Support urged as Muslims confront extremism
-28/07/05
A joint Jewish-Muslim interfaith organisation today urged people of all faiths and none to offer the hand of friendship to British Muslims ìas they begin their greatest challenge of confronting extremists elementsî, in the wake of the recent bomb attacks on London.
The call came in an open letter from the Maimonides Foundation, published in the Independent newspaper. The signatories include Sheikh Zaki Badawi, an Egypt born scholar, and head of the Muslim College in London, who was recently denied entry to the USA ñ in spite of being an internationally recognised voice for dialogue and moderation within Islam.
The letter unreservedly condemns suicide bombing ìas an aberration of the universal principles of Islamî and sends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the 7/7 attacks. It says that the majority of British Muslims do not support ìthe extremist ideology of hatred and violence perpetuated by a radical minority from the communityî.
Drawing attention to the work of ordinary Muslims and their leaders in distancing themselves from ìthe murderous actions committed in their nameî, the Maimonides Foundation says that most Muslims are ìseeking practical ways of becoming a fully interactive faith community in British societyî.
It goes on: ìA backlash against the community will give the oxygen of propaganda to the terrorists whose aim is to Isolate the community from the rest of the society and convince them that their ills are the fault of the West and of democracy.î
Mosques and Muslim community groups are still reporting receipt of hate messages, and there have been a number of attacks on buildings and individuals, as well as one death in Nottingham which is believed to have been related to the aftermath of 7/7. Police say they are investigating all reports of such incidents, and Islamic human rights groups are documenting abuse against Muslims.
Christian communities in Britain have also been building further bridges with Muslims, beyond the work of inter-faith specialists. Today churches in Bradford held a seminar addressed by specialist Dr Philip Lewis, an adviser to the Anglican Bishop and lecturer at the Bradford School of Peace Studies.
Other Jewish and Muslim signatories of todayís Maimonides Foundation letter include Lord Stone of Blackheath, businessman Robert Yentob, food industry mogul Sir Gulam Noon, and Professor Nasser D. Khalili.
The Foundation exists to ìfosters understanding, dialogue, and co-operation between Jews and Muslims through cultural, academic and educational programmes based on mutual respect and trust.î
Moses Maimonides (1135 ñ 1204), known in Arabic as Mousa ibn Maimon and in Hebrew as Moshe ben Maimon, was the major Jewish philosopher, theologian and leader of the Jewish community in the 12th century. He was born in Cordoba, the greatest centre of Jewish learning and Islamic culture at the height of the so-called ‘Golden Age’ of the Jews and Muslims in Spain.
Support urged as Muslims confront extremism
-28/07/05
A joint Jewish-Muslim interfaith organisation today urged people of all faiths and none to offer the hand of friendship to British Muslims ‘as they begin their greatest challenge of confronting extremists elements’, in the wake of the recent bomb attacks on London.
The call came in an open letter from the Maimonides Foundation, published in the Independent newspaper. The signatories include Sheikh Zaki Badawi, an Egypt born scholar, and head of the Muslim College in London, who was recently denied entry to the USA – in spite of being an internationally recognised voice for dialogue and moderation within Islam.
The letter unreservedly condemns suicide bombing ‘as an aberration of the universal principles of Islam’ and sends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the 7/7 attacks. It says that the majority of British Muslims do not support ‘the extremist ideology of hatred and violence perpetuated by a radical minority from the community’.
Drawing attention to the work of ordinary Muslims and their leaders in distancing themselves from ‘the murderous actions committed in their name’, the Maimonides Foundation says that most Muslims are ‘seeking practical ways of becoming a fully interactive faith community in British society’.
It goes on: ‘A backlash against the community will give the oxygen of propaganda to the terrorists whose aim is to Isolate the community from the rest of the society and convince them that their ills are the fault of the West and of democracy.’
Mosques and Muslim community groups are still reporting receipt of hate messages, and there have been a number of attacks on buildings and individuals, as well as one death in Nottingham which is believed to have been related to the aftermath of 7/7. Police say they are investigating all reports of such incidents, and Islamic human rights groups are documenting abuse against Muslims.
Christian communities in Britain have also been building further bridges with Muslims, beyond the work of inter-faith specialists. Today churches in Bradford held a seminar addressed by specialist Dr Philip Lewis, an adviser to the Anglican Bishop and lecturer at the Bradford School of Peace Studies.
Other Jewish and Muslim signatories of today’s Maimonides Foundation letter include Lord Stone of Blackheath, businessman Robert Yentob, food industry mogul Sir Gulam Noon, and Professor Nasser D. Khalili.
The Foundation exists to ‘fosters understanding, dialogue, and co-operation between Jews and Muslims through cultural, academic and educational programmes based on mutual respect and trust.’
Moses Maimonides (1135 – 1204), known in Arabic as Mousa ibn Maimon and in Hebrew as Moshe ben Maimon, was the major Jewish philosopher, theologian and leader of the Jewish community in the 12th century. He was born in Cordoba, the greatest centre of Jewish learning and Islamic culture at the height of the so-called ‘Golden Age’ of the Jews and Muslims in Spain.