnly, the burka is not welcome in France. In our country, we can't accept women prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. That's not our idea of freedom.”

In Germany, On July 1, 2009, Marwa Ali El-Sherbini, a pharmacist who was three months pregnant, was brutally killed in a courtroom in the German city of Dresden while she was giving her testimony on how the defendant known only as Alex W insulted her for wearing the hijab on a playground last summer. It was at this point that Alex W calmly walked across the courtroom and frenziedly stabbed her 18 times. Her three-year-old son Mustafa was forced to watch the savage attack on his mother who died on the scene.

The German Government has been sharply criticised for its slow response to the Islamophobic murder. Secretary General of Germany’s the Central Council of Muslims, Aiman Mazyek, said the German neo-Nazis had been rousing up a climate of Islamophobia in Germany for years, which was led by the rise of far-right National Democratic Party in the country.

In Netherlands, Dutch Freedom Party MP, Geert Wilders, describes the Holy Qur’an as a “fascist book” and compared it to Hitler’s Mein Kampf. He has called for the Qur’an to be banned. Mr. Wilders also links the Islamic Holy Book to terrorism. The film ‘Fitna’ caused outrage across the Muslim world when it was posted on the internet in 2008. Mr. Wilders faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred. Earlier, this year (2009), a Dutch court ordered prosecutors to put Mr. Wilders on trial for inciting hatred and discrimination by making anti-Islamic statements.

In Switzerland, the proposal to ban the building of minarets had been put forward by the Swiss People's Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which says minarets are a sign of Islamisation. The Swiss ban on the building of minarets has been treated with the derision it deserves as being totally irrational. There are only 4 minarets in Switzerland. Still, the majority voted to ban new ones being built. It breaches many of the fundamental principles that European civilisations have been built on.

The Amnesty International said, Swiss minaret ban would be discrimination against religion. “Contrary to the claims of the initiators of the referendum, a general prohibition of the construction of minarets would violate the right of Muslims in Switzerland to manifest their religion,” said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International. She also added: “A ban on the construction of minarets while, for example, allowing those of church spires would constitute discrimination on the basis of religion.”

Former London mayor, Ken Livingstone, said: "The ban on minarets in Switzerland, a country that only has four minarets, is an attack not only on Muslims, but on the most basic freedoms in society.” "Let this referendum be a rallying call for all democrats - we must challenge Islamophobia and racism if we are to stop the far right," he added.

Britain is unique in Europe for its respect for Islam and other minority faiths and their practises. However, with the coming general election, there are dangers that Muslims may be ‘easy fodder’ to win cheap support. There are already indications that UKIP, under its new Chairman, Lord Pearson, may be prepared to play the BNP anti-Islam card.

There were some incidents of violence and targeting Mosques by the far-right extremists in Britain during the year 2009. Communities Secretary, John Denham, MP, conjured up visions of a return to 1930s fascism, following the rise of far-right groups, who are provoking violence and targetting mosques. He drew parallels with Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF), uniformed as ‘Blackshirts’. “The tactic of trying to provoke a response in the hope of causing wider violence and mayhem is long established on the far-right and among extremist groups,” Denham said following the latest clashes at the new Harrow Central Mosque.

Achievements of British Muslim
Community During 2009
Though there is rise of far right groups, Britain is a country which has opened doors to Muslims for hope and glory, for their successes and achievements. During the year 2009, British Muslims made some progress in different fields of life, such as politics, media, both broadcasting and printed media, religion and culture. This was possible due to their loyalty and law-abiding and peace-loving character. Recently, Gallup conducted deeper studies in three European nations – the United Kingdom, France and Germany. In England, Germany and France, the three countries surveyed, Muslims are twice as likely as the general public to suppose that Muslims are loyal citizens.

The survey found that 77% of British Muslims were loyal to Britain compared to only 36% of the general public. However, nearly half of the British public (49%) said British Muslims were not loyal to Britain. Contrary to the prevailing stereotype, more British Muslims (67%) prefer to live in mixed neighbourhoods than the British public (58%). British Muslims have more confidence in democratic institutions than the general public: judicial system (76% against 55%), financial institutions (62% against 56%), honesty of elections (83% against 57%) and national government (40% against 32%). However Muslims have less confidence in the military than the general public (52% against 86%).

The first important achievement of the British Muslim community is the formation of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB). The British Muslim community itself proactively took the initiative to deliver a self-regulating body. As a result, Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) was formed. MINAB aims to work with mosques to understand the needs of their communities and help them to deliver their services to the highest possible standards.

In political participation, first ever Muslim joins Privy Council and for the first time Muslim is appointed as Cabinet Minister. A Muslim MP, Sadiq Khan, son of a bus driver, became the first ever Muslim to join the Cabinet as the Minister of State for Transport. The 38-year-old father of two is also the first Muslim to join the Privy Council. He was named as one of the most influential politicians in London in a series of lists compiled by the Evening Standard. The description in the paper reads, “The first Muslim privy counsellor attends Cabinet regularly and is increasingly making an impact.”

In broadcasting media, the BBC has appointed its first Muslim head of religion. Aaqil Ahmed becomes jointly the head of Religion and Ethics and Commissioning Editor for Religion TV. His biggest project at Channel 4 was the recent 8 part series on Christianity: A History, which included programmes presented by Howard Jacobson and Cherie Blair.

In printed media, Mehdi Hasan, Channel 4 News Editor, has been appointed as the new Senior Editor (Politics) at New Statesman. Since joining C4, Hasan has commissioned five different ‘Dispatches’ documentaries. Hasan commissioned the C4 ‘Dispatches’ film, ‘It Shouldn’t Happen to a Muslim’, which addressed the issue of rising Islamophobia since 7/7. Hasan joins New Statesman in June, 2009. At 29, he is the youngest editor in commissioning at C4 and has been nominated for the Royal TV Society Young Journalist of the Year Award.

For the first time in its 90 year history, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) has elected a Muslim to lead the 17,000 strong trade organisation. Suleman Khonat from Blackburn was voted in as the new National President at the NFRN’s Annual Conference in June, 2009.

In religion and culture, Hijab uniform for Fire service Muslim workers. The Lancashire Fire Service unveiled on March 2009, thirty a new uniform designed to increase recruitment of Muslim women. The uniform which includes full-length skirts, Hijab and long-sleeved shirts is designed only for wearing round the station and for outings such as school trips. For the first time, women will get their own fire-fighting suit designed to protect their upper body.

Besides the above achievement and success by the Muslim community of Britain during the year 2009, another very important event took place in the area of religion, i.e. the second extension of the East London Mosque at Whitechapel, East London.

Shaykh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the Head Imam and Khateeb of the Masjid Al-Haram of Makkah al-Mukarramah launched second extension of the East London Mosque on the 4th of August, 2009 and unveiled the plaque of the foundations for the second phase of the East London Mosque, Whitechapel, London. After unveiling the plaque of the Mosque, the Head Imam of the Haram led the Maghreb prayer and gave a short speech to a congregation, with over 15,000 people. Shaykh Al-Sudais mentioned about Tauheed, the Oneness of Allah and said that we have to follow the Book of Allah the Almighty, The Holy Qur’an and to follow the Sunnah, the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him.) Allah the Almighty sent him to us as the Mercy for the whole Mankind. We have to follow his character.