Senior imams condemn terrorism in full
We, the undersigned British Muslim imams, organisations and individuals, wish to extend our condolences and deepest sympathy to the family of Drummer Lee Rigby, killed in Wednesday’s outrageous attack in Woolwich.
We share the absolute horror felt by the rest of British society at the sick and barbaric crime that was committed in the name of our religion. We condemn this heinous atrocity in the strongest possible terms. It is a senseless act of pure depravity worthy of nothing but contempt. There can be no justification for murder.
Imams and Muslim organisations have done a great deal to speak out over the evils of terrorism over many years. But seeing what we have seen unfold over the last few days, we cannot afford to be complacent. Community-led discussions will be essential in the days and weeks ahead, to work out what more can be done to combat this problem.
Already we have seen extremists seeking to capitalise upon Wednesday’s terrible act. There have been several attacks reported against mosques and Muslim citizens. The hate-fuelled individuals behind such attacks wish to polarise and tear apart our great country for their own sick ends. They should be isolated and subject to the full force of the law.
We urge all communities to remain calm and vigilant today. We stand with you, and with other faith, political and community leaders, in urging our fellow citizens not to be taken in by the mindless rantings of the (few) extremists in our midst.
As we have shown as a nation in the past, we the British people are not so easily fooled; nor are we so easily divided. The overwhelming majority of the Muslim community stands united with the rest of society in condemning this awful tragedy.
Once again, our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Lee Rigby at this difficult time.
Signed:
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Assistant Secretary General, The Muslim Council of Britain
Shaykh Shams Adduha, Imam/Director, Ebrahim College, London
Shaykh Abdul Qayum, Imam, East London Mosque, London
Shaykh Suliman Gani, Imam, Tooting Islamic Centre/Balham Mosque, London
Imam Abdullah Hasan, UKIM Neeli Masjid & Islamic Centre, Rochdale
Imam Dr Khaled Fekry, Educational and Dawa Secretary, Wembley Mosque
Mufti Shah Sadruddin Jam'iyyatul Ulama Europe
Maulana Shah Muhammed Anas, Imam Zakariya Academy/Forest Gate Masjid
Mufti A Samad, Imam, Masjid Bukhari, Leicester
Imam Imran Patel, Carpenters Estate, Stratford, London
Imam Muhammad Tayyab, Forest Gate Masjid, London
Imam Mohammed Ilyas, MCA Centre, Docklands, London
Imam Anas Al-Korj, Director, Taqwa Mosque, Southampton
Imam Muhammad Shoyaib Nurgat, Head Imam, Masjid-e-Umer Trust, Walthamstow, London
Shaykh Shafi Chowdhury, Imam, Masjid al-Huda, Leicester
Imam Minar Ali, East End Islamic Centre, Plaistow, London
Imam Fakhrul Islam- Hockwell Ring Masjid, Luton
Imam Azad Miah, Masjid Bilal, Luton
Imam Abdullah Al-Mamun, Khateeb, Dagenham Mosque, London
Imam Mohammed Shahid Akhtar, Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif, Birmingham
Imam Mohammad Arif, Al-Hijrah Mosque, Birmingham
Khalif Mohamed Ali, Chairman, Luton Council of Mosques
Imam Jahangir Ahmed, Al Jalal Masjid, Luton
Imam Ismail Nurgat, Leicester Royal Infirmary
Mufti Ziyaul Haq Patel, Imam Masjid Muadh Ibn Jabal, Leicester
Imam Mufti Imran Falahi, Majlise Dawatul Haq Leicester, UK
Imam Shahid Ahmed, Madinah Masjid, UKIM, Luton
Imam Ahmed Peerbhai, Masjid Noor Nottingham
Shaykh Nagib khan, Quran Academy, Bristol
Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf, Imam, Masjid-Quba, Stamford Hill, London
Moulana Nadeem Mohammed, Masjid Bilal, Blackburn
Moulana Khalil Ibn Ilyas Laher, Faith Advisor, Newham Dove Project
Shaykh Mujahid Ali, Head of Islamic studies, Hafs Academy, London
Shaykh Shafiur Rahman, London
Sheikh Dr Ebrahim Dadibhai, Imam, Talha Masjid, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Imam Muhammad Auzair Khan, Doncaster Marshgate Prison,
Zakir Taylor, Principal, Madrasa Imam Bukhari
Shaykh Ayyub Surti, Leicester
Imam Qari Wajid Hussain, Jamia Al-Akbaria, Luton
Ustadh Mohammed Ibrar Shafi, Saints Area Masjid, Luton
Mumtaz Ahmed, Ibad Ar-Rahman Welfare Trust, Luton
Shaykh Abu Eesa Niamatullah, 1st Ethical Charitable Trust
Nurul Alam, Islamic Association of North London, Finchley
Khalil Foundation, London
Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt, Chair, Al-Qalam Shariah Panel
Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, Abu Bakr Siddiq Mosque, Cambridge
Sheikh Zaqir Shaikh, Darul Arqam Trust, Leicester
Cllr Abdal Ullah, Member of the Council of Mosques, Tower Hamlets
Shaykh Zubair Akbar, Headteacher, Rabia Education Trust/ Masjid Al Madani Luton
Imam Zane, South Wales Islamic Centre, Cardiff
Imam Irfan Patel, Jame’ah Masjid, Gillingham, Kent
Imam Mohammad Iqbal Awan,
Hafiz Yasin, Walsall
Abdul Qadeer Baksh, Chairman of Luton Islamic Centre
Imam Arif Mateen, UKIM Boston Mosque and Islamic Centre, Lincolnshire
Imam Qasim Rashid Ahmad, CEO: Al-Khair Foundation & IQRA TV
Imam Mukhtar Sheikh Osman, York Way Masjid and Education Centre, London
Mahmud Choudhury, Trustee and Secretary, Poplar Shahjalal Masjid, London
Maulana Muhammad Talha Bokhari, Imam – Birmingham Central Mosque
Hafiz Ahmad Ibrahim Patel, Lead Imam – Birmingham Central Mosque
Shekih Qari Muhammad Ismail, Khateeb – Birmingham Central Mosque
Shaykh Hasan Ali, LICS, London Islamic Cultural Society, London
Maulana Abdullah Khan, Green Academy Trust, Nottingham
Maulana Osman Sardoiwala, Green Academy Trust, Nottingham
Maulana Mohammed Zubair, Green Academy Trust, Nottingham
Maulana Imran Mukerdam, Green Academy Trust, Nottingham
Maulana Ahmed Pierbhai, Green Academy Trust, Nottingham
Maulana Speed, Green Academy Trust, Nottingham
Sufian Sadiq,Chairman, Discover Islam, Luton
Mufti Khalid Mahmood, Imam, Kingsway Masjid, Luton
Shaykh Zubair Akbar, Rabia School, Luton
Imam Abdul Majid Iltaf, Al-Hidayah Academy, Crawley
Ustadh Muhammad Rayhan, Zuhri Academy, Luton
Ustadh Saqib Mahmood, Zuhri Academy, Luton
Sheikh Imam Azizul Hoque, Edmonton Islamic Centre, London
Talha Ahmed , Teacher, Al-Ashraaf Secondary School, Hackney
Sheikh Abdur Rahim Diwan, Imam, Masjid Hazrat Aisha (r.a.)
Mawlana M Suleman Desai, Teacher, Masjid Ali, Leicester
Qari Asim MBE, Imam, Leeds Makkah Masjid
Imam HM Shafiqur Rahman, Senior Vice President, Dawatul Islam UK and Eire
Dr Muhammad Saleem Anwar, Jawziyyah Institute, London
Irfan Akhtar, Media Officer, Waltham Forest Council of Mosques
Maulana Abul Hassan, Luton
Imam Suhel Ishaq, Jamia Hanfia Mosque, Derby
Mufti Asad Waqas, Imam, Masjud Usman Ghani, Brierfield, Lancashire
Imam Sabahul Haque, Brentwood Cultural & Youth Society
Imam Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah, General Secretary, Bradford Imams' Forum
Fiyaz Mughal, Director, Faith Matters, Tell MAMA
Julie Siddiqi, Executive Director, Islamic Society of Britain
Shaykh Abu Muntasir Manwar Ali, Director, JIMAS
Mustafa Field, Director, Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB)
Sara Khan, Director, Inspire
Paul Armstrong, Co-Director, Association of British Muslims
Fuad Nahdi, Radical Middle Way
