Published on Jan 25 2010 by Kavi Rehan, Walsall

Dear Sir,

 

I write in dismay at the amount of media coverage given to the planned (and subsequently cancelled) Wootton Bassett march by Anjem Choudry.  The march was clearly a publicity stunt, just as his march outside Buckingham Palace last year-which was incidentally cancelled at the last minute too.

 

Islam4UK is a fringe organisation preaching a perverse version of Islam clearly contradicting basic Islamic teachings such as democracy, secularism, freedom, and is not the voice of the majority of Muslims living in Britain.  They can be associated with Islam as much as the Ku Klux Klan can with Christianity - after all the latter also claim to be devout Christians. 

 

Can the majority of British Muslims be forgiven for feeling that the Media assist Islam4UK’s perverse agenda by giving greater emphasis to reporting their provocative ad self-serving activities, rather than emphasizing the positive activities of the majority of Muslims, for which you receive invitations to and press releases for every week? 

 

The BBC Radio 4 programme - Any Questions last Friday, recorded live from Bait-ul-Futuh Mosque is an example of the type of activities & positive engagement we should be highlighting in the media - proof that there are large, loyal, British Muslim groups highlighting the true teachings of their religion and engaging positively in British life to foster increased peace and understanding. 

 

Locally, the Walsall branch of Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association are actively involved in voluntary community & charity work:  Engaging with National Blood Service, British Heart Foundation, Manor Hospital, Elderly Persons’ Residential Homes and fundraising for National British Charities.

               

If only we received as much press coverage as Islam4UK; the majority voice of Moderate Muslims could help quash the agenda of minority extremists, prevent the dangerous divisions that are building up in our society and foster much greater peace and understanding.