Author: John Deane, Chief Political
Correspondent, PA News
Publication: Scotsman.com
Date: April 1, 2004
URL: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2726089
Muslims cannot co-operate with local
authorities against other members of the faith, the outspoken leader of
an Islamic group insisted today.
Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, who
leads the London-based group Al- Muhajiroun, was speaking after the mainstream
Muslim Council of Britain called on the Islamic community to play its part
in the fight against terrorism.
The Council's call followed this
week's large-scale anti-terrorism operation in south east England.
Interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today
programme, Sheikh Omar said: "Muslims have a unique way of life. Co-operating
with the authorities against any other Muslims, that is an act of apostasy
in Islam.
"Having said that, Muslims in Britain
have the right to defend themselves, but without the use of violence. They
can gather together, speak with the imams.
"The imams themselves should lecture
the Muslim community, not the Muslim Council of Britain who are all of
them a bunch of seculars." mfl