As MPACUK hit the campaign trail in the Southall by-election, it brings back memories of 2003 when an MPACUK by-election campaign led to the defeat of the pro-war Labour candidate in the Brent East by-election. This week the Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, who was elected with our support, was speaking at a conference in Parliament, representing the All Party Parliamentary Group on Guantanamo - campaigning for the human rights of our brothers and an end to detention without trial.

Victory in Brent East required an even bigger swing from Labour to Lib Dem, than the swing that is needed to defeat Labour in Southall. But will the Muslim community in Southall step up to this opportunity to make their voice heard, in the same way as the Muslims of Brent East?

Flashback: Diary 2003 - Defeating a Danger to Islam!

With aching feet we drag ourselves up the hill to the station, to face the long journey home. We’ve just spent 3 hours, after work, trekking around the suburban streets of Brent East. Why? We have a very important warning to deliver: Robert Evans – a DANGER to Islam! Vote against him!

The streets of Brent are crawling with activists of all political colours, determined to use this election as an opportunity to get their opinions represented. How many of these activists are Muslim? Only MPACUK it seems. Don’t Muslims also deserve to be represented by an MP who will stand up for their interests?

As I turned the map around and around, looking for the next address to deliver leaflets, I thought… This really has to be a job for the mosques. If the mosques mobilised the local Muslim community it would be so easy to reach every family. Mosques must raise awareness to make sure that Muslims don’t blindly vote for anti-Muslim politicians!

The thousands of Muslims in Brent don’t have to be represented by a man who supported the war that killed thousands of their brothers and sisters in Iraq. They don’t have to have an MP who would probably say, “Yes sir, Mr Bush! Let’s attack Syria/ Iran/ Saudi Arabia…”.

After 3 hours of stuffing leaflets into letter boxes I was exhausted. But also very excited. Will we do it? Will we defeat this pro-war politician? Will we send a message to Blair, Blunkett, Straw and friends – start listening to Muslims, or you’re out of a job!

P.s. We’d like to say a big thankyou to all the halal take-aways and grocery stores who are helping by displaying leaflets on their counters and in their windows.

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