Author: Charlotte Edwardes and
Chris Hastings
Publication: The Telegraph, UK
Date: March 10, 2002
Leaders of an allegedly moderate
Muslim organisation with close links to the Prince of Wales and Tony Blair,
the Prime Minister, have distributed literature on behalf of Osama bin
Laden.
Inayat Bunglawala, a senior member
of the Muslim Council of Britain, circulated material written by bin Laden,
whom he regarded as a "freedom fighter", to hundreds of Muslims in Britain
last year.
He sent the material before last
September's attacks on the World Trade Centre, but after bin Laden had
masterminded the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania
that left 224 dead.
Mr Bunglawala, the organisation's
media director, last night admitted to The Telegraph that he had sent an
email from bin Laden to "hundreds of other Muslim activists and supporters".
He said: "You have to remember I
circulated this information five months before the September 11 atrocity.
Then I regarded Osama bin Laden as a freedom fighter in the struggle against
the Soviets - so did a lot of other people. I do not support what happened
to the World Trade Centre."
The disclosure is a major embarrassment
for Mr Blair, who has publicly endorsed The Muslim Council of Britain,
as the "mainstream face of Islam in Britain". Senior figures have also
been welcomed into Number 10 and St James's Palace on numerous occasions,
including at the Prime Minister's key meeting on September 28 to discuss
the terrorist attacks and at a reception held by Prince Charles to forge
closer ties with the Muslim community.
Days after the US attacks, one of
their leaders, Yousuf Bhailok, stood next to Tony Blair at Number Ten while
he addressed leaders of the Muslim communities in Britain.
Mahmud Al'Rashid, the Deputy Secretary-General
of the Council, told The Sunday Telegraph last night: "Our organization
does not support extremist activity. I will investigate this information."
