The exposure of one faux-moderate as an extremist creates a domino effect. You just watch for the statements of outrage, and of support for the poor maligned nutter, and you uncover their constituency.
So it is with Daud Abdullah.
First out of the trap is, of course, the Islamic Forum Europe: a front for the clerical fascist south Asian party, Jamaat-e-Islami, that operates from the East London Mosque:
The Observer on Sunday ran an inflammatory piece claiming Dr Daud Abdullah, Deputy Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) “One of the UK’s most influential Islamic leaders, who has helped counter extremism in the country’s mosques, is accused of advocating attacks on the Royal Navy if it tries to stop arms for Hamas being smuggled into Gaza.”
Not only is it preposterous to allege that one of the foremost Muslim leaders of the international campaign for peace and justice could advocate violence, but to further it by saying he is “facing calls for his resignation” is completely unacceptable. The only calls of resignation appear to come from the government which is trying to meddle in the structures and workings of legitimate and democratic grassroots organisations like the Muslim Council of Britain.
We the undersigned attest to the irrefutable fact that Dr Daud Abdullah has been a leading voice condemning terrorism wherever it transpires, making him a hate figure within extremist circles; Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Dr Abdullah was democratically elected by the membership of MCB, with over 500 organisations and nobody besides the MCB electorate can oust him. It is unacceptable that the government would choose to undermine this democratic process based on media reports.
The witch-hunt by the government against individuals and organisations which do not tow the government line is unacceptable. It is clear that these attacks on leading figures from the mainstream British Muslim community is nothing short of retribution for the incredible loss and humiliation suffered by Israel during its criminal attacks on Gaza.
We believe the government is pursuing a draconian policy against Muslims and the case of Dr Daud Abdullah is just one of many. Our support is with Dr Abdullah and we will continue to support him as an elected and chosen leader within the MCB and wider afield.
But wait – although this is branded as a IFE press release – it is signed by:
The Coalition of British Muslim Organisations Concerned with the Rights of the Palestinian People (aka Gaza Group)
And then there’s a telephone number:
07899 806 000
That turns out to belong to the senior Muslim Brotherhood honcho …
So we know that Jamaat-e-Islami and Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood are in full solidarity with Daud Abdullah, who supports “attacks on the Royal Navy if it tries to stop arms for Hamas being smuggled into Gaza”
But who else belongs to the Coalition of British Muslim Organisations Concerned with the Rights of the Palestinian People?
I’d love to know.
UPDATE
And now I do know.
Here is a press release on the Muslim Council of Britain website. Its purpose is to “express the gratitude of British Muslims to the government and people of Turkey”. And it is on the letterhead of:
Coalition of British Muslim Organisations Concerned With the Rights of the Palestinian People
The signatories of the letter are:
1. Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham
2. Dr Daud Abdullah, Muslim Council of Britain & Chair of the Coalition.
3. Mohammad Sawalha, British Muslim Initiative
4. Dr Arafat Madi, Palestinian Return Centre
5. Dilwar Hussain Khan, Secretary-General, Islamic Forum of Europe
6. Mohamed Ali, Islam Channel
7. Faisal Hanjera, Federation of Student Islamic Societies
8. Mawlana Mowdud Hasan, Da’watul Islam
9. Dr Hafiz al-Karmi, Palestinian Forum in Britain
10. Sayed Ferjani, Muslim Association of Britain
Sawalha and Abdullah both signed the shameful statement from the Turkish conference, calling for jihad against peacekeepers in Gaza. Mohammed Ali is a convicted terrorist.
So, here are my questions.
1. Is Lord Ahmed – a Labour Peer – a member of the Coalition of British Muslim Organisations Concerned With the Rights of the Palestinian People?
2. Was Lord Ahmed aware that the Coalition of British Muslim Organisations Concerned With the Rights of the Palestinian People consisted of Jamaat-e-Islami and Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood, working together?
3. Will Lord Ahmed now disassociate himself from the Coalition of British Muslim Organisations Concerned With the Rights of the Palestinian People, and condemn the jihadist resolution, signed up to by Abdullah and Sawalha?
UPDATE2
And, surprise surprise – MPACuk have also joined the fray:
This week Daud Abdullah was attacked by Zionists for supporting the Palestinians. Calls by Islamophobes and Zionists have demanded he resign from the MCB, with articles appearing on Zionist blogs attacking him. True to form, most ISOC emirs, instead of coming out in support of him are organising their pointless talks on Jinn or the beauty of menstruation.
The Beauty of Menstruation?
