"I'm proud of both parts of my identity. My religion has given me my beliefs and tradition to respect everyone no matter what religion or race, so I don't know what religion Anjem Choudary is practising. "My country has given me every opportunity in life so why should some hypocrite try to take that away from me? ... I would love to tell other youngsters that our religion does not reward you for killing innocent people but for showing respect, to grieve with the grieving, to forgive and to give, not take."
So read the story of a young Muslim in the Sun newspaper: I'm with the true Muslims . It was also good to see the Sun reporting on a story of an Asian man in Scotland reported because he had a rucksack and two mobile phones: Branded a Bomber So often I associate so many of the scare stories with the tabloid press that its good to see them doing their part to create positive images and also tell of the pain of those who have been the victims of negative stereotypes.
The Mirror also did its bit - alongside a number of other papers - in telling the stories of Muslims living in Wootton Bassett. Enam Choudhury is a restaraunteur and tells how
'Standing shoulder to shoulder with my fellow townsfolk as we honour Britain's fallen heroes has become part of my life but I'll never get used to it.'
Read his story her: Muslim dad who runs a restaurant in Wooton Bassett on why he opposes Islamic fanatic's march (Its worth noting how many must raise their eyebrows at the common Asian name Choudary and its synonyms.) The Sun also had a story on them and their fellow co-religionist, Abdul Latif.
Following my post a couple of days ago on the Widespread Muslim denunciation of Wootton Bassett plans there have been many stories like this of individuals and local groups of Muslims speaking out against the extremists plans.
Farasat Latif, a leader of a mosque in my own town Luton that suffered a fire-bombing after Anjem Choudary's friends disrupted the Royal Angian homecoming parade spoke out against the plans: March would lead to burning of mosques
Mr Latif, of the Call to Islam Centre in Luton, will join Muslims in Wootton Bassett for a counter-protest against the march which Islam4UK leader Anjem Choudary claims will honour the Muslims “murdered” in Afghanistan.
Mr Latif said: “The irony here is that Anjem Choudary is abusing the very rights Britain has afforded him in order to carry out this protest. If he did this in Afghanistan he’d most likely end up in prison or dead. If he doesn’t like this country he should go home.”
There are stories like this from across the nation of local groups speaking out. You only have to google "Wootton Bassett" and them will appear.
Yet, sadly I still hear the question - "why aren't the Muslims speaking out against it?" It should be instead: "why aren't the media covering the Muslims speaking out" or maybe even"why don't we hear the Muslims ..."
And finally, to match the massive facebook site opposing Anjem Choudary's plans, which now has 665,000 members, but which does regularly attract racist and Islamophobic comment, despite the best efforts of the admin team, there is now a group that has some really positive comment going on on its wall:
MUSLIMS AND NON MUSLIMS AGAINST ISLAM4UK MARCH THROUGH WOOTTON BASSETT
Get talking to one or two people there and discover fellow human beings!!
And for those who wonder where the church is on this whole thing its worth looking at the Christian Muslim Forum . They have not said anything specific yet on this issue but they do have some really good stuff, especially a document that recognisies tensions often come as both faiths like to spread their message: Ethical Guidelines for Christian and Muslim Witness in Britain
There are some good stories elsewhere on my blog here categorised under Christian Muslim relations
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I posted a couple of days ago on this same topic: Widespread Muslim denunciation of Wootton Bassett plans
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