The Government has broken off relations with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) ahead of a launch today of the Contest 2 plan which aimed to build stronger links between Government and British Muslims.
The tensions between the Labour Government and the Muslim community escalated with the unprecedented step of a Government front bencher demanding a member of the MCB remove an individual from its executive.
The decision to severe links between Whitehall and the MCB came about because of allegations that one of the leaders of the organisation had made statements against Israel and comments to support violence against the Jewish state.
Daud Abdullah is said by The Guardian to have signed a declaration last month "which the government interpreted as calling for violence against Israel and condoning attacks on British troops".
A meeting of Muslim clerics in Turkey from around the globe met to discuss a joint strategy to deal with the crisis in Gaza following the Israeli attacks on the Palestinian territories.
The Government has demanded via Hazel Blears the Communities Secretary that Abdullah "be asked to resign" from the MCB for signing a statement supporting Hamas and celebrated the "victory" against the "this malicious Jewish Zionist was over Gaza".
The MCB replied:
"The MCB is appalled by the high handed and condescending action of the Secretary of State, Hazel Blears.
In response to recent media reports (IoS, 22nd March) about the Gaza Declaration in Istanbul, the Muslim Council of Britain wishes to make clear that it no way supports the targeting or killing of British soldiers anywhere in the world. This is the agreed position of all MCB Office Bearers without exception including the MCB's Central Working Committee.
As an independent community organisation, the MCB is committed to faithfully representing the views of all our affiliates. As such we reaffirm the right under international law of the Palestinian people to resist the ongoing illegal and brutal occupation of their land."
The Government is also launching ahead of the G20 a "civil action plan" of 60,000 people who will guard against and prepare for an Islamic terrorist act.
Cape Town's 'Ghetto Ballerina' gets liftA South African ballet dancer from a poor township outside Cape Town has been given the chance to train in the United States -- all because of a documentary film, and an email from a caring viewer.
