Read the full letter here
A damning statement released by the London Muslim Community Forum yesterday, on behalf of a staggering 1,214 Muslim organisations across the United Kingdom and Europe, castigates the Zionist state of ‘Israel’ for its reprehensible actions towards Islam’s third-holiest site, Masjid al-Aqsa, and the Palestinian people, who are suffering under bombardment from the apartheid state’s military. [1]
More than 1,200 masājid, including Britain’s largest—the East London Mosque—together with professional collectives including the Association of Muslim Lawyers and the Muslim Engineers Network, countless centres of education, and community centres have all united to “strongly condemn the recent attacks by Israel and its Israeli Defense Force (IDF) against the Palestinian population both in Sheikh Jarrah and Al Aqsa Mosque.” [1]
The signatories to the letter, entitled Al Aqsa, illegal evictions and the bombing of Gaza, begin by expressing their fury at the Israeli occupation forces and their “impunity using violence against Muslims who wish to pray at Al Aqsa Mosque.”
The letter continues:
“The most recent incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque, which is the third holiest site for almost 2 billion Muslims across the world during the holy month of Ramadhan, resulted in over 300 Palestinians being injured. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, more than 228 people were hospitalised, many with wounds to their face and eyes from the IDF’s use of stun guns and grenade fragments on an unarmed civilian population.” [1]
Since occupation forces raided Masjid al-Aqsa at the tail end of the blessed month of Ramaḍān, there has been a persistent global call to activism to expose the Zionist state for its true colours. This has been juxtaposed with the world’s mainstream media continuing their feeble efforts at perpetuating falsehoods and reporting in a biased manner in the hopes of garnering support for ‘Israel’.
Countless celebrities, sportspeople, professionals, government officials, and legislators across the world have been picking up the baton and running circles around the Israeli propaganda machine, leaving it in the dust whilst the truth of the dire situation in Palestine is laid bare on social media and in wider society. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The 17th May statement adds:
“There are currently 19 families who are threatened with evictions in Sheikh Jarrah. Many of these families lost their homes in 1948 and moved to homes in Sheikh Jarrah, which were built for them by UNWRA. This breach of international law cannot continue unchecked. We demand that the International Community including our Government led by Boris Johnson condemn without reservation, the actions by the State of Israel.” [1]
In highlighting Israel’s horrendous record at the UN, the letter’s signatories further note:
“In 2018, Israel received 21 out of 27 UN condemnations for violating the basic human rights of Palestinians. There is no other country in the world that acts with such belligerence than the State of Israel against an unarmed civilian population, which it continues to occupy in breach of UN Resolutions.” [1]
The sense of anger and frustration felt amongst the hundreds of Muslim organisations in the collective statement is rounded off in a concise conclusion: the British media is asked to remember that it was the Zionists who orchestrated and ultimately perpetuated (and continue to perpetuate) violence and destruction against the Palestinians. The signatories argue:
“The UK media need to be reminded that Israel attempted to evict people from Sheikh Jarrah and when Palestinians protested against these illegal evictions, the Israelis attacked Al Aqsa Mosque whilst Palestinians were praying during the holiest month of the Muslim calendar.”
“This was in retaliation for the protests, continuing Israel’s long history of collective punishment of the Palestinians. The occupied can never be equal to the occupier. This is not a war of equals; these are murderous crimes against humanity. The occupation must be brought to an end. The world cannot continue to sit idly by whilst an oppressive occupier continues its decades long occupation in breach of UN resolutions.” [1]
The full list of signatories is as follows:
- London Muslim Community Forum
- Muslim Voice for Peace
- Finsbury Park Mosque, London
- Al Manaar Mosque, London
- Mohammed Shafiq, CEO, Ramadhan Foundation
- Shaykh Muhammad Umar, Chairman, Ramadhan Foundation
- Imran Shah, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK)
- Shoaib Malik, Muslim Action Forum
- Imam Muhammad Qasim Qadri, Jami Masjid Ghawth A’azam Muslim Foundation, Nottingham
- Imam Khalid Hussain Ashrafi, Jamia Sufiya, Leicester
- Imam Hafiz Muhammad Mahroof, Warrington Islamic Association
- Allama Zafar Mahmood Farashwi, Al-Jamiat Al-Karimia, Manchester
- Imam Mahin Sayied, Warrington Islamic Centre
- Hafiz Muhammad Ali, Warrington Islamic Centre
- Hafiz Zahid Ali Khan, Warrington Islamic Centre
- Warrington Islamic Centre, Warrington
- East London Mosque
- Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid, Newham, London
- Masjid-e-Tauheed, Manor Park, London
- Al-Hira Educational Centre, London
- Federation of Redbridge Muslim Organisations (FORMO), London (20 organisations)
- Markaz Ud Dawat Wal Irshad, East Ham
- General Secretary, Mohammed Ilyas, Waltham Forest Islamic Association
- Abdul Aziz Chisti, General Secretary, Markazi Jamat e Ahle Sunnat (UK and Europe) (1,000 organisations)
- Hafiz Husnat Qadri, Darul Uloom Qadria Jilania
- Haji Mohammad Sadiq, Chairman, Mosque and Islamic Centre of Brent
- Parents United, Redbridge
- Association of Muslim Lawyers
- Worthing Islamic Social and Welfare Society, West Sussex
- Imamia Mission East London (UK)
- Majlis e Ulama e Shia (Europe) (59 organisations)
- Newham Muslim Alliance, London (45 organisations)
- Luton Council of Mosques (LCM) (25 mosques)
- Sunni Council of Mosques (SCM), Luton (11 mosques)
- Newham North Islamic Association, London
- UKIM Masjid Ibrahim & Islamic Centre, Plaistow
- Al Noor Foundation
- Aisha Ali-Khan, Women United
- Ebu Bekir Tezgel, Senior Imam, Aziziye Mosque
- Shahjalal Mosque, Manor Park Islamic Cultural Centre, London
- Ghulam Minhas, Trustee, Anjuman-e-Islamia Newham
- Masjid-E-Umer, Walthamstow, London
- Muslim Engineers Network
- Masjid-e-Quba, London
- North London Muslim Community Centre
- Madina Masjid, E5, London
- Munaf Zeena, Muslim Jewish Forum
- Forest Gate Mosque, Newham, London
- Darul Jannah Trust and Stratford Muslim Centre, Newham, London
- Central Park Education & Welfare, Newham, London
- Masjid Alnoor, Barking, London
- East End Islamic Centre, Newham, London
- Masjid Ul Hidayah, Manor Park, Newham, London
- Indian Muslim Federation (IMF), Newham, London
- Masjid Al-Hikmah, Upton Park, Newham, London
- Masjid Al-Humera, London
- Leytonstone Islamic Association
- Indian Muslim Federation (IMF), UK
- Voice for Newham, London
Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] Joint Muslim Statement on attacks against Palestinians
[2] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/unrelenting-global-support-rings-out-for-palestine/
[4] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/we-only-die-once-turkeys-call-to-arms-to-protect-jerusalem/
Shaheer is a regular contributor for Islam21c. He maintains a strong interest in current affairs, as well as the changing global conditions of Muslim populations. Prior to joining Islam21c, he developed a number of years’ experience in the health and social care sector and has previously volunteered at the Muslim Youth Helpline.