| ALERT! Dispatches analysis: Mosques Must Reform NOW But Zero Tolerance For Scare Mongering |
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| Tuesday, 16 January 2007 | |
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The documentary certainly revealed some genuine problems which our mosques must take immediate action against and ensure they are fully accountable institutions which would safeguard the community from extremism. However, MPACUK bring you this ALERT to highlight the deep impact the Dispatches programme will have and how it distorts Islam by alluding that the views of these preachers are somehow representative of the Muslim community as a whole. The documentary comes as a major blow for peaceful community relations for British Muslims at a time when Islamophobic and anti-Muslim sentiments in the community is on the rise. From the outset of the documentary a disturbing tone was set when Dispatches stated that there is, “an ideology of bigotry and intolerance spreading through Britain with its roots in Saudia Arabia”, this comment was followed by sound bites of hate filled messages by Muslim preachers. Dispatches seem to be suggesting that extreme views among the Muslim community are commonplace. Although the programme on one occasion makes a distinction between ‘Classical Islam’ and Wahbism, the producers of the documentary have consciously used the show to misrepresent and malign the faith of Islam by making it seem that all Muslims believe such views. It has failed to acknowledge positive steps many Muslims have taken to root out extremism from within mosques and the community at large and it has certainly failed to explain or elaborate exactly what Islam teaches and what the Quran says about the various messages the preachers were giving In their speeches. We guess it would have been prudent for Dispatches to send there undercover operative to a mosque that preached positive messages. Dispatches also makes a questionable stealth attack on Lord Ahmed who has no relation to these preachers. He describes the Green Lane Mosque in an audio cast “When I walk into the mosque I feel like I’m entering the biggest palace on earth”. These remarks were about the building at green lanes and not of those certain speakers who were shown on the documentary. This documentary is fuel for those who want to fan the flames of hatred and it will only really appeal to those who themselves hold there own extremists views such as the BNP, the NF and Islamophobes in general. It doesn’t just brandish the preachers as intolerant and bigoted but instead labels all Muslims as extremists. Such programmes will create a backlash and seriously damage community relations between Muslims and non-Muslims. There is also a possibility it could lead to violence against our institutions, those who attend them, to those who wear Hijab, and even our children. Therefore, MPACUK urge you to not stand by idle or silent. Be active, learn the simple yet effective art of lobbying and enjoin the (political and media) Jihad, which is a FARD upon each and every one of us. Contacting Channel 4 with your complaint will take no more than 5 minutes, do it now! We live in a world where the power of perception triumphs and tramples upon the truth of reality. This is the nature of such broadcasting today. All too often Muslims are guilty until proven innocent. The Dispatches programme was born in this climate of where the enemies of civilisation are mere shadows and the good are its victims. We urge you to ring and email Channel 4 with your views about the documentary. No doubt it revealed some alarming problems within our Mosques that need to be resolved as a matter of urgency and MPACUK call upon our Mosques to progress as fully accountable institutions which would safeguard the Muslim community from extremism. Please ensure you articulate your complaint and views in your own words, using the points below as guidance: * Channel 4 should have made clear how unrepresentative these preachers were out of the thousands of mosques in the UK. * The documentary should have included scholars explaining the Islamic evidence against the extremist views shown. * Channel 4 should not have interspersed pictures of ordinary Muslims with extremist statements as this unfairly associated these statements with all Muslims (e.g. footage of Muslims praying, on Hajj, women in hijab and niqab) * Muslims are not the only community that has the problem of extremists and Channel 4 should give similar prominence to investigating white racists or extremist Jewish Zionists for example.
* Channel 4 failed to define authentically Islamic terms such as 'kaafir' and 'jihad' mentioned in the documentary. We would like to be assured this will not happen in any future programming.
Who to log your concerns with:
Email Channel 4: Or ring Channel 4 on 0845 076 0191. Don’t forget to ask for your reference number. Copy your complaints using the comment section below or bcc us at info@mpacuk.org when you receive a response from your complaint. ''O you who believe, be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity and let not the hatred of any people incite you to depart from justice. Be just, that is closer to piety.'' [Al-Quran, 5:8]    Readers have left 28 comments.
muslim teen:
i wrote an email of complaint before the documentary was shown and this is what they had to say: (i dont think there's much point just repeating what i wrote again after viewing the documentary)
"...This film is the result of a 12-month investigation into a number of mosques run by high profile national organisations that claim to be dedicated to moderation and dialogue with other faiths. The film does not suggest that the hardline and intolerant views revealed are shared by the majority of British muslims; on the contrary, it contains voices from moderate, liberal muslims who put these matters into context and explain why the British public, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, should be concerned about the influence of the views expressed by the speakers featured in the programme. Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise...."
(1)
2007-01-16 21:59:33
Khadija:
Dispatches has produced programming documenting 'white racism' - white power groups in USA, prussian blue, the twin white racist vocalists. Thanks channel 4 and dispatches for exposing this treason. The masjids need to be cleaned up.
(2)
2007-01-16 23:28:42
simon:
This programme didn't make me think that all Muslims were as bad as those preachers.
But by aiming your guns at Channel 4, MPACUK are doing what all the other Muslim groups are doing and have always done when islam hits the headlines for the wrong reasons. Shooting the messenger. Weaseling out. Refusing to deal. If anything it is this denial culture that runs us kaffirs up the wrong way. All religions have extremists. Rather than getting upset at Channel 4 for highlighting this, groups like MPACUK should be taking to the streets to protest against the extremists. Ally yourself with the rest of the UK against those jerks. Instead, all we get are words with caveats and excuses. Same old same old.
(3)
2007-01-16 23:31:48
Mishal:
Salaam. I've already sent my complain to Channel 4 straight after watching this 'Biased' programme. I'm glad you guys are encouraging people to get active and actually do something. So please brothers and sisters make sure you are heard...don't suffer in silence.
(4)
2007-01-16 23:33:20
Steven Smith:
Well done MPAC well written article! I complained to both ofcom and channel 4 and I have called them three times.
I urged Channel 4 to make a documentary on other serious issues such as the brutal occupation of the Palestinians and how the constant harrasment from Israel settlers and IDF soldiers is designed to break the will of the brave Palestinian Christians and Muslims. I specifically asked them to look at Amnesty International reports on the apartheid occupation. I urge everyone to do the same. Keep up the good work MPAC!!
(5)
2007-01-16 23:37:05
A Canadian:
Agreed Simon, just look at the comments already. My my, I guess the truth hurts, eh?
MUSLIMS you have bad extremists in your midsts, get them out before you're all painted into the same corner of losers that these sick individuals clearly belong to. NO ONE is perfect, neither is religion, get a grip and reform the fanatics or eventually someone ESLE will need to do it for you, that won't be nice for anyone. And that's not "hate" for you babies out there, that's just the facts. Read a real history book, it's happened before and it's going to happen again unless we all collectively stop acting stupid and living in ignorance. MPAC you should be ashamed of yourselves. I mean really, do you defend what these men are saying? So no one is allowed to expose this? What you don't like their style, message, words, narration... um, content?? So instead as Simon stated, you encourage and incite others to attack the messenger, - nice. Do your own deconstruction of what you felt they got wrong, or do another document extolling the virtues of Islam instead. Attacking the messenger is lame and exposes you as weak and simple minded. Sincerely, A Canadian. ps, good job steven, get everyone to look away with pointed fingers... no elephant in your arena right?
(6)
2007-01-17 02:38:08
Mike who is Ashamed.:
While I haven’t seen the program, I'd like to ask something about the whole thing in general. Why should we be "concerned"? I put to you my analysis of WHY fiery Imams behave in such a way – because it opens up a can of worms for the authorities.
The fact of the matter is that Muslims are being slaughtered around the globe, unopposed by ALL other than noble indigenous resistance fighters and by those outside the filed of slaughter by demonstrations or means of boycotts. If there wasn't the initial aggression against Muslims whose only crime is the land their live on happens to be above oil or other precious resources, then Muslims would never have JUSTIFICATION for words 'hostile' (perceived or otherwise) words or indeed, hostile actions. Islamic history proves time and time again the peace and harmony that can exist between Muslims and non-Muslims as long as a group isn’t oppressed, be it under a Muslim or non-Muslim administration. This is the 'untouchable' heart of the matter, and in the effort to avoid self-analysis, self-criticism, consequential punishment and reform towards the ‘wests’ slaughter-thons, they play the 'get out of jail free' card against the Muslims i.e. pump out anti-Muslim propaganda which detracts from the real issue by means of Muslim demonisation. And the worst bit of all, is the Muslims are falling for it in order to be 'good little Britons' or 'good Americans' or whatever. In reply to simon (23:31:48) - you have a point, but this is not an isolated incident, but in fact, a near constant! From my analysis of global politics and USUK hegemony, portrayal of Islam in this sense is a matter of policy formulated in dark backstage rooms. The odd 'isn't Islam wonderful' sweetener that is thrown to us can easily be seen for exactly what it is – an insincere near meaningless few minutes to give the appearance of being ‘fair’. To appreciate what I am saying one must really examine (political) history, or by listening to contemporary analysts who have already researched and present this history for you. Meanwhile the Muslim continues.
(7)
2007-01-17 03:54:14
BHAI1:
no doubt mocking other religions ,peoples and ,communities is abhorrent,as is the promotion of violence and anger /hate
but ..was the programme also not geared towards this very aim? hate speech in the guise of documentary?
(8)
2007-01-17 09:11:25
Brother B:
'A Canadaian says: NO ONE is perfect, neither is religion, get a grip and reform the fanatics or eventually someone ESLE will need to do it for you, that won't be nice for anyone.
And that's not "hate" for you babies out there, that's just the facts. Read a real history book, it's happened before and it's going to happen again unless we all collectively stop acting stupid and living in ignorance.' And exactly what have the non-Muslim's done to wipe out their extemists? How come there are still racist White people out there? Why have the White community not acted to rid themselves of these ChristianistsAryanistswatever-ists? Or should WE do that for you?! Does your failure to recognise you have hatemongers mean all White people are the same? And which events in history are you referring to? Pillock. You wanna move South mate, waaayyyy down South to your 'neighbours' they would love you there.
(9)
2007-01-17 11:50:11
liza:
Brother B, actually we do have laws against incitement to racial hatred in this country... laws which the imams were seen openly breaking.
(10)
2007-01-17 12:55:29
Farzana:
I think the documentary makes it quite that it is wahhabism spreading this hate, funded by Saudi Arabia and not mainstream classical Islam. That is the important point MPAC are missing.
(11)
2007-01-17 13:19:02
Arne (kuffaar):
If I have understood correctly, MPAC is trying to reform the British islamic community and lead the way towards a more tolerant and modern Islam in this country. So, why complaining about this exposure of islamofacist preachers? The exposure just how much of a struggle MPAC have on their hands.
British muslims clearly need to stand up to this reactionary subgroup in their mids if we non-muslim are to gain confidence in them as citizens. Instead of complaining to Channel 4, raise a big fuzz in the mosques that allow the abhorrent teachings. Israel, racists, 'blackops' or other favoured topics cannot be used to dodge the thorny issue of extremist preachers in some British mosques.
(12)
2007-01-17 13:38:59
Canuck:
Brother B, your point is not valid simply becasue the White Power groups are a fringe group. They have no soap box to preach from. They are contained.
This is not the case with Islamo-supremists who are given a place to spew their hate. The Imans who hate are given the opportunity to speak, and nobody objects. Imagine a Catholic priest supporting the overthrow of the government, the infiriority of women. How long would that priest be at the pulpit? He wouldn't make it through his sermon before people removed him forcibly. Yet nobody says anything. They just sit and listen, even laugh. As others have mentioned, first get these hate filled idiots out of the Mosques, then complain about the documentary. Either that or your kids and mine will be living a very bleak life.
(13)
2007-01-17 13:51:37
Puzzled...:
Are extremists those whose views we do not agree with??
Who decides what extremism is? Where does extremism start and freedom of speeh end?
(14)
2007-01-17 18:16:08
puzzled some more:
Why is the christian term 'infidels' which was used to describe muslims in the middle east to whip up hysteria amongst blood thirsty christians before their crusades now being used to mean 'kuffars'.
'Kuffars' simply means unbelievers and is not based on race or religion isn't it?
(15)
2007-01-17 18:22:04
Colin:
I sent the following to Channel 4 Viewerenquiries,
"I wish to congratulate the makers of the 'Dispatches' programme on the subject of Islamic extremists operating in certain UK mosques and Channel 4 for showing it. Showing it was an act of great public service, firstly to the general public who I venture to suggest are largely unsuspecting about the wierdness and severity of the threat and secondly to the Muslim community, which is the section of the public best situated to deal with the threat on behalf of all of us. I very much hope that Dispatches and Channel 4 will reurn to the subject before long, especally to update us on how the threat is being met."
(16)
2007-01-17 18:39:11
abu_uthman:
Dear MPACK
Your response to the Dispatches programmes seems just as pathetic as the programme itself. Please explain to me what is 'classical islaam' and what is wahabism? Is there a difference? Or is this something you just concocted? Where do you get your facts from? Who defines what is extreme and what is not? It is time to stand with the muslims whether or not you agree with them or not otherwise when the authorities come knocking on your door they wont ask you whether you believe in 'classicl islaam' or wahabism!!
(17)
2007-01-17 20:02:06
Jack Blackhurst:
How may people stood up and walked out when these so called Imams made these comments? my guess is none.
Were any of these so called Imams thrown out? my guess none. I do not believe mpacuk or any of the Muslim organisations has my welfare at heart. I have read the Qu'ran and the Hadiths and I believe everything it says in regards to unbelievers. I take great offence at the word 'Kuffaar' used by these so called Imams to describe anyone that does not follow your so called religion of peace. With respect to my first and second paragraph, if people did not walk out or evict the speakers they are also complicite and in agreement with them. Now is the time for you to say all comments were taken out of context the same old augument ad naseum. I may even vote for BNP in the next election unless I see Muslims stand up in their thousands like they did for the Danish Cartoons.
(18)
2007-01-17 21:07:37
Northern Cross:
Channel 4 did a good job of exposing extremism in the British Muslim community. It is not the job of non-Muslims to explain whether or not extremists represent the "true" aspects of Islam, and we should not fault Channel 4 for not taking on an obligation that should really be shouldered by the Muslims in Britain.
(19)
2007-01-17 21:27:29
Victor Meldrew:
Funny thing, religion, the so-called free-press, freedom of speech, free-market capitalism and our democracy.
Unfortunately our media seem obessed with stirring up divisions in what Margaret and I class as a successful society. Of course, people like Bin-laden don't exactly help matters. I mean, crashing passenger jets into a building full of investment bankers. Sure, these people might drive Porsches to work and take home $million bonus's in January. But it was all of our pension money they were investing. Notice the pensions shortfall yet? Notice the wealthy offshore opportunists making 30% a year short-selling? Notice the middle/working class investors drop out of the stock market, get into buy-to-let and fuel a property boom that has driven all of the young first-time buyers out of the market? Did you see the way they had to drop interest rates and fuel a cheap money supply to get the equities market rolling again, and still it took 3 years? While house prices doubled? Still everyone who resided here got free healthcare, a welfare safety-net, fair trials, human rights, you name it! It's about time everyone isolated these terrorist scum, they are the enemy of humanity!
(20)
2007-01-17 21:50:23
jade:
Colin
Well said! I sent one very similar. MPAC, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Your true colours are showing. You are more concerned about stifling this information than trying to eradicate it, that is what I see from your ranting script above. So transparent.
(21)
2007-01-17 22:49:47
Africana:
@ Muslim teen:
I got the same reply. just goes to show that these individuals do not have the capacity or cannot be bothered to read the mail and respond to what you have written and they do copy & paste. If they need heavy advertisement to support their programs one wonders why her majesty's government is so deperate to have a contract the arms contract with the saudi government, if they as extremists as the heavily biased prog made it out to be.
(22)
2007-01-18 13:07:13
Africana:
Muslim Teen:
I got the same reply All this shows is that C4 is incapable, unwilling and biased. why reply with copy & paste. If they have investigated for 12 months, as they claim surely there must enough material there to give an appropriate answer But if you want to push your evil ideology by heavy advertisement than that stinks rotten jade, colin, simon, canadian: no truth is not what hurts, it is your fascists racists, barbarity that hurts – the one that the program showed. So tell me how many judeo christian, buddhists, hindu, preachers have condemned the judeo Christian extremists terrorist attack based on one lie on Irak? NONE
(23)
2007-01-18 13:28:46
David Hudson:
I have emailed Channel 4 to complain that the program was biased and not representative. However, I do urge prominent Muslims to speak out against extremists so that everyone can see and understand that it is not a majority view being portrayed.
(24)
2007-01-18 17:00:16
puzzled:
Jack Blackhurst - you say you have read what kuffars means.... So what does it mean to you? (never mind the others which you want to come round to your way of thinking) Do you believe in God? if not would you prefer to be called an atheist? Why is that different from 'Kuffar' except one sounds foreign and the other one doesn't?
Also why do you think you should censor what Muslims can and cannot hear and read? Is it because you want to be able to manipulate muslims? If it is within the law then I really can't see what the problem is unless you are one of those who wants to create racist hysteria by saying that there is one.
(25)
2007-01-18 18:22:51
Northern Cross:
In answer to Africana, the Catholic Church came out strongly opposed to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and staunchly allied itself (in America) with other anti-war groups. And in fact, priests still often speak out against Bush frequently and a number of issues, including Iraq. That being said, the U.S. did not initiate this war for the purpose of furthering Christianity but because Bush believed that a *secular* Western-style society should replace Saddam.
BTW, did you people know that Muslims kill Muslims in much greater numbers in Iraq than Americans kill Muslims there? Not only that, but also Muslims kill Muslims in Iraq than they kill Americans. Kinda makes you wonder why these so-called extremists in the West are angrier with Westerners than with their fellow Muslims...
(26)
2007-01-18 19:19:49
Shazy:
The claim that no non-Muslims have condemned the war in Iraq by Africana is an affront to the thousands of people who have opposed the war in this country and elsewhere.
Groups like Respect and ISM composed primarily of non-Muslims. Africana should remember that it has been US & UK non-Muslims that have been at the forefront of championing Human Rights around the world. Amnesty was founded in UK by primarily Christians. It has been the non-Muslim West that has provided safe havens for Muslims threatened by vicious regimes. If we make fasle allegations against the people, form other communities, who actually do try to safeguard our communities - we do nothing more than alienate them from us and provide an open venue for extremists.
(27)
2007-01-18 20:43:18
infidel:
The 'muslim community' isn't going to lift a finger to do anything about the problem of extremism in their mosques because extremism in mosques is not the exception: its the norm.
This documentary will simply fuel their 'victim' mentality and, I predict, will only be used as a tool to continue the spread of wahabism. Muslims always like to claim they are being 'oppressed'. What they mean by this is not what we in the West understand as 'oppression'. What they mean is resistance by non-muslims to conversion to islam. If you refuse to convert you are 'oppressing' them. You are preventing their borg like spread of islam. This documentary gets in the way of spreading islam, so its 'oppressive'. Nothing will change. If, a year from now, Channel 4 goes back to these same mosques they will see exactly the same ting. In fact I predict what they will find is an even more strident and virulent islam.
(28)
2007-01-21 17:51:27
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The Channel 4 Dispatches documentary on Monday 15th January (8-9pm) will no doubt be one of the most talked about documentaries on Muslims for some time. It was an eye opener and a real sting for the Muslim community as the documentary, which 