Black Muslims fear persecution after London bomb attacks12 Jul 2005
According to Leo Muhammad from the Nation of Islam, Britain’s black and Muslim communities have much to fear following the bomb attacks on Thursday and Labour MP Diane Abbott believes that Tony Blair’s pro-war stance made London a sitting duck. By: DEBORAH GABRIEL The fear that follows There is no question that Thursday's bombings will affect the black community and Muslims Leo Muhammad, Nation of Islam Londoners, tourists and businesses in the Capital have all been affected by Thursday’s bombings that took place in the heart of London, causing terror and chaos and bringing the transport system to a virtual standstill. Many workers and shoppers who generally travel to the centre of London will be going about their daily business with an increased sense of vigilance, some putting on a brave face to make a ‘stand against terrorism’.
However, for others that fear will be even more pronounced because the colour of their skin and their religion has somehow come to be associated with fundamentalism, violence and extremism.
Leo Muhammad, a Black Muslim from the Nation of Islam told Black Britain that there is “no question� that Thursday’s bombings “will definitely affect the black community and Muslims.�
He said: “These events that are taking place are fuelling Islamaphobia but it really goes beyond that.
It’s very much a continuation of the persecution that black people have endured in the West.�
Citing the mainstream media’s association of terrorism with Islam, Mr Muhammad said:
“I’m very concerned about what happened yesterday as a Muslim and as a black man because I certainly feel that this will lead to racism and Islamaphobia, which is already very prevalent in the West.�
Such events, said Mr Muhammad: “Just adds fuel to the fire and really gives those with a vested interest who are already persecuting us, whether we’re black or Muslim, the motivation and incentive to justify their oppression.�
All Muslims tarnished with the same brush
When Timothy Mc Veigh bombed the Federal building in Oklahoma, USA, they didn’t say 'Christian Timothy Mc Veigh', even though he said he was a Christian.
Leo Muhammad, Nation of Islam
Whenever acts of terrorism take place involving groups that purport to be Muslim, the mainstream media always goes directly to Muslim organisations for statements denouncing the violence as if they had a moral responsibility for the actions of others.
Leo Muhammad told Black Britain that this attitude is unfair and not in keeping with the reactions to equally atrocious crimes committed by other religious groups or individuals:
“When Timothy Mc Veigh bombed the Federal building in Oklahoma, USA, they didn’t say “Christian, Timothy Mc Veigh�, even though he was one of these people who said he was a Christian.
There was no mention of his religion. So this whole thing where it’s always Islamic terrorists, Islamist fundamentalists, is always in reference to religion.�
Such an outlook, said Mr Muhammad, targets the religion rather than the individuals who may be responsible for committing the crimes.
The reason Mr Muhammad feels that the association between Muslims and fundamentalism/violence is synonymous, is partly to do with racism:
“Islam and all of the eastern religions are seen as so-called ‘dark’ religions. They are populated by the black, the brown, the yellow and the red.
The only religion that has been embraced, at least from the moral perspective, not from a practicing perspective, is Christianity.�
Mr Muhammad told Black Britain that he feels saddened : “That the public just go along with anything that is put out on the news with no questioning, no deeper analysis or looking beyond the surface.�
Tony Blair made London a sitting duck
The underlying causes of terrorism in the Middle East need to be looked at as global terrorism is complex and inter-related
Labour MP Diane Abbott
Outspoken Labour MP Diane Abbott issued a statement yesterday condemning the bombings but said she was “not entirely surprised� as “it was only a matter of time before London was hit by, what everyone is assuming, is, Al Qaeda-related terrorism.�
Ms Abbott added continued:
“Prime Minister Tony Blair’s role as America’s chief ally both in the war on Afghanistan, the war in Iraq and the so-called war on terror means that Britain is a target.�
Praising the response of the emergency services Ms Abbott said that they “responded magnificently� and that “the bombings also showed Londoners at their best: brave and resourceful.�
However, said Ms Abbott: “The underlying causes of terrorism in the Middle East need to be looked at as global terrorism is complex and inter-related.�
DEBORAH GABRIEL
Deborah@thecolourful.net
Source: blackbritain.co.uk
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