So the event went ahead. I’m not particularly bothered as, without Hizb ut-Tahrir or the police being there, this was just one of the vast number of similar Islamist events which go ahead in London every month.
Only one comment (and I know it’s probably unfair to pick on local newspaper journos) but the Richmond and Twickenham Times, which reported that the event had gone ahead, contains one of the stupidest lines I’ve read in a while.
Despite the group pulling out of the event, the council pushed the school and organisers to cancel the Putting Contest 2 in Context debate – a move which incensed the Muslim community.
No, the council’s attempts to persuade a school not to assist Islamists did not “incense the Muslim community” – it vexed a few Islamists who claim to speak for the “the Muslim community” but, in reality, speak only for themselves.
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Press Release 14th July 2009
Hounslow Muslim Forum “Contest 2” Event Vindicated & Successful
The Hounslow Muslim Forum was delighted to host its much anticipated public debate entitled ‘Putting Contest 2 in Context?’ last Saturday 11th of July at Lampton school, which proved a great success attracting some two hundred community-conscious residents and representatives from local organisations and institutions.
Invited speakers gave temperate and balanced orations on community concerns about the Contest 2 agenda, the significance of community cohesion and civic engagement. Whilst unanimously re-stating their opposition to all forms of extremism, the discussion highlighted the sense of irony and shared sentiment within the community, that our civic leadership and media vilify and malign Muslims with ill-defined terms, if they have the resolve to speak about genuine issues of concern, in an open and public manner.
The event confirmed British Muslim calls for more transparent, genuine and democratic dealings between government departments and the Muslim community, to proportionately tackle the issues of extremism, youth empowerment, social justice and communal harmony.
This united message shone through despite extraordinary attempts by Hounslow council to force a cancellation of the public event on the erroneous grounds of promoting ‘Muslim extremists’ – a baseless slur which was further fanned by inflammatory front-page articles in local newspapers such as the Hounslow Chronicle.
All those in attendance, including respected local councillors, acknowledged that it was a genuine community centric meeting and was not in anyway espousing extremism, distrust or fear. There was all-round agreement for the need for an organic, local contact group such as the HMF.
Commenting on the event, Chairman of HMF Mohammad Ata Chaudhry said: “The Forum would like to extend a heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the executive team at Lampton School, who supported and trusted our good intentions. Whilst we are utterly pleased by all the support and praise received from people of all persuasions at the event, which we have documented and intend to share with the council, we are still hurting from being treated like common criminals by the council and local media. It is still not clear exactly why Hounslow Council condemned us in advance for promoting ‘extremist’ views, without engaging with us directly and boycotting our invitation to contribute to the programme? We will be writing to Hounslow council and local newspapers for an explanation, and hope that they will not be so presumptive on our future events and activities”
End
Notes to Editors:
Hounslow Muslim Forum Aims;
-To address issues affecting Hounslow’s Muslim community
-To act as an inclusive and collective voice for Hounslow’s Muslims.
-To represent the community’s grass roots and to promote a broad spectrum of views.
-To make a positive impact and contribution towards the success and well-being of Hounslow Borough and all its residents
For further enquiries please call 07956 587729 or email hounslowmuslimforum@gmail.com
It was obviously such a success that you had to come and post your press release here!
Excellent news! Well done Hounslow Muslim Forum for going ahead with the event and having a balanced discussion. Also well done for kicking HT out of your Forum. May Allah guide you and help you.
Please refrain from removing my posts, the only reason they would be sensored is if they are consequential and/or effectual.
Thanks Br Abu & Munafiq Shikwa do not stew in resentful bitterness and jealousy towards real/balanced Muslim representatives who have earned the respect and affection of their community through decades of devoted public service and institution building. We ask Allah to bless the work and Insha’Allah the bright future of the HMF.
Do you earn this respect and affection by calling people ‘munafiq’? Explain why you called me that. I didn’t write this piece, it was written by Yossarian. Yet, you choose to call me a munafiq. If you are such a great Muslim leader, please explain why you felt it was appropriate to call me that. It is a serious accusation. Now you explain it.
I’m sick of the religious man rubbish that comes from you Islamist types all the time on this site. These accusations might go unchallenged in your community, but they won’t go unchallenged here.
You are a Munafiq Shikwa pure and simple as you use every single opportunity to deride, offend and mock Muslims under the guise of challenging ‘Islamism’
Take stock of the following signs of a Munafiq and see how many correlate with your speech and the opinions and organizational attacks found on this site:
When he promises he will break it, When he is entrusted with something he will betray, Fajr and Isha prayer will be difficult for him, When he talks he will lie, When he argues he will abuse, He creates fitnah (mischief) among, brothers, he carries tales that break up relationships, He will try to bring innovations into Islam, He will narrate his sins publicly without shame, He will be noticing the misdeeds and faults of others while a believer tries to find excuses for others, He will backbite his brother (Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his brother’s corpse? – Quran 49:12), He holds his brother in suspicion and spies on him, He will publicise his brother’s shame, He will admonish his brother in public, His heart is filled with pride (Whoever has an atom’s weight of pride does not enter paradise). He will not listen to good advice from others, He divides the Muslims into nationalities and races and takes pride in identifying with such divisions and does not recognise the Muslims as one single Ummah, He is merciless towards other Muslims and praises the Kufar, He is quick to cut off relationship with fellow Muslims, He prefers the company of non-muslims and degrades pious Muslims.
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah has forbidden one believer to tamper with the blood, property or honour of another, or to hold a bad suspicion of him.” – “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the most untruthful report, and suspicion leads to prying and spying.” – “Do not spy and do not pry. Do not sever relationships and do not fall out, but serve God as brothers.” [Muslim]
The great Imam Al-Shaf’i (may God be pleased with him) said: “To admonish your brother in private is to advise him and improve him. But to admonish him publicly is to disgrace and shame him.”
May Allah (swt) continue to bless the work of principled community organizations and expose the intrigues of the Munafiqs
Yaseen – in Islamic terminology a ‘munafiq’ is one who claims to be a Muslim yet is secretly a non-Muslim. I don’t think Shikwa or anything else on this forum fits that description. It is not just a term to throw at anyone who disagrees. Please be careful before using it again since you are performing takfir which would make you a kafir.
Yaseen, I didn’t realise Allah (swt) has given you knowledge over the unseen and the ability to see into the hearts of men. I’m afriad your post is just more proof of your own hypocrisy and self-aggrandising religiosity.
But, while we are on the topic of ‘exposing’, perhaps you would care to tell us why you have been posting on Spittoon under a whole range of different names, including:
Yasseen
Shahid
Mohsin
Babar
Siva
Yasmina
That last one is particularly funny. Not only are you hiding behind a pseudonym, but you’re also pretending to be a woman! Tell us, is this an impulse you get often? I wonder what punishment Islamists dole out for those impersonating the opposite sex? It kind of takes the gloss off your religious, holier-than-thou spiel doesn’t it?
I told you that your: ‘look at me, aren’t I a great religious man’ crap might work among your little clique, but not on this site.
Substantive discussion? The prophet prefered not to expose the munafiq even though he knew who they were. He chided his companions who when it was obvious were taking their faith as a shield against the companions saying to “did you open up their hearts?” and yet here you are showing your lack of basic human manners, religious ethics and take the higher ground?!?
Yet it seems you have been perversely hiding who you are…
Rabban laa tajalna fitnatan lil-lazina kafaroo
May God make us not a trail for those that have rejected faith…
Is that true Yaseen?
If so then you should be ashamed of yourself. Allah curses those who pretend to be the opposite sex. But help is available if you need it.