But while there may be no official remembrance activities, there are many whose lives and passion for democracy and freedom are living memorials to the July 7 victims, and whose efforts represent a new hope for the United Kingdom in the struggle of ideas.
We have been seeing increasing signs of hope and progress among British Muslims who are taking the lead in supporting secular democracy and human rights as a counter-message to extremists who seek to deny democracy and human rights. While some analysts believe that fighting terrorism can be measured by tactical achievements or failures, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) believes that solutions will come from a consistent support for democracy and our universal human rights from the public, including British Muslim and pro-human rights groups in the struggle of ideas.
While groups such as Anjem Choudary’s Islam4UK and the Hizb ut-Tahrir United Kingdom groups denounce democracy and equality, and on the other extreme, groups such as the English Defence League and the Stop Islamisation of Europe groups are protesting Muslim houses of worship, there are alternatives from those such as the BMSD and its supporters who provide an example in consistent support of democracy, human rights, and human dignity for rest of the United Kingdom and the world.
We urge others in the United Kingdom to follow the example of groups such as BMSD and choose to consistently be responsible for equality and liberty.
"Culturist" and Brooklyn Tea Party Leader Dr. John Press Calls for Protests against Mosques in Manhattan and Brooklyn (Photo: Craig Wirga / New York Daily News)
America is a nation for and composed of people of all races, all ethnic backgrounds, all religions, and all identity groups. We remember that United We Stand – in every race, every ethnic background, every religion, and every identity group. R.E.A.L. takes exception to those who would deny freedom of religion and freedom of worship, whether it is in the United States or anywhere else in the world.
Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia's Conference Logo: "The Struggle for Islam in the West" (Photo: HT Australia Web Site)
At the event, Hizb ut-Tahrir promoted its views of seeking the creation of a global Islamic caliphate and denouncing democracy. UK Hizb ut-Tahrir leader Burhan Hanif told Lidcombe, Australia conference participants that that democracy was “haram” (forbidden) and that “We must adhere to Islam and Islam alone.” Buhan Hanif stated that “We should not be conned or succumb to the disingenuous and flawed narrative that the only way to engage politically is through the secular democratic process. It is prohibited and haram.” He rejected Muslim political involvement that is based on “secular and erroneous concepts such as democracy and freedom.”
UK Hizb ut-Tahrir Leader Burhan Hanif Urges Australian Muslims to Reject Democracy (Photo: YouTube)
Australian Hizb ut-Tahrir official Wassim Dourehi also told conference attendees that Muslims must reject “any kafir political party”, and challenged “this godforsaken country,” referring to Australia. Wassim Dourehi stated that “We need to reject this new secular version of Islam… It is a perverted concoction of Western governments. It is a perversion that seeks to wipe away the political aspects of Islam and localise our concerns. We must reject it and challenge the proponents of this aberration of Islam.”
Australia Hizb ut-Tahrir Leader Wassim Doureihi Says Australia "Godforsaken," Denounces "Moderate Islam" (Photo: YouTube)
Australian Hizb ut-Tahrir speaker Reem Allouche stated that women’s rights and equality should not be based on “secular liberalism.” The Australian reported that “A female HT delegate, Reem Allouche, said Australian women should be at the forefront of the struggle by insisting on their right to wear the head-to-toe covering known as the niqab, in the face of legislation proposed by NSW Christian Democratic MP Fred Nile to ban it.”
On July 6, 2010, Marietta, Georgia local news media outlets are reporting on what is being described as a “suspicious fire” at the Marietta mosque, stating that the fire is being investigated to determine if it was arson. Late Tuesday morning, Marietta Fire Marshal Scott Tucker told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that “It appears to be a crime, it appears to be an arson… There was forcible entry.” An updated report from Marietta television station WSBTV also states that “Fire officials said authorities believe a fire at a Marietta mosque was arson and they are investigating it as a possible hate crime.” The police are also investigating vandalism inside the mosque, but have not yet released information about the type of vandalism.
The Marietta mosque that was damaged by fire is on Powder Springs Street in Marietta, Georgia. The Masjid Al-Hedaya describes its location as on Powder Springs Street in Marietta, Georgia. WSB radio reported the fire as “The fire was reported shortly after 11 p.m. Monday at Masjid Al-hedaya on Powder Springs Street in Marietta. The building is also known as the Islamic Center of Marietta.”
Aftermath of Fire at Marietta, Georgia Mosque - Arson Investigation Underway (Photo: AJC/Vino Wong)Aftermath of Fire at Marietta, Georgia Mosque - Arson Investigation Underway (Photo: AJC/Vino Wong)
WSBTV also reported on this fire. The fire started after the last prayer session. Reports state that damage to the mosque is “extensive.” According to reports, the fire destroyed the front entrance and did significant damage to the main prayer hall. The local imam Hafiz Inayatullah told WSBTV that “We locked the door and everything and we left and suddenly he called me and said, ‘There’s fire’.”
Marietta, Georgia – Area Near the Masjid Al-Hedaya Mosque
On July 6, 2010, Marietta, Georgia local news media outlets are reporting on what is being described as a “suspicious fire” at the Marietta mosque, stating that the fire is being investigated to determine if it was arson.
The Marietta mosque that was damaged by fire is on Powder Springs Street in Marietta, Georgia. The Masjid Al-Hedaya describes its location as on Powder Springs Street in Marietta, Georgia. WSB radio reported the fire as “The fire was reported shortly after 11 p.m. Monday at Masjid Al-hedaya on Powder Springs Street in Marietta. The building is also known as the Islamic Center of Marietta.” WSBTV has described this as the “Masjid Al Head mosque.” Local Marietta media are reporting that Muslim attendees at the Masjid Al-Hedaya mosque are uncertain if someone deliberately set the fire. The fire started after the last prayer session. Reports state that damage to the mosque is “extensive.” According to reports, the fire destroyed the front entrance and did significant damage to the main prayer hall. The local imam Hafiz Inayatullah told WSBTV that “We locked the door and everything and we left and suddenly he called me and said, ‘There’s fire’.”
Marietta, Georgia - Area Near the Masjid Al-Hedaya Mosque
UCAN reports on the disruption of a Catholic Mass service in Indonesia on July 1 that had to be abandoned after a mob objected to their religious practices and worship services.
“Up to 40 Muslims broke into the home of a Catholic family and forced a thanksgiving Mass in Indonesia on July 1 to be abandoned.”
“‘I invited dozens of Catholics to the Mass to thank God for the house I’ve just bought and to celebrate my third child’s 17th birthday,’ said Servulus Sihotang, a parishioner of St Paul’s Church in Depok, West Java.”
“‘But the Muslims suddenly forced their way in and made us stop.'”
“He said he had bought the house from a Muslim and Muslim neighbors had been present at a housewarming party the week before, but added that the attackers were from outside the area.”
“‘The area is pretty vulnerable,’ said Franciscan Father Taucen Hotlan Girsang, who led the Mass. ‘Some Muslim inhabitants do not allow any other religious activity, while some welcome it.'”
“He went on to say that he and local Catholics were constantly working to develop a dialogue so that people living in the area could have a better understanding of all religions recognized by the Indonesian government — Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam and Protestantism — and of every citizen’s right to follow the religion they choose.”
"Servulus Sihotang, whose new home was invaded during a private thanksgiving Mass " (Photo: UCAN)
Compass Direct News has reported on the abuse of worshipers at the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Taman Yasmin Church, stating that “Since April 11 the congregation has held services on the roadside in front of the sealed church in stifling heat. The church pastor, the Rev. Ujang Tanusaputra, told Compass that the congregation has held Sunday services six times in front of the building that the mayor of Bogor sealed.”
Reverend Ujang Tanusaputra told Compass that the church had received an official permit from the Bogor City government. However, a group that objected to the presence of church resulted in getting the church sealed by the Bogor government. Despite this, the church won a court lawsuit against the effort to seal the church, but despite all of this, the congregation is not permitted to worship in the building which is 80 percent complete. According to the Compass report, the “construction was going smoothly until a Muslim group began demonstrating and the government sealed the building to appease them.” Reverend Ujang Tanusaputra told Compass “We are going to continue worshiping by the roadside as part of the struggle to remove the seal.” Compass reports that “Tanusaputra said he hopes the Lord will intervene to show that Indonesia is a country where laws are followed and all faiths may freely worship.”
In March 2010, the anti-democracy political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) organized a protest of hundreds of its members in front of the Bogor City Council protesting the building permit given to the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Taman Yasmin Church. Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia and other groups together under the Indonesian Muslims Communication Forum (Forkami) have sought to deny the church members freedom of worship in their church in Bogor.
Police in India are being threatened by members of a political Islamic group believed to be responsible for the amputation of the hand of a private college professor who prepared a test on grammatical punctuation that included the name Muhammad.
In India, on July 4, 2010 in Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam district (Kerala), a Christian professor T.J. Joseph was attacked by a mob of 8 individuals while getting into his car with his mother and his sister. According to a Asia News report, “After forcing Joseph to get out of his car, they attacked him with knives and swords and then cut off his hand and right arm throwing them away after about 200 meters.” The Asian Tribune quotes T.J. Joseph’s sister, a nun, Mary Stella, as stating that: “They then chopped off his right hand and stabbed him in the left thigh.. When we tried to prevent them, they attacked me and and our mother before exploding bombs and fleeing.” Mary Stella also told the Deccan Chronicle that different Muslim youths had donated blood for T.J. Joseph after this horrific attack, and that “it helped save his life.”
Christian professor TJ Joseph in hospital. (Photo: The Herald)
T.J. Joseph’s hand was amputated apparently as a punishment for classroom activities at the private Newman’s College, Thodupuzha. According to Asia News, the attackers claim that T.J. Joseph had prepared a questionnaire for an examination, and “according to the Muslims had included questions offensive to Muhammad.” The Asian Tribune reported that “In March this year, Islamic outfits had carried out protests against Joseph, who was a lecturer in the church-run Newman college in Thodupuzha in Idukki district over a portion in the Malayalam question paper for an internal examination for BCom students. They claimed that the question paper insulted the Prophet. The college later suspended Joseph who had set the questions and a criminal case was registered against him. The case is pending trial.”
Asia News reports that: “The indicted questionnaire however did not include anything that could be construed as against the Muslim religion. The authorities of Newman College, told AsiaNews that in the test, Prof. Joseph tells the story of a fishmonger who, despite hard work, becomes increasingly poor. The monger’s name is Mohammad In his desperation, he spoke to God and also asked his brother why his fortunes were dwindling. His brother told Mohammed: ‘Why are you calling God, God and God….’ Students were asked to specify the punctuation of the narrative.” The Hindu reported that “In the question paper, he had used a passage about an imaginary dialogue between God and Muhammad, and the students were asked to comment. Certain Muslim organisations, assuming that ‘Muhammad’ in the passage was Prophet Muhammad, took offense and staged protest rallies and clamored for action against the professor. Stones were thrown at the college run by the Christian church.”
The Times of India reported that T.J. Joseph had been receiving threats, and reports that “T J Joseph, the lecturer in the Church-run New Man College in Thodupuzha in Idukki district, had complained to the police about threats to his life, but there was little response. He even apologised to those who were threatening him. The family gave a written complaint after a group of unidentified men barged into their house in Moovattupuzha in Ernakulam district and searched the rooms looking for Joseph some weeks ago.”
The Hindu reported that “Two activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were arrested on Monday in connection with the attack on a professor at Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district. Sources said 12 others, most of them with extremist links, were also taken into custody for interrogation. Ashraf, 37, of Mundeth, Mekalady, and Jaffar, 28, of Eramaloor, Kothamangalam, were remanded to judicial custody by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Muvattupuzha.”
Ashraf and Jaffar, who were arrested in connection with the attack on Professor T.J. Joseph at Muvattupuzha, coming out of a court after being remanded to judicial custody. (Photo: The Hindu)
The Indian Express has now reported that the Indian police are getting threatening calls, stating that “A day after two activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were arrested, an officer in the probe team got a threatening call from a district functionary of the outfit. Several district-level PFI leaders have gone into hiding following raids at the organization’s strongholds in the rural areas of Ernakulam. The call to the circle inspector was tracked down to Rasheed, a district PFI leader.”
Asia News reports that: “Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians condemns this ‘barbaric act’ and recalls that ‘Sharia is not the law of India.'”
===========================
Responsible for Equality And Liberty supports our universal human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, as well as personal security and life. We urge those whose hearts are burdened with hate and intolerance to ease such burdens from their hearts. Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.
News 4 Jacksonville reports on Dove World Outreach Center protest of a Gainesville, Florida mosque: “A Gainesville church known for wearing its opinion on its shirts protested an Islamic Center on Monday. The Dove World Outreach Center, which touts the saying “Islam is of the devil,” portrayed that message outside the Islamic Center of Gainesville at its protest, which lasted about two hours. Protesters said what they were doing is the role of Christians to bring their message to the public.”
Florida: Anti-Islamic Group "Dove World Outreach" Protests Mosque in Florida (Photo: Facebook)Florida: Anti-Islamic Group "Dove World Outreach" Protests Mosque in Florida (Photo: Facebook)Florida: Anti-Islamic Group "Dove World Outreach" Protests Mosque in Florida (Photo: Facebook)
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of equality and liberty for all and rejects all racial supremacism.
Video Clip of "Yup - I'm a Racist" Shirts Sold on July 4 in Kentucky Logo of "Yup - I'm a Racist" Shirts Sold on July 4 in Kentucky (Photo: Greg Skilling)
