Although the news has not been confirmed, we have come to learn that Azad Ali, the Islamist civil servant who was suspended from his job in HM Treasury for publishing anti-British and pro-jihadi views on the Islamic Forum Europe (IFE) blog is, according to Inayat Bunglawala’s site IEngage, “back at work”.
I discussed Azad Ali’s pro-jihadi views which were published in an article called “Defeating extremism by promoting balance”. In that blog entry, Ali promoted the ideologies of two violent-jihadi extremists, Abdullah Azzam and Anwar al-Awlaki. Ali’s thesis is very simple: Terrorism is not jihad. However, fighting British troops where they are occupying ‘Muslims lands’ such as Iraq and Afghanistan represents a proper and “balanced” form of justice and therefore a justified execution of the jihad doctrine.
This was glorification of jihad, pure and simple. The fact that his article (which is still up by the way) enjoined Muslims to fight British troops on a blog hosted by the IFE, a Jamaati Islami front organisation, while in the capacity of a British civil servant raised enough alarm bells within government to the point where he was suspended. Let’s not forget Azad Ali has huge influence in radicalised muslim circles within the Bangladeshi community in the East End.
At the time, Azad Ali’s other capacities were consultative roles with the Metropolitan Police on the strength of his involvement with organisations such as the Muslim Safety Forum.
He was also a senior member of the Civil Service Islamic Society who remained silent on the matter of his suspension.
Of course, being “back at work” is not the same as having your name cleared of expounding dangerous jihadi, anti-semitic and anti-state views. It could simply mean the period of suspension is over.
The fact that an individual with his views is still allowed to work for government is disasppointing. If there was a situation whereby a BNP thug held a job in HM Treasury, whilst blogging on the BNP site about the efficacy of compulsory deportation and the use of violence against racial minorities, I wonder whether the protaganist would have recieved a more serious form of punishment than a mere suspension.
We await to see if Azad is reinstated in his previous roles in the Civil Service Islamic Society and the Muslim Safety Forum.
We also look forward to more pearls of muddle-headed Islamist wisdom in his capacity as a blogger for the Islamic Forum Europe.
35 Comments
” Ali’s thesis is very simple: Terrorism is not jihad.”
This isnt a thesis. this is Islamic teaching
As Abdul Hakim Murad said ” Terrorism is to jihad what adultery is to marriage.”
“However, fighting British troops where they are occupying ‘Muslims lands’ such as Iraq and Afghanistan represents a proper and “balanced” form of justice and therefore a justified execution of the jihad doctrine.”
International law and basic human fairness allow people to defend themselves from armies that have invaded their land. Perhaps international law should be investigated for “jihadism”.
You are basically saying everyone has a right to defend themselves from invading armies. Except Muslims.
When the Russians invaded Afghanistan Thatcher and Reagan enthuisastically supported the mujahideen in fighting them . Perhaps they should be called “jihadis”
“The fact that his article (which is still up by the way) enjoined Muslims to fight British troops on a blog hosted by the IFE, a Jamaati Islami front organisation, ”
You hate JI because they opposed Bangladeshi independence . Fair enough. They were wrong to do so. But ironically you are arguing that the Bangladeshis were wrong to fight against the Pakistani armies (who were of course not even a foreign army but their own countries army) who invaded their land.
“Of course, being “back at work” is not the same as having your name cleared of expounding dangerous jihadi, anti-semitic and anti-state views. It could simply mean the period of suspension is over.”
“anti-state views”!!! haha are you a Stalinist?
Dont you support East Pakistanis fighting against the Pakistani state to create Bangladesh and also support those who fought the British in India? so arent you guilty of “anti-state” views. Likewise your zionist friends who supported zionists attacks on British troops
“Ali promoted the views of two violent-jihadi Islamists Abdullah Azzam and Anwar al-Awlaki.”
Dont you mean “Ronald Reagan and the Republican party”
“In the 1980s, Azzam traveled throughout the Middle East, Europe and North America, including 50 cities in the United States, to raise money and preach about jihad. ”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_Azzam
As Abdul Hakim Murad said ” Terrorism is to jihad what adultery is to marriage.”
Thank you for that but Azad Ali does not finish at that point, he goes on to explain what kind of jihad is justifiable. Azad Ali is also a Anwar al-Awlaki fanboy and al-Awlaki is on record for saying Muslims should kill Jewish women and children. Don’t tell me you believe that is “Islamic teaching”.
You hate JI because they opposed Bangladeshi independence . Fair enough. They were wrong to do so. But ironically you are arguing that the Bangladeshis were wrong to fight against the Pakistani armies (who were of course not even a foreign army but their own countries army) who invaded their land.
JI just “opposed Bangladeshi independence” did they? Is that what they call rape and genocide of Muslims in Islamist circles, do they? You seem to forget that the JI, like you and your friend Azad Ali, used “Islamic teaching” to justify a genocide of over 2 million Muslims and Hindus in Bangladesh. They justified their massacre of innocents in the name of jihad and Islamic Statehood. These ideas are at the root of Jamaati Islami, for whom Azad Ali works in the UK.
Bangladesh rejected the Islamic state constitutionally as a result of this massacre at the hands of other Muslims. The irony you suggest isn’t irony. A more fitting irony would be if a Pakistani soldier led a campaign against Pakistani troops suggesting that killing them on Bangladeshi was “balanced Jihad”. Did that ever happen? No. But that’s the ironic parallel with Azad Ali, who sits in the UK, enjoys all its advantages and compels Muslims to fight British soldiers.
“You seem to forget that the JI, like you and your friend Azad Ali,”
I have already categorically stated I am not JI, never have been and never will be (I consider Maududi a non scholar some of whose writings are heretical) and that I agree with the independence of Bangladesh.
And Azad Ali probably wasnt even born when the 1971 war started.
This was nearly 40 years ago. Get over it
Your comments make as much sense as blaming David Cameron for Suez.
You are also a hypocrite because you support fellow Bengalis taking up arms when denied the democratic right to independent Bangladesh but oppose Kashmiris and Chechens doing likewise
“. They justified their massacre of innocents in the name of jihad and Islamic Statehood.”
And you in the name of secularism and fighting “Islamists”
“Bangladesh rejected the Islamic state constitutionally as a result of this massacre at the hands of other Muslims. The irony you suggest isn’t irony. A more fitting irony would be if a Pakistani soldier led a campaign against Pakistani troops suggesting that killing them on Bangladeshi was “balanced Jihad”. Did that ever happen? No. But that’s the ironic parallel with Azad Ali, who sits in the UK, enjoys all its advantages and compels Muslims to fight British soldiers.”
I dont at all agree with Ali calling for attacks on British troops (if thats what he did) but are you suggesting its wrong for Iraqis or Afghans to do likewise ?
Your opposition to this has nothing to do with balance (since in other example such as Bangladeshi independence you follow the same reasoning as Azad Ali) but your personal vendetta and demons against JI.
“. A more fitting irony would be if a Pakistani soldier led a campaign against Pakistani troops suggesting that killing them on Bangladeshi was “balanced Jihad”. Did that ever happen? No.”
East Pakistani soldiers led campaigns against Pakistani troops suggesting killing them was part of “Joi Bangla”.
Whats the difference?
And Azad Ali probably wasnt even born when the 1971 war started.
This was nearly 40 years ago. Get over it
Your comments make as much sense as blaming David Cameron for Suez.
I’m sure Jamaat and it’s supporters like yourself wish for nothing more than Muslims to “get over” it’s role in the genocide of Muslims in 1971.
@ me,
You’re telling Faisal to ‘get over’ something that happened 40 years ago when the Islamists are still crying over the Crusades as if they happened yesterday!!! And you’re still moaning like a little weasel about Israel which was created 60 years ago – why don’t you get over it?
Aaah, I love it when the Islamists open their mouths and the stench of pure hypocrisy emanates. I can’t believe you people actually consider yourselves men of God when all you do is lie, cheat and steal.
Back to the topic at hand here, Azad Ali is a disgrace. He’s such a dirty character peddling the most disgusting sectarian and reactionary politics. I saw his blog where he barked insanely at British Muslims who were trying to dampen down some of the anger which festered in London during the Gaza War. It’s fine if people want to oppose what Israel did in Gaza (I thought I should clarify before ‘me’ goes wild) but that does not excuse smashing up Starbucks, trying to storm the Israeli embassy or the persecution of/attacks against Jews. And when some Muslims tried to assist the realisation of those goals, Azad Ali condemned them. What a savage.
Faisal
“I’m sure Jamaat and it’s supporters like yourself wish for nothing more than Muslims to “get over” it’s role in the genocide of Muslims in 1971.”
1) Im not Jamaati . As I have mentioned about 6 times before.
2) Most Muslims have gotten over 1971
Other than that your post was brilliant
Shikwa
“You’re telling Faisal to ‘get over’ something that happened 40 years ago when the Islamists are still crying over the Crusades as if they happened yesterday!!! And you’re still moaning like a little weasel about Israel which was created 60 years ago – why don’t you get over it?”
Ah yes the straw man. I never mentioned the crusades. (nor am I an “Islamist (sic)) . The Palestinian genocide (as Faisal called it) is still ongoing and has been for 60-odd years.
Banglades has the whole of its original land back. The Palestinians at most will get 22% of their land back. If Pakistan still controlled 78% of Bangladesh it might be a valid comparison. Still once there is a a state based on pre 1967 borders for them to still be talking about it 40 years later would be stupid.
To clarify I dont actually object to people in Bangladesh commemorating the genocide- they have a right to. I object to weasels like you using it to help demonise the Muslim community of 3% in this country which is already viciously under atack
Im positive the people who died in the 1971 genocide and Muslims in Bangladesh (and of course it is UK Bengali Muslims you are demonising either directly or indirectly) would concur.
Your continual defence of Israel is fascinating.
“Aaah, I love it when the Islamists open their mouths and the stench of pure hypocrisy emanates. I can’t believe you people actually consider yourselves men of God when all you do is lie, cheat and steal.”
1)Im not an Islamist (sic)
2) You made some statements about the crusades then attributed them to me- then accused me of lying cheating and stealing
mmmmm
Thank you.
1) Your excuses for the crimes of Jamaat suggests that you are. Or you have a very perverse idea of justice.
2) Perhaps but Jamaat is operative is still operative in Bangladesh, Pakistan and in pockets of London.
“the Islamists are still crying over the Crusades as if they happened yesterday!!! ”
Those idiots still think there are western troops occupying Muslim countries in the middle east and Jerusalem is occupied!!!
“1) Your excusing for the crimes of Jamaat suggests that you are. Or you have a very perverse idea of justice.”
Because I think Jammati leaders and everyone else in the world who has committed war crimes should be punished ?
Yet you dont! And you hold someone responsible for something that happened before they were born!!! Where is the justice in that?
“2) Perhaps but Jamaat is operative is still operative in Bangladesh and in pockets of London.”
So why not challenge them in Bangladesh? You only bring harm to Muslims challenging them in the UK
” It’s fine if people want to oppose what Israel did in Gaza (I thought I should clarify before ‘me’ goes wild) but that does not excuse smashing up Starbucks, trying to storm the Israeli embassy or the persecution of/attacks against Jews. And when some Muslims tried to assist the realisation of those goals, Azad Ali condemned them. ”
Good for him. I condemn them too. There is no justification for attacking smashing up Starbucks (as crap as their coffee is) or attacking embassies or people.
I do find the fact you find these worse than the killing of 1300 Palestinians including hundreds of children, the injuring of 5400 and destruction of thousands of homes, offices, mosques and schools indicative of your stance towards Muslim human life. You find destroying a coffe shop worse.
Um… I find the jihad/ terror argument irrelevant – terrorism is just an extension of war, which is why HP going on about Palestinians and terror is plain stupid while they defend the right of Israel to smite the Arabs with missiles, as if there is some kind of moral difference (and ignoring Israel’s foundations in terror).
Treason is actually the word i think is most appropriate – Azad is a British citizen arguing for the killing of British soldiers and sympathising with their foe. In the past he would have at least risked being locked up for that during a time of conflict.
Some Muslims of course place Islam above the nation-state. Azad may believe he is a Muslim before a Briton, but as a British citizen in Britain he is speaking treachery and should be treated accordingly.
Faisal
“The fact that an individual with his views is still allowed to work for government is disasppointing. If there was a situation whereby a BNP thug held a job in HM Treasury, whilst blogging on the BNP site about the efficacy of compulsory deportation and the use of violence against racial minorities, I wonder whether the protaganist would have recieved a more serious form of punishment than a mere suspension.”
Are you seriously comparing deporting/exterminating citizens of a country because of their skin colour with supporting people fighting armies invading their land?
Take the Islam out of it. Say Azad was a British citizen and “Marxist”. British troops are fighting a war against Marxist troops in Russia. Azad, a key member of the British government – indeed an advisor on the Marxist community in the UK – argues that Marxists in Russia are entitled to kill British troops.
Azad may not be a traitor to Marxism, but this is not a Marxist state, it is a British one and Britain is at war with Marxists in Russia. Azad is therefore supporting Britain’s enemies and is a traitor to Britain. That he has kept his job says much about the British state’s inability to understand Islamism, in stark contrast to its understanding of the threat of (real) Marxism.
The British state is both racist and complacent – racist because it sees it as principally a “brown” phenomenon, and that Muslims are not essentially “British”, and complacent because it does not see Islam as threatening as Marxism, which is both true and false – the black flag will never fly above Downing Street, but a failure to take Islamism seriously could lead to a Balkanisation of Britain, one we can already see in the recent success of the BNP.
I do find the fact you find these worse than the killing of 1300 Palestinians including hundreds of children, the injuring of 5400 and destruction of thousands of homes, offices, mosques and schools indicative of your stance towards Muslim human life. You find destroying a coffe shop worse.
I didn’t say I found it worse. Bottom line is, two wrongs don’t make a right. You seem to think it does.
Also, why have you gone so quiet on the other thread where you were barking away about al-Aqsa and then refused to answer my question (despite me asking twice) if you have ever been?
So, I ask you again for the third time – have you ever been to al-Aqsa?
Yet you dont! And you hold someone responsible for something that happened before they were born!!! Where is the justice in that?
Eh? Where am I holding Azad Ali responsible for the genocide in Bangladesh in 1971? Azad Ali is an operative within the IFE which is a Jamaati Islami front working in East London Mosque. Get it right sunshine.
Are you seriously comparing deporting/exterminating citizens of a country because of their skin colour with supporting people fighting armies invading their land?
That’s a false comparison and I think you know it.
Azad Ali is supporting the attack of British soldiers in Iraq while remaining a public servant of Britain employed by the British government. Is that a phenomenon you support?
‘The Palestinian genocide (as Faisal called it) is still ongoing and has been for 60-odd years.’
‘The Palestinians at most will get 22% of their land back.’
Me -To describe what has been happening in Israel, and formerly Palestine, as a ‘genocide’ is to trivialise the terrible genocides which have really taken place in countries such as Rwanda. Israel has not and never has had any intention or desire to eliminate the Palestinian people.
Now I’m not sure where you get that 22% from. I presume you are referring to the original area of the land known as Mandate Palestine, but I’m sure you are aware that before the British Mandate that land belonged to the Ottoman Empire -not the Palestinians. However, the question I would like to ask you is what percentage of their land will the hundreds of thousands of Jews who had to leave all their property in Arab countries get back? My family by marriage, for instance, had land, houses and businesses in Casablanca and Marrakesh for which of course they never received payment or compensation.
Faisal
“Eh? Where am I holding Azad Ali responsible for the genocide in Bangladesh in 1971? Azad Ali is an operative within the IFE which is a Jamaati Islami front working in East London Mosque. Get it right sunshine.”
Faisal
Posted June 27, 2009 at 3:16 pm
“You seem to forget that the JI, like you and your friend Azad Ali, used “Islamic teaching” to justify a genocide of over 2 million Muslims and Hindus in Bangladesh. They justified their massacre of innocents in the name of jihad and Islamic Statehood. These ideas are at the root of Jamaati Islami, for whom Azad Ali works in the UK.”
————————
Faisal
“Azad Ali is supporting the attack of British soldiers in Iraq while remaining a public servant of Britain employed by the British government. Is that a phenomenon you support?”
Cant you read?
me
Posted June 27, 2009 at 3:48 pm
“I dont at all agree with Ali calling for attacks on British troops (if thats what he did) but are you suggesting its wrong for Iraqis or Afghans to do likewise ?”
Sadly while your brain may be small your ego isnt : it’s incapable of admitting to errors so I expect you to resort to some desperate abuse instead, tying yourself in knots or insanely wild accusations . Sad.
So you’ve never been to al-Aqsa then?
What is it with you Islamists always running when you lose a debate/get exposed? We had this with Abd al-Aziz a few weeks ago who ran away once he got humiliated here. Seems to be a trait that runs deep with you lot.
Let me know how using Islamist ideology to justify and idealise the genocide in Bangladesh, which Jamaat, the IFE, Azad Ali and you do with impunity, is the same as holding them responsible for the *actions* of the Jamaat in 1971.
Most of the BNP were not alive in 1948 but that does not stop them from being Hitler worshippers.
Let me know if you still need help getting your head around this one.
Faisal
“Let me know how using Islamist ideology to justify and idealise the genocide in Bangladesh, which Jamaat, the IFE, Azad Ali and you do with impunity, is the same as holding them responsible for the *actions* of the Jamaat in 1971.”
Its official. You are mentally ill.
me
Posted June 27, 2009 at 3:00 pm
“You hate JI because they opposed Bangladeshi independence . Fair enough. They were wrong to do so.”
me
Posted June 27, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I have already categorically stated I am not JI, never have been and never will be (I consider Maududi a non scholar some of whose writings are heretical) and that I agree with the independence of Bangladesh.
me
Posted June 27, 2009 at 6:21 pm
” I think Jammati leaders and everyone else in the world who has committed war crimes should be punished “
Still avoiding the al-Aqsa issue, eh?
I love this blog – we just let the Islamists bark and expose your hypocrisy. Hahahaha.
“Still avoiding the al-Aqsa issue, eh?”
me
Posted June 27, 2009 at 10:11 pm
What ” Al Aqsa debate”? Your laughable assertion that a person can only comment on a country if he’s been there. Your comrades on here have spoken about events in Darfur, East Timor, Pakistan and Iraq. How many have been there ?
“I love this blog – we just let the Islamists bark and expose your hypocrisy. Hahahaha.”
1) Im not an “Islamist” (sic)
2) Your pals comment on places theyve never been to – have you ever been to Iran for example?- so the hypocrisy is yours
3) Your minimizing the atrocities carried out by non Muslims on Muslims and solely focusing on those carried out by Muslims just exposes you.
You hate JI because they opposed Bangladeshi independence . Fair enough. They were wrong to do so
That’s like saying the only crime of the Nazis was that they were mildly anti-semitic. What kind of person would say such a thing?
The fact that you’re intentionally precluding Jamaat’s trangressions and involvement in the genocide of 1971 shows exactly what you’re about.
Haha, ‘me’ finally, you answered the question! Obviously you’re pretty touchy about it because you ducked and evaded the issue all day. I had to ask repeatedly before you answered.
Ok, back to that issue. I never said you have to go somewhere in order to comment on it, you just made that assertion for yourself. The question I asked you is: where are you getting your information from about these so called tunnels? The only place I’ve seen it is in chain emails sent by Islamists. Perhaps you can now tell us on what basis you made the claim that the Israelis are trying to destroy Masjid al-Aqsa? That’s the nub of the issue, and I suspect you haven’t got the guts to answer it because your comments are based on little more than third-hand propaganda someone forwarded to you in an email!
Faisal makes me laugh
He blogs in support of Gert Wilders making a documentary abusing the Quran , the Danish cartoonists and Shelly Jones writing a pornographic book about our mother Aisha (ra) but comes down like a ton of bricks on critics of the British army
So the honour of the British army is more important to him than that of the Quran and the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his wives. (may Allah be pleased with them).
Still avoiding the matter at hand eh?
Shikwa
“Ok, back to that issue. I never said you have to go somewhere in order to comment on it, you just made that assertion for yourself. The question I asked you is: where are you getting your information from about these so called tunnels? The only place I’ve seen it is in chain emails sent by Islamists. Perhaps you can now tell us on what basis you made the claim that the Israelis are trying to destroy Masjid al-Aqsa? That’s the nub of the issue, and I suspect you haven’t got the guts to answer it because your comments are based on little more than third-hand propaganda someone forwarded to you in an email!”
You are aware that East Jerusalem is occupied territory under international law and that Israel doesnt have a right to touch so much of a hair on it (despite which it has been building hundreds of thousands of settlements, destroying Muslim graveyards and Judaising the city)
Ill wait for your defence of your darling Israel
You do want Muslims to control all East Jerusalem dont you Shikwa?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-10-14-digging_N.htm
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/israelis-dig-tunnel-near-temple-mount-1610601.html
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/category/masjid-al-aqsa/
“So the honour of the British army is more important to him than that of the Quran and the Prophet”
I may not know a thing about Bangladesh, but even i can tell that’s avoiding the issue.
I have been to al-Aqsa though!
And slagging off the harmless Shelly Jones betrays your credentials “me”: you are a very silly boy.
Hahahaha, ‘me’, you have really made my weekend. Your total and utter humiliation here has been legendary. Still, I’m sure your mushrif will congratulate you for ‘giving it a go’. Mabruk.
The issue we are discussing is not East Jerusalem or its occupation. What I asked you – and what you are still not answering is – how did you arrive at the conclusion that Israel is tunnelling under masjid al-Aqsa in the hope of destroying it? The truth is, you just take any old second hand piece of propaganda that comes your way. Provided its anti-Israel and confirms your existing prejudices then you are happy to parrot it. That says a lot about your intellectual process and the kind of person you are.
The links you put up to the Independent and USA Today both say tunnelling is going on near al-Aqsa, but not under it. Only the last one, which is some amateur website, say its happening underneath. Come on, you didn’t think I’d fall for your rubbish that easily did you?
So, I ask you again: where did you get the information from that Israel is tunnelling under al-Aqsa with the aim of destabilising and then destroying it?
And tell us the truth here – you didn’t base your original accusations on those reports did you? You just googled that now for our benefit didn’t you? Come on, tell us.
Ps, you’ve been comedy gold this weekend.
Funny thing is Shikwa he actually began relatively normal and as we probed he descended into the usual ‘your all Zionists and Islamaphobes’ nonsense. Is that the Islamist way of debating – when you start losing just shout ‘Zionist’ and start putting words into peoples mouths. No wonder Muslims are so far behind.
Ibn Khaldun
You haven’t seen anything yet. If his commenting career on Pickled Politics (as ‘munir’) is anything to go by, we should see the full gamut of Islamist victimhood, religious supremacism and paranoid racist bigotry encapsulated into one bitter, angry little troll play itself out before us.
Sit back, relax and watch the entertainment from ‘me’/'munir’.
Faisal, I look forward to more of it!
Thing is, these guys always start out nice and normal. That’s how they hope to win you over. But, once you challenge them and they realise they’re not going to be allowed to run around like top dog then they get very angry, animated and decide to attack. The problem is, they don’t have very deep or detailed arguments. So, the second you challenge them, they’re not used to it and they don’t know what to do.
That’s exactly what’s happened with ‘me’ and the al-Aqsa issue. This whole thing about tunnelling under the mosque in the hope of collapsing it is complete rubbish and total Islamist propaganda. When I asked ‘me’ to substantiate his claims he hasn’t been able to. These guys just shoot off their mouths without thinking.
While we’re at it ‘me’, Israeli nurse asked you a question too: which Jewish holy sites have Muslims been defending for centuries like you claimed? Again, tell us – give us examples. Why do you do this and just shoot off your mouth without thinking? You need to stop and think and be objective and dispassionate before making unsubstantiated claims.
I love it: you fail every time you speak.