We recently received a report from the person who has been the main mover in the production of a report on the Reading Movement for Muslims against Extremism in the Reading Area. It conclusions can be viewed on the next pages  of this web-site home page.

Posted on 20/07/08

The two radio broadcasts below do seem to encapsulate many of  the concerns currently about the Muslim faith. To what extent do these factors apply in Reading?

BBC Radio 4 Today Programme 18/07/08

0750am

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Azzam Tamimi of the IIPT, on new plans to prevent extremism.

Can be listened to (9 mins) on Listen again

The government’s strategy to prevent extremism will involve creating a theological board of leading Imams and Muslim women who will rule on controversial issues affecting Muslims in Britain, in an attempt to sideline violent extremists. The community’s secretary Hazel Blears says that communities must be at the centre of the response to violent extremism.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7513000/7513063.stm

Sunday Program (20/07/08) FOLLOW UP by Roger Bolton. this also can be listened to on Listen again but the transcript below was thought worth doing.

IB = Inayat Bunglawala RB = Roger Bolton

RB : On Friday the government launched a package of measures which it said was in response to calls from British Muslims.” The aim” said Community Secretary Hazel Blears “was to support the promotion of citizenship and shared values and to stop Islamic theology being abused by those who seek to divide communities.”
At first it seemed to have the support of the Muslim Council of Britain. The chair of its interfaith Relationships committee Sheik Ibraham Mogra broadly welcomed the proposals when interviewed on the today program but then the council issued a statement saying they would view the creation of a government funded board of Islamic Theologies with deep reservation, saying that it almost certainly lacked the credibility to succeed

Certainly at Didsbury Mosque in Manchester later on Friday, there was considerable scepticism about the proposal.

Interviewee 1 We do not need the government to tell us how to become a Muslim. They cannot teach us something which they are not. We know what we need to do .They are not here to help us. They cannot teach us anything new. In fact they are very hypocritical of them for what they have done and are doing now, to turn round and blame the extremist

Interviewee 2 I think if the individual takes his own view then there is way of stopping it. There is no way of diverting his attention by providing a different kind of support. If the individual wants to be extreme then I cannot see no way in which you can stop him.

Interviewee 3 I think there is too much focus on Islam at the moment within the media. I mean, Every small thing is scrutinised. Initiatives like this undermine Muslims.

From Didsbury mosque on Friday

RB : I am now joined by a spokesperson of the Muslim Council of Great Britain Inayat Bunglawala Good Morning. Who really speaks for the Muslim Council, Sheik Ibrahm Mogra or you?

IB : No Imam Mogra is a very close colleague of mine on the Muslim council of Britain. I respect and love him very much and I spoke with him after the today programme he did on Friday and he explained to me what he was trying to say was that he very much hoped that this Board of Theologians was a community driven project but the fact is we know in fact this is an entirely government led In fact we have been speaking to mosques around the country and we cannot identify a single mosque that has been involved with anyone in the government over discussions about this.

RB :I listened to Sheik the broadcast on R4 toady program He welcomed that proposals and if and only if it were expenses that were paid this was a good and important initiative. Did he speak out of turn without having the mandate of the Muslim Council?

IB : Well In that same Interview Imam Mogram made it clear that he had deep reservations of this project if it was seen to have any government involvement. In fact we now know that this has been entirely the creature of the community and local Government dept. The department headed by Hazel Blears. It is that scepticism about a government led initiative that will really mean it is a non-starter right from the very beginning. Your interviewees outside Didsbury made it very clear. I mean the government has a very negative reputation amongst many young Muslims and a project that is initiated by them will simply not succeed at the moment.

RB : But Have you no sympathy for what the government is attempting to do? Because clearly what is seeing is that some and only some in the Muslim community have an interpretation of Islam which is encouraged or is drawn upon by some people who then go out and commit atrocities in the name of Islam. Have you no sympathy for the idea of trying to ensure that the young Muslims developing in this country have access to a much wider interpretation of Islam.

IB : Well Roger that discussion takes place all the time. I mean our Imams are constantly teaching young people the need to live up to their faith and also be good citizens and that we have rights but also important responsibilities to other citizen.

RB : Some people would say that you may be doing that but we still have a significant problem. There are a large number of plots apparently which do derive some support within the Muslim community and are driven by those who believe their interpretation of Islam said they should do these things. There is a continuing problem.

IB : Yes Roger but these people who are extremist minded and who harbour evil thoughts against their fellow members of society are not being influenced by these Imams. They are clearly deriving their influence from other sources whether it is the internet or people they meet in trips overseas. We must really look at these proposals from the government. It seems to us a suggestion like this can only give strength to the extremist. This is a government meddling in the autonomous affairs of Muslims

RB : You could say that it is a government taking an interest which it has to do and also that it is primarily responsible for the safety of its peoples.

IB : No it will be seen as unwarranted interference. Remember debate takes place constantly. It is not a monolithic community. It is very diverse – they have many different interpretations. And people are constantly looking which parts of the faith are eternal which parts of the faith are really culturally more relevant to the 17^th century Arabia.

RB : Well Hazel Blears said the aim was “to support the promotion of citizenship and shared values and to stop Islamic theology being abused by those who seek to divide communities.” You disagree with the way she is going about it but are you saying it is unnecessary?

IB : If it were a community driven initiative that would be the world of difference but then it would be owned by the community. But the very taint of government involvement will mean that it will be seen as a poisoned chalice right from the start. It is potentially a good idea which has been smothered by government involvement.

Inayat Bunglawala, Thank you very much