Interesting little row bubbling away under the radar here in London...
The Government has frozen relations with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) after its deputy leader Daud Abdullah signed a declaration which some people have taken to support the bombing of Royal Navy ships if they tried to prevent Hamas being re-armed from the sea.
Mr Abdullah, whose quango receives tax payers money, signed the 'Istanbul Declaration' a Hamas sponsored document which includes the following;
'The obligation of the Islamic Nation to regard the sending of foreign warships into Muslim waters, claiming to control the borders and prevent the smuggling of arms to Gaza, as a declaration of war, a new occupation, sinful aggression, and a clear violation of the sovereignty of the Nation. This must be rejected and fought by all means and ways'
The Government sought clarification. Mr Abdullah wrote to the Guardian, and the MCB issued a statement, neither of which answered the central question, did Mr Abdullah advocate attacks on British warships? If so, did
the MCB support this?
The irony is that this row comes in the same week the Government launched a new programme to counter radicalisation among Britain's Muslim communities. Umbrella groups such as the MCB are supposed to play a positive role.
Into my mail box pops the following written by Denis MacShane MP, a former Foreign Office minister who knows all the players.
"I have been following the row over the MCB and the question of attacking Royal Navy vessels. Having read the Istanbul Declaration there is no doubt in my mind that it contains an appeal to attack Royal Navy vessels patrolling in the Mediterranean to interdict the supply of weapons to terrorists. I do not see how nay Government can stand by idly when its service men and women are threatened by appeals to attack them supported by a fellow citizen.Below is a letter to the Guardian which sets out my views for your interest."
To The Editor The Guardian 27 March 2009
Dear Sir,
Surely Mr Abdullah of the Muslim Council of Britain and his supporters protest too much. (Letters 27 March) The declaration he signed says the signatories consider "the sending of foreign warships into Muslim waters, claiming to control the borders and prevent the smuggling of arms to Gaza, as a declaration of war, a new occupation, sinful aggression, and a clear violation of the sovereignty of the Nation. This must be rejected and fought by all means and ways." Leaving to one side the concept of "Muslim waters" and which "Nation" is having its sovereignty violated the declaration Mr Abdullah signed says the naval forces mandated by the UN and EU, including the Royal Navy must be "fought by all means and ways". We have seen Islamist Jihadi attacks on naval vessels and sailors killed. My constituents who serve in the Royal Navy should not have to face calls for attacks on their ships by British citizens. Mr Abdullah can clear up the matter by withdrawing his signature from the Istanbul Declaration.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP
Mr MacShane was a junior minister around the time the Government first began to lose faith in the MCB. It was during the Ken Bigley affair and efforts to get them to appeal for clemency for the Baghdad hostage were 'difficult'. The people handing out the cheques to them were then confused when they received reports
that some MCB members were saying one thing to them and the media, and different things to Muslim audiences. Now it seems to be make or break time.
