For the last few years, Asim Qureshi has been working for Cageprisoners as a senior researcher. Tomorrow, he says, he will finish working at Cageprisoners and, in the new year, will start work at Reprieve, a legal charity which uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners.
You will remember that, back in August, it was Cageprisoners who tried to organise an event at Kensington Town Hall involving a video message from jihadist preacher Anwar al-Awlaki (and a speech by Reprieve employee Ahmed Ghappour). Fortunately, these plans were over-ruled by Kensington Council and Anwar al-Awlaki’s message was not broadcast. Cageprisoners is led by Moazzem Begg, who said of hate preacher Ali al-Tamimi.
He cannot be regarded as an extremist, fundamentalist, lunatic type terrorist scholar that they claim abound. He is one of the most reasonable and middle of the path scholars that I have come across, who not only make sense in everything that they say, but they back it up with evidence from the Qur’an. [8:45 onwards]
But even this seems rather tame when compared with what his (soon to be former) colleague Asim Qureshi said whilst speaking on a Hizb ut-Tahrir platform a few years ago.
QURESHI: We embrace the mercy. We embrace every single thing that is set upon us and we deal with it because we have no fear. So when we see the example of our brothers and sisters fighting in Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan then we know where the example lies. When we see Hezbollah defeating the armies of Israel, we know what the solution is and where the victory lies. We know that it is incumbent upon all of us to support the jihad of our brothers and sisters in these countries when they are facing the oppression of the west.
VOICE IN CROWD: Takbir!
CROWD: Allahu Akbar!
VOICE IN CROWD: Takbir!
CROWD + QURESHI: Allahu Akbar!
VOICE IN CROWD: Takbir!
CROWD + QURESHI: Allahu Akbar!
You could be charitable and say that Reprieve are just naive, but they have a long relationship with Cageprisoners. In March 2007 they produced a joint report (pdf) on ‘Mass rendition, incommunicado detention and possible torture of foreign nationals in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia’ and Reprieve’s 2007 Annual Report (pdf) includes Cageprisoners on a list of ‘Partners and Supporters’ (as does its 2008 Annual Report). Reprieve was even a “supporting organisation” for a rally staged by Cageprisoners in Trafalgar Square back in July 2006.
It will be interesting to see what influence Asim has at Reprieve. Will they now share platforms with Hizb ut-Tahrir and issue statements in support of jihad against “western oppression” in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Takbir!
3 Comments
“So when we see the example of our brothers and sisters fighting in Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan then we know where the example lies. When we see Hezbollah defeating the armies of Israel, we know what the solution is and where the victory lies.”
Nothing to do with me, you crazy lunatic. Like Bungles, I’m British.
“Takbir!”
Yes please, I’ll have a tea, milk and four sugars please.
Yes, Numan – Down with Nutra Sweet!