Anti-terror camp in UK trains youth to counter extremism

London - What drives a Western born-and-bred youngster, with all the privileges of an education, a modern lifestyle and freedom of speech, to violently attack his fellow countrymen?The growing phenomenon of home-grown radicals highlights the need to understand the root causes of such violence and develop a strategy to deal with the individuals at risk of committing it.

On 7 August, the UK’s first Anti-Terror Camp was held in the county of Warwickshire, led by prominent Pakistani scholar Dr. Muhammad Tahir ul Qadri, with the aim of protecting youth from radicalisation by presenting them with arguments that they can use to counter extremists.

The camp attracted around 1,500 young Muslims from across the UK, Europe and North America and provided them with a foundation to promote the true message of Islam – which includes peace, tolerance and integration – amongst their peers.

Qadri drew much attention when he issued a historic fatwa (a non-binding expert religious opinion) against terrorism in March. His 600-page fatwa refutes the arguments of radicals using intellectual reasoning, leaving no religious pretext for committing acts of terror, including suicide bombings.

Qadri explained how these youth could refute arguments of radicals who aim to brainwash them to commit violence. He told the attendees, “In all these Western countries – Britain, Europe, North America, wherever you are living – you are enjoying all rights, all freedoms according to the constitution as other non-Muslim communities are enjoying. And I have no hesitation in saying you are enjoying the rights and freedoms much better than in many other Muslim countries.”

Naseem, a 28-year-old participant, stated: “I believe [Qadri's] challenge to radicalisation and terrorism is very good. Terrorism is a danger towards mankind.” After the workshop, he said that he could now state “the true view of what Islam says.”

Attendees learned the principles and wisdom of Islamic teachings regarding war and peace, and especially the concept of jihad, or struggle, in Islam. Qadri pointed out that out of the 35 Qur’anic verses that mention the word jihad, 31 have nothing to do with fighting or war at all. The other four verses do talk about fighting, but only in cases of self-defence. Furthermore, individuals or groups do not have the authority to declare jihad; only a state authority can do so and, even then, only as a last resort when diplomacy and all other peace efforts have failed.

Terrorism in the name of Islam begins as an ideological infection, stemming from a narrow interpretation of Islamic sources that extremists take entirely out of context. Qadri lamented that some people are using mosques, schools, universities and the internet to declare physical and combative jihad in the name of establishing an “Islamic caliphate” or to fight against “repression” by the West.

He emphasised that this reasoning provides a foundation for home-grown radicalism and can eventually lead to violence and terrorism.

According to Qadri, terrorism has ideological, philosophical and political roots. The problem starts when extremists misinterpret the concepts of jihad, caliphate and democracy. There are some groups that consider democracy and participation in Western countries’ politics tantamount to disbelief and try to persuade vulnerable youth of the validity of these claims.

The anti-terrorism camp clarified for youth that foreign policies of Western countries must not be used as fodder to exploit their sentiments, as some radical preachers and groups are trying to do.

Qadri’s fatwa provides alternative solutions to violent action, promotes integration and participation in the political process and helps people express their disagreement in a peaceful, constitutional and democratic manner. Integration is a process that comes naturally where diverse groups of people live alongside one another, collectively contributing to the development of a country. Muslims living in Western countries must abide by the laws of the land where they earn their living and become an important part of these cultures and societies.

Islam does not allow transgression of its core principles in any form. This is the message that the young participants of the camp left with, becoming the embodiment of peace and tolerance, and feeling at ease about integrating in the UK.

By Shahid Mursaleen (spokesman@minhajuk.org) is a spokesman for Minhaj-ul-Quran International UK. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).

Source: http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=28352&lan=en&sid=1&sp=0&isNew=1

Minhaj-ul-Quran highlights health risks of cousin marriages

Minhaj-ul-Quran International UK highlights the medical risks of cousin marriages based on medical research which shows that one in four children whose parents are cousins are disabled. The medical risks include infant mortality, birth defects, learning difficulties, blindness, hearing impairment and metabolic disorders.

Minhaj-ul-Quran UK's Imam Sadiq Qureshi was featured in the channel 4 programme "Dispatches: When Cousins Marry". He said that it is a public health issues hence it is a big jihad to highlight this issue for the common good.

Minhaj-ul-Quran UK has always taken proactive steps in highlights issues relating to the public health and wants to encourage Muslims to rethink about their choices of marriage.

Click here for channel 4 Dispatches programme.

UK's first Anti-Terror Camp by Minhaj-ul-Quran UK

The ‘al-hidayah 2010’ which attracted around 1500 young Muslim men and women from across the UK, Europe and North America, was held at the University of Warwick on 7th, 8th and 9th of August , 2010 with the aim to de-radicalise and spiritualise the Muslim youth. The UK’s first Anti-Terror Camp, as described by the western media, was organised by Minhaj-ul-Quran International UK and every participant paid £200 to participate. Included among the special guests were academicians, politicians, government officials and various media outlets as well as scholars from across the UK.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the keynote speaker of the event opened the camp with a press conference which was attended by mainstream UK and international media.

At the opening press conference Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri shed light on the aims and objectives of the camp and emphasised on the reasons why he believes it is necessary to train the youth to tackle extremist ideologies. He said that this 3-day initiative is aimed at awakening the Muslim youth to challenge the arguments of the extremist and to promote the need of collective action for promotion of peace, interfaith dialogue, and harmony and addressing the misunderstandings and confusions the concepts of jihad, khilafah and democracy.

Analysing the emergence of terrorism, he said that cancer of terrorism does not emerge from nowhere but it begins as an ‘ideological infection’ which is a narrow interpretation and vision of Islam. It is misinterpretation of the Qur’an, Hadith and classical authorities of Islam. He said this process begins in mosques, schools, Universities, and through the internet by extremist groups. They initially start persuading their argument which leads towards brainwashing. He said that “terrorism is a cancer that begins from and an ideological infection.”

He emphasised that it is vital to recognise that this phase of non-violent extremism eventually leads towards violence and terrorism. Some people engaged in counter terrorism fail to recognise non-violent extremism as dangerous but it is the foundation of home-grown radicalism.

In a passionate voice he said that terrorism has ideological, philosophical and political roots and extremists misinterpret concepts of Jihad, Khilafah, and democracy. There are some groups who consider democracy and participation in politics as disbelief and these incorrect concepts are used to exploit the vulnerable youth.

Addressing a vital issue which is being prominent amongst the extremists is to take over Britain and western countries and to host a Muslim flag on 10 Downing Street; Dr Qadri rejected this notion and said it was nothing but non-sense and ignorance of Islamic teachings. He said this kind of thinking shows the mental illness of such individuals and they need mental treatment.

He clarified that Britain and other western countries were not ‘Dar al-Harb’ (Abode of War) but ‘Dar al-Aman’ (Abode of Peace) where people of every religion and faith have equal rights and opportunities to practise their religions and even launch faith-based TV channels.. He added “All these Western countries - Britain, Europe, North America, wherever you are living - since you are enjoying all rights, all freedoms according to the constitution as other non-Muslim communities are enjoying, there is no difference. And I would have no hesitation in saying you are enjoying the rights and freedoms much better than in many other Muslim and Arab countries.”

He said that Islam had been hijacked by the radicals and that he wants to reclaim Islam back from them and promote peace, tolerance, harmony in the world. He initiated an intellectual, academic and spiritual war against terrorists to reclaim Islam back.

Dr Qadri also clarified that he or his organisation Minhaj-ul-Quran does not take any funding by any government in the world hence he does not say anything to please any government. He says the truth to please his Lord and the Prophet (peace be upon him).

He said that the youth who attended the anti-terror camp are being trained to rebut the arguments of the extremists in their communities, colleges and at the universities. It will prepare them intellectually and spiritually against the forces of extremism.

He stressed that foreign policies of western countries are used as tools of ignition to exploit the sentiments of young people and radical preachers and groups exploit such sentiments and passions of youth.

He said there are alternative solutions to violent actions. He said integration, participating in political process and to express disagreement of foreign policy in a peaceful, constitutional and democratic manner in regarded as Islamic. Integration is a solution which Islam has provided and which should be used to practically play a vital and progressive role in the western countries.

Dr Qadri also clarified the concept of Jihad, which has been hijacked by the extremists and he pointed out that out of 35 Qur’anic verses which mention the word jihad, 31 of them have nothing to do with fighting or war at all. He clarified that the other 4 verses only deal with self-defence. He also made it clear that individuals or groups have no authority to declare jihad. It is solely the prerogative of a state authority to declare jihad and only as a last resort when diplomacy and all other efforts to make peace have failed. The Khawarij-inspired jihadist ideology is swiftly being dismantled and it is proved that under no circumstances or pretext are they are allowed to declare war.

Addressing the confusion of identity crises whether a Muslim youth in Britain is British or a Muslim, Dr Qadri said that there is no interlink between ones faith and ones citizenship or country. “If you can be a Pakistani and still a Muslim, how can you not be a Muslim if you are a British national?” he questioned. He said that Muslims should fully integrate into the societies where they are living and positively contribute to the society. They faith does not stop them to contribute towards the country where they are living.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that following the publication of Fatwa against Terrorism, it put a stop to its practice of stereotyping the Muslims and conveyed the Islamic message of tolerance, harmony and interfaith dialogue to a wide range of people and regions. This step dealt a lethal blow to the extremists and encouraged the reformers.

Democracy, women rights and minority rights

It has come to my attention that an article was mistakenly published on a website which could create confusion and misunderstanding about the views of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri and Minhaj-ul-Quran International. This should clarify the matter.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is regarded as the champion of democracy, human rights and women rights who started to promote these concepts back in the '80s. He is regarded as one of the leading figures of the Muslim world who promotes and develops women rights and encourages women to fully participate in every aspect of the society. He has delivered hundreds of public lectures and has written extensively in his works about women rights. Independent featured a photo by Getty images which shows that Minhaj-ul-Quran women league protesting against honour killings, see here.

Dr Qadri is a true believer of democracy and human rights. He has thousands of public lectures and books which not only promote democracy and human rights but has also given an Islamic perspective about this which is evident from the Quran and Hadith. In fact he was himself in Pakistani politics and was elected as a member of parliament in 2002 elections and resigned after 2 years due to lack of democracy in the Government.

Dr Qadri believes that the term Khilafah is simply used for the word 'government' which is based on democracy, justice and human rights. The term 'Islamic State' is only referred to Muslim majority countries which are based on democracy, justice and human rights which is fundamental in Islam.

He clarified that Britain and other western countries were not ‘Dar al-Harb’ (Abode of War) as regarded by some radicals but ‘Dar al-Aman’ (Abode of Peace) where people of every religion and faith have equal rights and opportunities to practise their religions and even launch faith-based TV channels. He added “All these Western countries - Britain, Europe, North America, wherever you are living - since you are enjoying all rights, all freedoms according to the constitution as other non-Muslim communities are enjoying, there is no difference. And I would have no hesitation in saying you are enjoying the rights and freedoms much better than in many other Muslim and Arab countries.”

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is regarded as the only hope for minorities in Pakistan and has always fully supported minorities who regularly visit him. He has hundreds of public lectures and books explaining the rights of minorities during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Dr Qadri was one of the first to open his mosque for a Christian delegation to pray according to their faith. He and his organisation have regularly hosted Christmas events for the past 10 years or more. He has been given peace awards by the minorities of Pakistan for his role to protect them, see here and here.

Dr Qadri believes in equal rights for minorities from any faith, creed or ethnicity. During the bomb attack on Ahmedis (known as Qadianis) in May 2010, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s organisation Minhaj-ul-Quran International was one of the first to condemn the attacks which killed civilians, see here, here (Minhaj-ul-Quran UK) and here (on a website by Ahmedis, known as Qadiani).

One of Dr Qadri’s article was published in the daily newspapers The Nation on August 26, 2010 (and here), in which he says “Islamic law holds both Muslims and non-Muslims equal and no superiority or privilege is given to the Muslims on any ground.” And “Islamic state is responsible for the protection and security of minorities.”