Telegraph criticise Manchester University Press for publishing book edited by CAGE Research Director

Manchester University Press have been criticised for publishing a book edited by Dr Asim Qureshi, the research director of the UK-based advocacy organisation CAGE. [1]

The forthcoming book, titled I Refuse to Condemn: Resisting Racism in Times of National Security, is edited by Dr Qureshi and features a collection of essays from a wide range of individuals, including Ireland-based lawyer Fahad Ansari, spoken word poet Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, and rapper Lowkey, to name a few.

Ordering this now. It sounds amazing. Contains pieces by @thebrownhijabi @Lowkey0nline and @aamer_rahman https://t.co/JXE1gJJTBD

— Nikesh Shukla (@nikeshshukla) July 4, 2020

The fearmongering tactics towards the book are thought to have been conjured up by the UK Government’s counter-extremism commissioner Sara Khan and the think-tank Quilliam, which The Telegraph are hoping to use as a hook to try and undermine the book.

Sara Khan has criticised the move as giving legitimacy to a group whose “senior leaders have advocated supporting violent jihad overseas.”

Khan added:

“Groups like CAGE use the guide of ‘freedom of speech’, ‘rule of law’ and ‘anti-racism’, but it is the Commission’s view that when CAGE’s activism, belief and behaviours and examined closely, these values are in fact a cover to legitimise their divisive activism.”

Furthermore, the policy director of Quilliam, David Toube, said that CAGE has a “long and disturbing track record of rallying support for dangerous terrorists.” Toube further added that the decision by the Manchester University Press to publish the book was a “slap in the face” for the victims killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.

A spokesman for Manchester University Press has responded to those who have “misunderstood the book’s message” and has made it clear “to anyone in doubt that MUP’s reaction to the Manchester Arena bombing has been in solidarity with our city.”

The book “explains how the expectation to condemn has emerged, tracking it against the normalisation of racism, and explores how writers manage to subvert expectations as part of their commitment to anti-racism.”[2]

The publisher’s spokesman further commented saying that the book was not a defence of violent criminals but an “examination of society’s expectations around an appropriate response from innocent people of colour unconnected with extremists except for similarities of race or religion.”

He added:

“The book holds that a refusal to condemn an individual or their actions cannot and should not be interpreted as support for that person or their conduct.”

The Telegraph has decided to run a story today about @AsimCP’s upcoming edited book where I & others have shared our thoughts on racism & resistance. The piece is a complete and utter trite.@ManchesterUP have 50% off the book right now. Use the code: resistracism https://t.co/wxwBatugHn

— Fatima Rajina (@DrFatimaRajina) July 5, 2020

A spokesman from CAGE commented that the aforementioned individuals have been extremely zealous in their criticism of a book that has not yet been published, demonstrating “their obsession with censoring opinions critical of state policies” as well as “suppressing freedom of expression”.

In light of the attacks leading up to its November 2020 release later this year, the Manchester University Press has responded by offering a 50% discount for pre-orders of the book. To purchase a copy, use the discount code ‘resistracism’ at checkout by clicking here.

https://twitter.com/wawisloyola/status/1279706920711081985

Media outlets like The Times and The Telegraph continue to smear mainstream Muslim organisations, instigate suspicion, and promote fearmongering. These outlets have again proven they lack the basic requirements and conditions for accurate journalism and truth in reporting.

It is therefore not shocking to see that The Telegraph has yet again published a story that smears  and demonises the likes of the advocacy group CAGE.

Only last week, the right-wing paper The Times was accused of fabricating facts about CAGE after “a number of factual inaccuracies” were found in a piece authored by John Simpson. [3]

The article has since been removed from The Times website. In the past, outlets such as The Times have had to issue several retractions and apologies to Muslims.

In early July last year, Sheikh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad came out triumphant in his three-year battle against The Telegraph over fabricated statements attributed to him. The newspaper launched their character assassination on the prominent UK Imam and academic in 2015, in a series of articles that claimed that Sheikh Haitham had described Jews as “the descendants of apes and pigs” and “the brethren of swine and pigs.” [4]

In reality, the statements were completely made up, as these were words that Sheikh Haitham had never said.

The Telegraph has since retracted its statement and published a full apology. The newspaper was ordered by the High Court to pay £62,500 towards Sheikh Haitham’s legal costs.

Source: www.islam21c.com

Notes:

[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/04/manchester-university-press-criticised-publishing-book-linked/

[2] https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526151476/?fbclid=IwAR1DKbJ3mH6-t6yM0PjBUhK8EqUJ3eLuFvfZM2biuTNYCEmvDW52a4ymlbM

[3] https://www.cage.ngo/the-times-fabricates-facts-about-cage

[4] https://saracenssolicitors.co.uk/litigation/telegraph-apologises-and-pays-out-in-al-haddad-apes-and-pigs-libel-claim