Author:
Publication: BBC News
Date: April 19, 2005
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4460565.stm
A dozen chanting men have stormed
a London mosque to denounce Britain's principal umbrella group for Muslims.
The protesters at Regent's Park
mosque said voting was against Islam and that Tony Blair "should go to
hell".
Leaders of the Muslim Council of
Britain tried to restore order but were drowned out by the demonstrators.
The group, believed to include former
members of radical group Al Muhajiroun, said Muslims who voted would commit
a crime against their own faith.
The council had been attempting
to launch its manifesto for the general election.
The document does not back any particular
party but seeks to set out the most important issues facing British Muslims.
However, within minutes of the launch
starting the protesters barged into the mosque library, being used for
the launch, and denounced the event.
A lead speaker, who did not give
his name, said: "The MCB is the mouthpiece for Tony Blair.
"The MCB can go to hell. Anyone
who votes is kafir (an unbeliever)."
Council secretary general Iqbal
Sacranie denounced the protesters, saying any decent Muslim would engage
in proper debate rather than in headline-grabbing tactics.
One protester threw a punch at Mr
Sacranie, but he was unhurt.
Other members of the MCB sat resigned,
saying the demonstration would cause damage to the community.
Organisers of the event managed
to restore order by using security guards to hustle the protesters out
of the event.
Seeking to restore order Mr Sacranie
said the demonstrators had proved that their own self-defeatist agenda
would do nothing but damage British Muslims.
"These people are a minute group
with the loudest voice.
'Growing cancer'
"The responsibility is on us all
to demonstrate what really concerns British Muslims. We must be aware of
freak elements who have these views," Mr Sacranie said.
"I asked these people one question:
is it part of Islam to behave in such a way? They did not answer me."
Prospective parliamentary candidates
from the three main parties who attended the event denounced the demonstrators.
Ali Miraj, the Conservative candidate
for Watford, said the Muslim community must not put its head in the sand.
It had to recognise "the growing
cancer" of disenchanted young Muslims, he said.
