I come from a family of atheist/agnostic siblings. I too was atheist/agnostic until 2001 when I embraced slowly but surely, Islam. I live in Barking, so my local MP is Margaret Hodge. I am 26 years old and recently married, in fact tomorrow on the 15th will be eight months since I have been married.

As London Assembly Members you all have a certain responsibility towards the culture of London as a whole. I am sure that most can agree that religion is a big part of that culture, especially the religion of Islam. Time Magazine on Tuesday, June the 5th, 2007, had a headline article entitled “Is London’s future Islamic?” -

“It‘s the capital‘s fastest growing religion, based on noble traditions and compassionate principles, yet Islam can still be tainted by mistrust and misunderstanding. Here Time Out argues that an Islamic London would be a better place” – (source – http://www.timeout.com/london/features/2993.html).

I write this in response to Geerts Wilder’s “Fitna” and the banning of him appearing with his film in Parliament. I feel as a Muslim, especially one who did not believe in it before and somehow came to it after 9/11 when Muslims were suffering dreadfully in the West, that I have some responsibility to act. I perhaps before then would have had no problem with Fitna, however since then things have changed. I don’t see a problem with Fitna, it has been made and it is all over the world press. Something of such nature could not have naively been made to not expect to reap such attention and fame for its maker in some sense.

As a person who believes that all one is accountable for is their own intentions and thus actions leading from them, I care only for my response to this ‘Fitna’. So keeping this in mind, I aim to respond and inspire others to also respond with wisdom and compassion, thus following in the footsteps of all the Beloved Prophets (Peace & Blessings of God be upon them all).

Firstly the whole film can easily and has been easily refuted by “Fitna of Contextomy – Rebuttal of Fitna”, viewable on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUiQ3V-IMYI).

Geerts Wilders quoted Quran out of Context accusing Quran to be book of violence in his movie Fitna. “Fitna of Contextomy – Rebuttal of Fitna” has been made in its response rebutting its each claim. Fitna of Contextomy has three parts. First part contains refutation of the accusations made by Geerts Wilders regarding Quran, the whole explanation of the first part has been given by http://www.muhaddith.org/.

This can easily be viewed on YouTube. Just search for “Fitna of Contextomy”. They are very succint and well made to refute Geerts Wilder. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUiQ3V-IMYI)

Secondly, Geerts Wilder believes that Islam is a threat, well even if that is the case, has not Britain done things to deal with it? I think Parliamentarians, especially if they are to discuss such things should know of initiatives like the Quilliam Foundation, The Radical Middle Way and scholars like Charles le Gai Eaton and Dr Timothy James Winter.

The Quilliam Foundation has been set up as a think-tank to fight Islamic Extremism. It has been set up by Majid Nawaz and Ed Husain (author of the best-selling “The Islamist”). These two individuals are British born and bred, who went into Hizbut-Tahrir and then realised its fallacy. From that point they sought to fight extremism rather than promote it. http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/

The Radical Middle Way is based on clear principles:
*a rejection of all forms of terrorism;
*a commitment to the revival of mercy, public service and a concern for social justice as emblematic Islamic duties;
*a commitment to the emergence of a distinct British Muslim identity that encourages the active involvement of British Muslims in social, public and economic life of Britain; and
*inspiring young people to become active agents for peace and positive change in their local communities. http://www.radicalmiddleway.co.uk/

If Parliament would not listen to what Geerts Wilder has to say, will they listen to Dr Timothy James Winter currently the Shaykh Zayed Lecturer of Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge University, Director of Studies in Theology at Wolfson College, and a doctoral student at Oxford University. Does he not qualify as a British voice to answer for Islam and its place in Britain? Why doesn’t Parliament call Dr TJ Winter if they were almost prepared to have Geerts Wilder talk on Islam in Britain?

Dr Timothy James Winter has written and published an article entitled “Bombing Without Moonlight – The Origins of Suicidal Terrorism”, you can view it at this link >>> http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/moonlight.htm

He is also the presenter for BBC 4 Radio’s “Thought for the Day”(http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/thought/)

Charles Le Gai Eaton was born in 1921, in Switzerland and raised as an agnostic by his parents. He received his education at Charterhouse at King’s College, Cambridge. He worked for many years as a teacher and journalist in Jamaica and Egypt. He then joined the British Diplomatic Service. He has since served as a consultant to the Islamic Cultural Centre in London. In 1996 he served on a committee that drafted the constitution of the Muslim Council of Britain. Does he not qualify as a British voice to answer for Islam and its place in Britain? Why doesn’t Parliament call Charles Le Gai Eaton if they were almost prepared to have Geerts Wilder talk on Islam in Britain?

Please read his speech “Islam Is The “Middle Way””, which addresses extremism and suicide bombings. You can view it at this link >>> http://www.livingislam.org/k/hges_e.html

I hope my letter to you has been informative and will help you in your discussions regarding Islam and Muslims, and their place in Europe and Politics.

Warm regards with Salaams

Yours sincerely,

Zubair Islam )