Now, nearly every day, there is a new attack on a Mosque, Islamic school or Muslim individual as a result of the killing in Woolwich, London. This has generated a lot of anxiety amongst Muslims and is stoking tension between communities.
The Muswell Hill Islamic Centre was burnt down and many Mosques have been attacked because some people are falling for the lie that Mosques, Madrasahs and Islamic societies are somehow responsible for the Woolwich killing.
After Woolwich, there is heightened tension, anger and questions. Instead of genuinely addressing the causes of that event – some hate preachers saw it as an opportunity to further their agenda.
Prime Minster Cameron spoke in parliament and told the country that Mosques and some Islamic institutions are somehow responsible. He failed to bring one example of a Mosque that says it is OK to kill someone on the streets of Britain. Tony Blair – dripping with the blood of countless Iraqis – came out and said, “There is a problem within Islam,” and Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, wrote in the Telegraph that believing in basic Islamic concepts; Shariah, Khilafah, Jihad and Ummah are what lead to Woolwich.
The anti-Muslim group, the English Defence League (EDL) has also organised demonstrations in various parts of the country chanting anti-Muslims slogans. This has lead to Muslims feeling intimidated in various areas. While the EDL’s anti-Muslim rants may be dismissed by some – because many of them are seen as thugs – the statements of Blair, Cameron and Johnson are far more potent in poisoning the minds of our non-Muslim neighbours and colleagues. Some of the politicians and the EDL are united in preaching the same message that ‘Islam is the problem’ that lead to the Woolwich killing.
Weeks before the July 2005 London bombings, the government’s Joint Terrorism Analysis Committee warned it that its invasion of Iraq would serve “… as motivation and a focus of a range of terrorist related activity in the U.K.” Yet this government, and the one before it try to hide the uncomfortable fact that its occupations and use of drones are fundamental factors generating the anger that someone then reacted to. Despite that fact, the government seeks to put the blame and focus for Woolwich – solely on the Muslim community. This allows it to shut down debate about its colonial foreign policy. This allows it to state that the subsequent measures must be directed at Islamic institutions.
أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested.”
(Al-Ankabut, 29:2)
In Surah Ankabut, Allah سبحانه وتعالى reminds us that life is a test. In these testing times, we have to be the responsible ones. We have to act Islamically. That means we do not go out stoking tension. That means making sure that Muslims know how to channel the anger generated by the UK government’s foreign policy. That means constantly challenging the government’s lies the Islamic institutions are somehow responsible for Woolwich.
Our neighbours, colleagues and co-workers are not the government. They are the people whose minds the government is attempting to poison – so we must challenge the poisonous narrative they are being fed. How?
1) In discussions, point out the fallacy of the government’s arguments that its Islam, not its foreign policy
2) Call in to radio stations like BBC 5 Live or LBC when they discuss Islam and Woolwich
3) Write to newspapers and comment on articles peddling the government’s false narrative
4) Invite non-Muslims to Mosque Open days so they see what really goes on in such places
We have to challenge the government’s narrative. We have to challenge the preachers of hate. We have to engage with the wider public and explain Islam to them.
Taji Mustafa
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Britain