Over a 100 community leaders, activists, business leaders and scholars from across the British Muslim community* put their name to a joint letter to David Cameron urging the Government to act decisively to stop the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinians. The civilian casualties are increasing daily, with over 1,400 dead women, children and men.
The letter represents a consensus view from the UK’s diverse Muslim communities who are united in their condemnation of the overwhelming violence afflicted on the Palestinians of Gaza. Leading Muslims from across the theological spectrum have signed the letter, as have Muslims from the worlds of business, politics and the arts.
The joint letter asks the Prime Minister ‘to join other party leaders, and members of your own party who have opposed the Israeli incursion into Gaza. ‘
It states:
“It pains us to write to you under these circumstances at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. As a community we have witnessed the unconscionable suffering of Palestinian Muslims and Christians. And marking the festival of Eid this week, which is supposed to be a happy time, we cannot help but feel the pain of those suffering at the hands of the ruthless Israeli military.
Mosques and Islamic associations up and down the country continue to pray for peace, for the people of Gaza and for a respite to the violence. That has gone hand-in-hand with great feats of charity to help those affected. It saddens us to find that some charities are being pressured or even prevented from delivering much needed aid because of the say-so of the Israel Defence Forces. We ask our government to work in the interests of British charities, not a foreign entity determined to make the life of Palestinians a misery.”
*Update: The MCB have received a letter on 25th September 2014 from Tobias Ellwood MP, the Minister responsible for UK’s relations with the Middle East. See the full letter here.
Full text of the joint letter:
A Letter to the Prime Minister on Gaza
Rt Hon David Cameron MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 0AA
Dear Prime Minister,
We are writing to urge Her Majesty’s Government to act decisively to stop the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinians. The civilian casualties are increasing daily, with over 1,400 dead women, children and men, in addition to the wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and mosques.
Those still fortunate to be alive still face the mental turmoil of wondering whether the next Israeli missile, flechette shell or laser guided bomb will be marked for them. And while they wait, they continue to reside, in what you have described, as an “open air prison”.
We condemn all violence taking place in Palestine right now, but it is quite clear that the Palestinian people are bearing the brunt of the brutality.
Sir, we ask you to join other party leaders, and members of your own party who have opposed the Israeli incursion into Gaza. They have spoken out against the “horrifying deaths of hundreds of Palestinians”, calling it a “deliberately disproportionate form of collective punishment”, a term the International Committee of the Red Cross uses to describe war crimes. We ask you to join the international community who has asked Israel to stop the killing and the illegal blockade.
As British citizens, worried about our standing in the world, we are appalled that our government abstained from the UN Human Rights Council resolution on 23 July to look into human rights violations in the Occupied Territories and demanding that Israel ceases its military assaults and lifts the blockade of Gaza. For all those people in that big open prison, let us right this wrong.
Prime Minister, you have taken tough action against Russia for violating the sovereignty of its neighbouring country. We ask you to apply those same standards on Israel, which has killed far more people. Like Russia, we can start by imposing an export ban.
It pains us to write to you under these circumstances at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. As a community we have witnessed the unconscionable suffering of Palestinian Muslims and Christians. And marking the festival of Eid this week, which is supposed to be a happy time, we cannot help but feel the pain of those suffering at the hands of the ruthless Israeli military.
Mosques and Islamic associations up and down the country continue to pray for peace, for the people of Gaza and for a respite to the violence. That has gone hand-in-hand with great feats of charity to help those affected. It saddens us to find that some charities are being pressured or even prevented from delivering much needed aid because of the say-so of the Israel Defence Forces. We ask our government to work in the interests of British charities, not a foreign entity determined to make the life of Palestinians a misery.
Following the murder of innocent children playing on a beach, the bombing of a hospital and the attack on a UN school, the time has come to say enough is enough. A Palestinian life is worth the same as an Israeli life, and we urge you to call for an end to the suffering of all with a mutually negotiated ceasefire that ensures the security and freedom of both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
Signed by:
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Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain
Talha Ahmad, Head of Media and PR, Da’watul Islam UK & Eire
Asiem Ahmad, Senior Consultant Asbestos, Bureau Veritas
Mustapha Akande, Treasurer, Union of Muslim Organisations UK & Eire
Zeeshan Ashraf, Chairman, Muslim Professionals Network
Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, Islamic Cultural Centre and Central London Mosque
Seyyed Yousif Al Khoei OBE, Al Khoei Foundation
Lubaaba Al-Azami, Muslimaat UK
Dr Abdul Aziz, Crescent Community Educational Trust
Abul Ali, Chair, Redbridge Islamic Centre
Enam Ali MBE FIH, Trustee, Shahjalal Islamic Foundation, Surrey
Ibrahim Ali, Vice President, Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS)
Imteyaz Ali, Secretary, Bolton Council of Mosques
Mr Luqman Ali FRSA, Social Entrepreneur, Khayaal TC
Mohammed Asif, Chair, Federation of Redbridge Muslim Organisations
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari MBE, Author and Commentator
Mizan Abdulrouf, Vice Chairman, UK Board of Shariah Councils
Cllr Sohail Bashir, Watford BoroughCouncil
Dr Salah Beltagui, Chair Parliamentary Committee, Muslim Council of Scotland (MSC)
Shaheeda Blaikie, Accountant, Unique Caribbean Holidays ltd
Lauren Booth, Broadcaster, Writer, Human Rights activist
Rashid Brora, Hon General Secretary, Southampton Medina Mosque Trust Limited
Shifa Shahab Chachia, Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO)
Irak Chowdhury, Trustee, Centre for Youth and Community Development
Naeem Darr, Muslim Directory UK
Hysni Dvorani, Ministry of Health Kosovo
Khurshid Drabu CBE, Chair, Southampton Medina Mosque Trust Limited
Dr Reefat Drabu, Southampton Al-Nisaa Association
Azeem Dossa, Audit Manager, Ernst & Young LLP
Fatema Dossa, Founder, Open Discussions
Mehboob Dossa, Lawyer, International Law Firm
Dr S M A Farooqi, President and Chair, Islamic & Cultural Society of Harrow
Ahmed Fakirmohamed, Vice Treasurer, Medina Mosque Trust Southampton
Abdul Karim Gheewala, Chair, Masjid al Falah Leicester
Muhammad Hafiz, Director, Foundation For Science Technology and Civilisation
Dr Faisal Hanjra, Trustee, Kingston Muslim Association
Dr Shaykh Suhaib Hasan, Chairman, Islamic Sharia Council
Navid Hamid, Worthy Capital
Irfan Hussain, Chairman, Harrow Central Mosque
Naz Hussain, Publishing Director, The Bradfordian Newspaper
Lateef Hussaini, Executive Member, Watford Interfaith Association
Qari Mohammed Ismail, Senior Imam, Birmingham Central Mosque
Shabbar Jaffri, Councillor, Glasgow City Council
Shelina Janmohamed, Author
Dr Sarfraz Jeraj, President, Hyderi Islamic Centre
Dr Husein Jiwa, President, Council of European Jamaats (COEJ)
Daud Juneja, Chair of Trustees, Alnoor Cultural & Educational Trust
Ibrahim Kala, Chief Officer, Bolton Council of Mosques
Mohammed Kanji, Secretary, Al Mahdi Centre
Dr A Majid Katme, Islamic Medical Association
Saleem Kidwai OBE, KFO, FRSA, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Wales
Fazlun Khalid, Director, Islamic Foundation for Ecology & Environmental Sciences
Afzal Khan CBE, Member of European Parliament
Dilowar Khan, Central President, Islamic Forum of Europe
Sabiya Khan, Chair, Bradford Muslim Women’s Forum
Mohammed Kozbar, Finsbury Park Mosque
Ms Unaiza Malik, President, The Muslim Women’s Association
Abdulhadi Mamon, Headteacher, London Islamic School
Ajmal Masroor, Imam and Broadcaster, Communities in Action
Dr Nasar Meer, University of Strathclyde
Ayatollah Fazel Milani, Al Khoei Islamic Centre, Imam
Saqib Mohammed, Chief Executive, Halal Food Authority
Dr A Moledina, President, World Federation of KSIMC
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Assistant Secretary General and Imam, Leicester
Cllr Salim Mulla, Blackburn
Farooq Murad, Former Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain
Irfan Mustafa, Secretary, Indian Muslim Federation
Dr Rayes Musthafa, President, Sri Lanka Islamic Forum UK (SLIF UK)
Aamer Naeem, Editor in Chief, British Muslim TV
Suleman Nagdi, MBE, President, Federation of Muslim Organisations, Leicester
Abu Nasir, Managing Director, Global Sporting Ventures
Mohammad Nasrullah, Headteacher, Al-Burhan Grammar School
The Revd Canon Barry Naylor, Leicester Cathedral
Mohamed Omer, Board Member, Gardens of Peace
Hanif Osman, Memon Association UK
Abdul Hamid Qureshi, Lancashire Council of Mosques
Dr Mujahid Qureshi, Trustee, Shropshire Islamic Foundation
Murad Qureshi, Assembly Member, London Assembly
Yasmin Qureshi, Member of Parliament for Bolton South-East
Syeda Khalida Rahman, Chair, Muhammadi Trust of GB & NI
Dr Tariq Rajbee, Islamic Information Centre, Hastings
Dr Sheikh Hojjat Ramzy, Iqra Institute
Maulana Shahid Raza OBE, Senior Imam, Leicester Central Mosque
Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, Joint Secretary, Majlis e Ulama Shia Europe
Imam Mohammed Yazdani Raza (Misbahi), Chairman, London Fatwa Council
Yvonne Ridley, Deputy Secretary General, International Muslim Women’s Union (IMWU)
Sayyid Ali Raza Rizvi, President, Majlis e Ulama Shia Europe
Sir Iqbal Sacranie OBE, Former Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain
Dr Ali Salamati, Treasurer, Al-Mahdi Foundation
Mussa Saleh, Chair, Dedza Welfare Trust (UK)
Ufuk Secgin, Chair, London Islamic Culture and Recreation Society
Rafiq Sehgal, President, Bradford Council for Mosques
Khalid Sharif, Founder, IG-SOC
Asif Sheikh, Advisor, The Edinburgh Ahlulbayt Society
Amer Siddiq, Chairman, Warrington Islamic Association
Dr Azzam Tamimi, Chariman, Al Hiwar TV
Farook Valimahomed, Balham Mosque & Tooting Islamic Centre
Fatima D’Oyen-Waley, Director, Manara Education CIC
Munaf Zeena, North London Muslim Community Centre
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Individuals also signing the letter:
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Dr Manazir Ahsan, MBE
Dr Syed Abidi, MBE DL
Shiban Akbar, OBE
Dr Moataz Abdelrahman
Mustafa Abdulhusein
Bilkis Abdulkader
Jamil Abdulkader
Choudry Abdulrehman
Bashir Abusaid
Janet Adams
A Ahmed
Bilal Ahmad
Iftikhar Ahmad
Kashif Ahmed
Sajida Ahmad
Shabbir Ahmed
Yeasin Ahmed
Zaheer Ahmad
Sadek Ahmed
Parwaiz Akhtar
Shahnaz Akhatar
Khurshid Akhtar
Aisha Akram
Robina Akram
Qays Aldoory
Ahmed Ali
Azam Ali
Mohamed Ali
Shamshad Ali
Eusoof Dawood Amerat BSc., MIET
Imraan Amerat
Hassan Amrani
Shaheena Anjum
Sohail Anwar
Diane Atkins
Riffat Azad
Mohammed Azam
Ali Azhar
Professor Mashood Baderin
Abdul H. Baluch
Amir Baluwala
Majid Bani
Mauro Berkia
Kheiro Bouarada
Attia Boudjemline
Amine Boukhobza
Derradji Boumrah
Hakim Braik
Tracey Bullard
Armaan Chohan
Mohsin Chohan
Humaid Chowdhury
James Delargy
Nasr-Eddine Djennati
Shaimaa Elshorkobaly
Molham Entabi
Andy Evans
Umar Farooq
Ian Fenn
A F Ghafoor
Rumina Hassan-Ali
Murtaza Hassanali
Abdel Majid El-Hani
Ingy Hamza
Anwar Haq
Shahidul Haque
Shazia Hussain
Dr Syed Hussain
Cllr. Fida Hussain
Yaqub Hussain
Kazi Islam
Cllr. Mohammed Iqbal
Sam Jafer
Imtiaz Jamil
Muhammad Shahzad Jamil
Jaffer Kapasi OBE
Iqbal Karim
Nouhad Kassem
Syed Kashif
Faizullah Khan
Fazal Khan
Haroon khan
Dr Hanif Khan
Javaid Khan
Kausar Khan
Dr Nayyer Islam Khan
Salam khan
Muhammad Kashif
Dr Amir Khattab
Jonny King
Dr Lindsey Knights
Dr Mustapha Koriba
Nassim Koriba
Mokhtar Lamara
Mohamed Madani
Fatima Mahmood
Quesir Mahmood
Nasar Malik
Neelofar Malik
M.Akram Malik
Samina Masud
Hasan Mallick
Abdunnasee Megrahi
Sameera Mehdi
Hajera Memon
Karen Mitchel
Azal Mohamed
Jame Morton
Fuli Musa
Dr Sunita Nagpal
Bouhedli Mohamed Nassim
Rana Nasr
Rauf Niaz
Dr Michelle Nutbrown
Simon Penfound
Maureen Philpott
Soeb Pirbhai
Fahim Qureshi
Saba Qureshi
Dr D Rachedi
Annis Rafiq
Suhail Rahim
Mizanur Rahman
Mohammed Ramzan
Mian Rashid
Nilu Rashidova
Khadija Rehman
Faiza Rennie
Fred Roberts
Suhair Salam
Asaf Saleem
Dr Yasmeen Saleem
Sajjad Sarwar
Mohammad Shafiq
Afzal Shah
Nabeela Shaikh
Somia Shakeb
Haider Shakiry
Azlina Shamsudian
Shahid Sharif
Sean Sheffield
Assad Sheikh
Ibrar Sheikh
Raeesah Sharif
Mannan Shujaee
George Smith
Khawar Sultan
Muhammad Hussein Surve
A R Siddiqui
Dr Mobeen Siddique
Dr Omar Siddique
Shaukat Sultan
Irfan Syed
Maheeba Syeda
Sana Tahir
Nazir Ahmed Teladia
Farhat Ullah
Afsheen Ul Haq
Atta Ullah
Dr Dan Wheelahan
Anthony Whitsey
Glen Wright
Jamie Wylie
Rashid Yahiaoui
Robina Yasin
Samina Yassir
Unzurna Zafar
Ali Zahid
Dr Imran Zia
Dr Zamzam Ziaei
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If you would like to sign the letter, please go to:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TD6eSN2vkfbPki5_Z-5MdghPzF0ALozpTHBYTZrxENA/viewform?usp=send_form
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