Terrorist Attack: A Joint Statement from the Muslim Council of Britain and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland



Deepest sympathy is expressed at the death and suffering which the series of co-ordinated attacks in London has caused to the families and loved ones who have been the victims of this terrible atrocity.

This criminal attack is condemned in the strongest possible terms. No good purpose can be achieved by such an indiscriminate and cruel use of terror.

The scriptures and the traditions of both the Muslim and Christian communities repudiate the use of such violence. Religious precepts cannot be used to justify such crimes, which are completely contrary to our teaching and practice.

We continue to resist all attempts to associate our communities with the hateful acts of any minority who claim falsely to represent us. In the present uncertainties, we look to all community leaders to give an example of wisdom, tolerance and compassion.

The events of recent years have challenged Muslims and Christians to work together in order to acknowledge our differences, to affirm our common humanity, and to seek ways to share life together. Much has already been achieved, and nothing must undermine the progress that we have made. These attacks strengthen our determination to live together in peace, and to grow together in mutual understanding.

This crime must inspire us to work unceasingly together in pursuit of peace, justice and respect for difference.
 http://www.mcb.org.uk/



"Our prayers go immediately to those who have suffered and died in today's outrage, along with their friends and families.


If as is being indicated, Muslims were behind these heinous acts, they should know that this has nothing to do with the religion of Islam which holds the sanctity of life as paramount. Nothing can justify the harming of innocents.


With this being so close to home, Muslims have been advising the community not to venture outdoors in the immediate aftermath of this atrocity for fear of reprisals which have been felt after previous attacks abroad."

SAMA SAEED, SCOTTISH SPOKESMAN, THE MUSLIM ASSOCIATION OF BRITAIN - BBC Scotland
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4660919.stm

"If as is being indicated, Muslims were behind these heinous acts, they should know that this has nothing to do with the religion of Islam which holds the sanctity of life as paramount"

It's the old good guy/bad guy routine. Ask any Kafir.

Tony Blair in his statement today said:

"In addition, I welcome the statement put out by the Muslim Council who know that those people acted in the name of Islam but who also know that the vast and overwhelming majority of Muslims, here and abroad, are decent and law-abiding people who abhor this act of terrorism every bit as much as we do."

As much as we do? An odd choice of words I'm sure you'll agree. Very much an "us and them" mentality. Without a carefully worded script Blair's prejudices come out.

If there is to be a backlash against the people who did this to us then great.... I hope to see many supporters of the Neo-Consertive ideology strung up for what they have done. It didnt stop the Spanish standing up for what is right and I hope for all our sakes we can stand up to the war criminals currently in power that have now shown they care nothing for their own people's lives as well as the lives of the countless Iraqis already killed.
LETS NOT FORGET WHO DID THIS PEOPLE - OUR OWN GOVERNMENT AND NOT SOME FICTICIOUS ISLAMIST GROUP!!!!

On the London Bombings

Revolution #008, July 17, 2005, posted at revcom.us

On Thursday, July 7, a series of bombings in London killed at least 49 people and injured many more. The bombings targeted people on their way to work during rush hour, on subways and busses. The bombings coincided with a summit meeting (the so-called G-8) of the leaders of the main imperialist powers in the world, then being held in Scotland.

At this time it is unclear who was behind these acts and what they were aiming to do, and no one should accept the explanations of the news media and government leaders at face value. But some things ARE very clear.

One: whoever was behind this and whatever their intent, their acts, besides causing the suffering of innocent people, actually benefited the imperialists. These bombings will be seized on by the likes of Bush, Blair, et al. as a pretext to further their program of war and repression.

Two: the imperialist system is the cause of massive suffering in the world and ultimately holds responsibility for creating the conditions that give rise even to very wrong-headed actions in opposition to it. But things like the attack in London are most definitely NOT in the interests of the masses of people, all over the world.

Three: What is urgently needed, right now--as opposed to this kind of harmful stuff--is, in countries like the U.S. (and England), and indeed globally, the building of truly massive political resistance and opposition to what these imperialists, led by the U.S. imperialists, are doing--the many crimes they have committed and are continuing to commit--and to the way in which they will seize on this incident to seek to justify and to carry further these crimes and their overall juggernaut of war and repression.

Finally: a genuinely emancipating revolution--a communist revolution--is a struggle involving millions and millions of people, who are determined to bring about a radical change in society and the world. This communist revolution aims to overturn the grotesque and horrific systems and relations in the world that cause such untold and unnecessary suffering for literally billions throughout the globe, and which themselves also give rise to and are ultimately responsible for grotesque forms of opposition to this. The nature and aim of this revolutionary struggle is nothing less than the conscious and determined struggle of millions and ultimately billions, throughout the globe, to bring into being a whole new world without exploitation, oppression, and social inequalities. It is a serious thing and it must be approached in a serious way--soberly, with science, commitment, and maturity.



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