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Britsh Muslims for Secular Democracy (bmsd) reaction to potential deportation of Pakistani terror suspects

22/04/2009

The news of potential deportation of Pakistani students, who were arrested on suspicion of terrorist related activities, is causing a great deal of concern and disappointment within the British Muslim communities. They feel that the lack of concrete evidence implicating these individuals in an alleged terrorist plot should have resulted in their unconditional release, allowing them to continue their studies at their respective educational institutions.  

British Muslims for Secular Democracy shares their concerns. We believe that in the absence of substantive proof of involvement in terrorism, deportation of the Pakistani students will not only appear to undermine the strong democratic and judicial values upon which our society is built, but will also negatively impact on the confidence of British Muslim communities in the British legal system and on those living abroad, who admire our legal and justice system as one of the fairest in the world.  

Dr Shaaz Mahboob of BMSD said: “Whilst we also acknowledge the fact that any decision to deport these individuals is likely to be taken foremost in the interest of pubic safety and based on confidential information to which the British public is not privy, we would appeal to the Home Office and other relevant agencies to consider their decisions bearing in mind the consequences that might impact on the students’ future careers and also how their potential deportation might be used as a tool to spread extremism and hatred against the democratic system”

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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 07961365751