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Muslims Crowding London's Mosques Say They Fear Backlash in Aftermath of Bombings

Thousands of Muslims crowded London mosques for Friday prayers, condemning the bombings, but also wary they could be made scapegoats and fearful of reprisals against their growing and vibrant community. At the East London Mosque, near the site of one of Thursday's attacks, an imam told the 8,000 worshippers to be "confident in our identity" as part of London's multicultural fabric.

The mosque said it had received hate e-mails and a telephone threat to disrupt Friday prayers. A few police officers stood outside during the prayers, which ended peacefully.

Outside, some Muslims said the attacks had made them more cautious on the streets, but others said they were secure in their identity as Londoners - confident of the city's tolerant traditions.

"It will have some impact on people. But this is London, a cosmopolitan city," said student Ali Ayubi. "Maybe after one or two months it will go back to normal."

At the huge brick mosque in an East End neighborhood that's home to many with roots in Pakistan and Bangladesh, imam Sheikh Abdul Qayyum told worshippers that Muslims were "part of the rich diversity of British life."

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I don't think there should be any backlash, BUT I do think that Muslims could do a heck of a lot more to separate terrorism from their religion.

If I thought my community equated me with people like bin Laden, I don't think I would rely upon their better nature to make a distinction. They don't have to agree with their nation's stance on Israel, or much of anything, but they do, desperately, need to show themselves completely, totally intolerant to terrorism.

One way to do this is to take an active stance about purging pro-terrorism Muslims from their ranks. We need to see more mosques turning away leaders and followers who espouse this kind of violence. We need more Muslim leaders speaking out against a world like the Taliban would create.

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2 by BakerStreet
Friday, July 08, 2005

One way to do this is to take an active stance about purging pro-terrorism Muslims from their ranks. We need to see more mosques turning away leaders and followers who espouse this kind of violence. We need more Muslim leaders speaking out against a world like the Taliban would create

nice try baker except for one small thing, the "leaders" and "clerics" are much more powerfull with islam is full force, why give up power?

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"nice try baker except for one small thing, the "leaders" and "clerics" are much more powerfull with islam is full force, why give up power?"

For the very reason they are cowering in mosques. If they don't make this statement not only is their power in jeopardy, so are their lives.

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When you have clerics like Abu Hasma preaching hatred on the street corners of London (he's currently incarcerated awaiting extradition because he made terrorist threats), then you can expect some backlash because Brits see that as the 'face' of Islam in that country (no matter what anyone else says).

The British public will have it's pound of flesh one way or another.....

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Just to clarify...I found this in The Independent:

Islamophobia on the increase

By Oliver Duff

* The UK's 1.6 million Muslims have suffered from increasing Islamophobia since 11 September, figures show. The first big survey of anti-Muslim discrimination in December revealed long-term prejudice had been "perpetuated and normalised" since the 9/11 attacks. Almost 80 per cent of Muslims felt they had been discriminated against because of their faith, a rise from 45 per cent in 2000.

* A study by York academics this year found 43 per cent of non-Muslims admitted they have become noticeably more anti-Islamic since 2001. There was a deepening of anti-Islamic sentiment after the invasion of Iraq: a quarter of young people said they were more prejudiced than before. Hatred of Muslims was particularly prevalent among boys and young men.

* Islamic representatives believe police unfairly target their community. Since 9/11, British anti-terrorist officers have arrested more than 700 people, with more than two thirds thought to be Muslim. But only one in six has been charged with terrorist offences.

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Good. I hope they are literally fearing for their lives. Maybe if they feel enough pressure they will start doing something themselves about the animals in their ranks. Until they openly reject the terrorists and the religious leaders who espouse terror, and deal with them as a threat to themselves as much as to the world at large, they are as guilty as the bombers themselves because they support the terrorists with their lack of action.

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I don't think there should be any backlash...

"Hear, hear!"

BUT I do think that Muslims could do a heck of a lot more to separate terrorism from their religion.

Maybe in the US. In the UK organisations like the Muslim Council of Britain Link and muslim individuals Linkare doing about as much as they can.

There was a deepening of anti-Islamic sentiment after the invasion of Iraq: a quarter of young people said they were more prejudiced than before

I would like to read the question posed to obtain this answer. "So, young person, could you please tell me, on a scale of one to ten, your levels of prejudice against Islam on March 19, 2003 and on March 21, 2003".

A modicum of common sense when dealing with opinion polls AND 'academic studies' shows that when the results are too specific, the answers were usually obtained by inappropriately leading questions. After all, "Invasion Of Iraq Leads To No Difference At All In British Perceptions of Muslims" doesn't sell newspapers - even broadsheets.

...Brits see that as the 'face' of Islam in that country (no matter what anyone else says).

I don't.

Good. I hope they are literally fearing for their lives... because they support the terrorists with their lack of action.

I DON'T understand this. First of all, who are the they? Would you include a young man from a muslim family serving in the British Army? Muslim children? I respect the fact that you're speaking out of anger, but you're essentially espousing terrorism. Pure and simple.

I think there is a lot about America that is magnificent, and I've come to think that even more so since I've been blogging here, but, reading some of these comments, this is one small moment when I am proud to be British rather than American. I'm going to stick my neck out and predict that there will be minor incidents as the hate merchants seize their opportunity, but there will be NO backlash. It's not our way. Instead, we will relentlessly pursue those responsible - and they WILL be dealt with - without terrorising the innocent.

Needless to say, if the streets of London are running tomorrow in muslim blood then I'll have to take it all back and admit that you are right. But I lived in London for 11 years and, although I know that the city is hardly a utopia of racial harmony, Londoners of all races and creeds nevertheless live side by side in the same streets, tower blocks and neighbourhoods. This multi-cultural vibrancy was apparently enough to sway the final votes of the Intrenational Olympic Committee.

My own feelings at the moment are difficult to describe. I still don't yet know for sure that someone I know isn't among the dead. This does though seem a moment above all where clear thinking is needed. Anger has its place; we need our anger, but let's use it constructively and not allow the terrorists to use it against us.

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After all, "Invasion Of Iraq Leads To No Difference At All In British Perceptions of Muslims" doesn't sell newspapers - even broadsheets

Interestingly enough, that wasn't a headline in a newspaper, that was part of an article, a sideline to a report about Muslims hiding in mosques.

As for your assesment of what the British public perceive...you are but one Brit, as I am but one Brit. I'm just relating what I see and hear, as are you.

But I lived in London for 11 years and, although I know that the city is hardly a utopia of racial harmony, Londoners of all races and creeds nevertheless live side by side in the same streets, tower blocks and neighbourhoods

I was born there and lived there for 20 years. I remember too well the bombings of Brick Lane, the beatings of Pakistani's and Bangladeshi's, the racial tension and the riots of the early 80's.

The BNP is just looking for an excuse, dude. This attack yesterday has given them one.

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As for your assesment of what the British public perceive...you are but one Brit, as I am but one Brit. I'm just relating what I see and hear, as are you.

True. We're also both ex-pats now, so I suppose we could both be out of touch. I'm just hoping that the backlash doesn't come. The terrorists are counting on it: they're seeking to create division as much as fear.

Of course you're right about the far from rosy picture of London's race relations, but I'm still buying into the idea that a city that has been taking in immigrants for two thousand years and has suffered more than its fair share of terrorist attacks will find a way to rise above this. Did the IRA bombings lead to anti-Irish sentiment? Absolutely! Did the streets run with Irish blood. No.

Right now all eyes are on London. If the guilty are caught and punished, while the innocent are protected it would be a magnificent demonstration of the superiority of our societies, our freedoms and our common way of life.

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Did the IRA bombings lead to anti-Irish sentiment? Absolutely! Did the streets run with Irish blood. No.

No, but they were white skinned folks. You couldn't tell they were Irish until they opened their mouths. It's a little easier to not only identify but also to hate a person with a different skin color than your own. Goes back to that whole 'different vs the same' principle.

So far, no reports of anything. That's good...

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