Author: Duncan Gardham
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: August 5, 2010
URL: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7928377/Mainstream-Islamic-organisations-share-al-Qaeda-ideology.html
Many apparently mainstream Muslim groups have
the same ideology as violent Islamists, according to a secret report from
the think tank Quilliam.
The report, sent to the government's Office
for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT), was not intended for publication
but has now been leaked on the internet.
Entitled "Preventing terrorism, where
next for Britain?" it says the ideology of non-violent Islamists is "broadly
the same as that of violent Islamists" adding "they disagree only
on tactics."
It produces a list of those it believes are
"non-violent Islamists" and adds: "These are a selection of
the various groups and institutions active in the UK which are broadly sympathetic
to Islamism.
"Whilst only a small proportion will
agree with al-Qaeda's tactics, many will agree with their overall goal of
creating a single 'Islamic state' which would bring together all Muslims around
the world under a single government and then impose on them a single interpretation
of sharia as state law."
The document adds that if the government engages
with such groups "it risks empowering proponents of the ideology, if
not the methodology, that is behind terrorism."
Quilliam argues that the government needs
to move beyond tackling those who advocate violent extremism to target those
that espouse similar but non-violent views.
Their views are thought to hold sway as the
Coalition conducts a major review of the government's Prevent counter-terrorism
strategy.
A Home Office spokesman said the report had
not been solicited but added: "We believe the Prevent programme isn't
working as effectively as it could and want a strategy that is effective and
properly focused - that is why we are reviewing it."
The list sent to the OSCT includes a unit
within Scotland Yard called the Muslim Contact Unit and another independent
group designed to improve the relationship between the police and the Muslim
community called the Muslim Safety Forum.
It also includes the Muslim Council of Britain,
one of the main groups representing Muslims in Britain, and its rival the
Muslim Association of Britain.
Other groups on the list are the Islamic Human
Rights Commission, the Federation of Student Islamic Societies and the Cordoba
Foundation.
Quilliam also singles out the Islam Channel,
a satellite TV channel which has been the subject of one of their reports.
Among the mosques identified are Finsbury
Park mosque in North London, formerly run by the extremist preacher Abu Hamza
but now under new management, along with East London Mosque and Birmingham
Central mosque.
Politicians described as "Islamist backed"
include Salma Yaqoob, leader of the Respect Party, and the former Respect
MP George Galloway.
Inayat Bunglawala, chairman of Muslims4Uk
and a former spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, claimed the list
was "like something straight out of a Stasi manual" referring to
the former East German secret police.
He added: "In effect, Quilliam - a body
funded very generously by the government through Prevent - are attempting
to set themselves up as arbiters of who is and is not an acceptable Muslim.
"Their document specifically contains
a McCarthy-type list of large and established Muslim organisations that they
regard as suspect and smears them as being 'Islamists'."
The Metropolitan Police said they were proud
of the Muslim Contact Unit which had "carried out ground-breaking work
and raised understanding within the counter-terrorism community of the issues
facing Muslim communities."
A spokesman added: "The unit's work involves
regular meetings with a wide range of individuals and groups to provide advice
and guidance, to hear their concerns and to provide a channel by which these
can then be communicated to other sections of the Metropolitan Police."
Maajid Nawaz co-director of Quilliam told
the Daily Telegraph: "Quilliam has a track record of distinguishing between
legal tolerance and civil tolerance - we oppose banning non-violent extremists...yet
we see no reason why tax payers should subsidise them. It is in this context
that we wish to raise awareness around Islamism."
