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Reaction Of British Muslims For Secular Democracy (bmsd) To The Channel 4 Programme: Dispatches – Undercover Mosque, The Return - Televised On 1st September 2008

01/09/2008

bmsd is deeply concerned over the messages given out by preachers in one of Britain’s main mosques, as revealed by Channel 4’s Dispatches: Undercover Mosque, the return.  

Female preachers are shown to be promoting segregation, condoning and justifying acts of violence against followers of other faiths and non-conformist Muslims. It is disturbing that such views continue to be propagated in Britain through holy places of worship. The misuse of such centres of prayer is inexcusable.

bmsd believes that by facilitating the preaching of hatred against members of other faith groups, the administration of the Islamic Cultural Centre, London (Regent’s Park Mosque) along with its Saudi Arabian patronage has become complicit in deepening the gulf between the Muslim communities and the wider British society and putting individuals at risk of physical harm.  

bmsd appeals to the wider British public, and in particular to Muslim communities, to remain vigilant and take notice of any such activities within their local mosques, reporting them to the Police and local government bodies. The government has a responsibility to act and put an end to these activities as it did with FinsburyPark mosque.  

Dr Shaaz Mahboob of bmsd said “Mosques are supposed to provide an invaluable service to the Muslim communities and should not be allowed to become hubs of hateful preaching and bigotry. Should such activities continue unabated, the authorities will need to intervene to protect the public. This might even result in certain mosques getting closed down. Such an outcome will only hurt the majority of law abiding British Muslims, who continue to enjoy unparalleled amount of religious and cultural tolerance within the democratic system in Britain”

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Notes to the editors:

1.  bmsd is made up of a group of Muslim democrats of diverse ethnic and social backgrounds, who support a clear separation between religion and the State.

2.  bmsd’s mission statement: “To promote civic engagement, social inclusion, responsible citizenship and good governance particularly within constituent Muslim communities of Britain; in order to build an understanding of the shared values between all citizens to enable them to live in an inclusive, pluralist, secular and confident Britain.”

3.  bmsd claims no mandate or false representative status. Our primary concern is democratic engagement not detailed theological analysis or debate. The level and depth of commitment to the doctrinal core and orthodoxy of the faith varies among Muslims as much as it does in members of other faith groups. bmsd founders wish to create a platform for alternative, diverse Muslim views, essential for a progressive, multi-layered, democratic identity that is not in conflict with itself or fellow citizens.

4.  For details please visit http://www.bmsd.org.uk

5.  For any further queries, please contact: Dr Shaaz Mahboob on shaaz@bmsd.org.uk or 07961 365 751