Muslim Action Committee

Main Phone: 02476 325859
Fax: 02476 320708
London: 07944 154939
Birmingham: 07980 485034

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PRESS RELEASE 6th February 2006

PUBLICATION OF OFFENSIVE CARICATURES OF HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMED (peace be upon him) IN EUROPE

CONVENTION OF LEADING MUSLIM SCHOLARS

KEY DECISIONS TO BE TAKEN

The publication of offensive caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him ) have caused outrage amongst the majority of the 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. This latest outrage is being noted as an ongoing series of attacks on Islam and Muslims. The decision of different media to reprint the said caricatures has continued to inflame the situation.

The angry reaction of the Muslims in the UK is being fuelled by the lack of sensitivity and unreasonableness by the media and certain governments. The apology of the Danish newspaper and the Danish Prime Minister has been rejected as it does not go far enough to rectify the damage done.

Reports of rising tensions and anxiety in the Muslim community have started to cause concern to its leading scholars and Imams. In their effort to bring direction to the protest and cohesion to the debate the leading Muslim organisations have decided to unite under a uniform campaign under the name of Muslim Action Committee (MAC). Leading organisations, inter alia the International Muslims Organisation; Markazi Jamate ahle Sunnat; Jamate Ahle Sunnah Europe; Hizbut Tahrir and the Islamic Human Rights Commission have already united. The said organisations already represent over 650 Mosques and centres throughout the UK. It is expected that over the next few days the vast majority of all major Muslim organisations will unite in this campaign.

The Muslim Action Committee have called an emergency convention of the leading scholars and Imams from all over the UK to discuss the issues and take key decisions as to the way forward. It is expected that over 350 of the leading Muslim scholars will attend.

The said convention shall be held at the Rex Centre, 432 Coventry Road, Birmingham B10 0UG. The convention takes place on Wednesday 8th February 2006 and will start at 11.30am with a formal press briefing around 1.30pm and the issue of a press statement.

End

Contact:
Shaikh Faiz Siddiqi LLB, Barrister, Convener MAC 07973 617277