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British Muslims for Secular Democracy (bmsd) response to the attacks on religious minorities in Pakistan

03/08/2009

British Muslims for Secular Democracy strongly condemns the violent attacks on members of the Christian minority in Gojra, Pakistan.  Six Christians were burnt to death and 40 houses were set on fire following days of religious unrest in the region, which was instigated by the rumoured desecration of a Qu'ran.  Officials have since confirmed these rumours to be false.  Meanwhile, Hindus and Sikhs in northern Pakistan have been threatened with eviction from their homes if they do not convert to Islam.

bmsd calls on the Pakistani authorities to undertake a full inquiry into these incidents.  We are alarmed at the levels of violence and discrimination against minority religious groups in majority-Muslim countries, and the fact that the perpetrators often go unpunished.  These hate crimes against minorities must be condemned as loudly as similar isolated incidents against Muslims in the West e.g. the murder of Marwa Al-Sherbini in Germany.

Dr Shaaz Mahboob of bmsd said: "A lack of condemnation of incidents like these fuels the misconception that Islam is not a religion of peace.  These events are a reminder of how tolerant secular Western democracies are in general, which in turn positively impacts on the mindset of the citizens living in them, as opposed to Muslim-majority countries where the rights of minorities are threatened repeatedly."

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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 or Tehmina Kazi on 0207 631 4175